Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience

“Why did you start this company?” “How did you start the company?” “How did it feel to start this company?” “Were you ever afraid you’d fail?” “What were the biggest challenges you faced?” “How did you overcome them?” “What makes your company different from your competitors?”

When you speak—especially if you’re seeking your audience’s support for your cause—never miss the chance to share your motivation: why this issue or cause means so much to you.

stories that are important to them,

Here’s my thought on that: if you’re going to go through all the trouble of telling the bot what to write—and then keep feeding it more prompts to correct what it gets wrong and edit it to your liking—maybe it’s better, and even quicker, to just write it yourself.

We’re at our best when we talk about the people, places, communities, causes, and companies that we know and care about. As a result, we’re more relaxed. We smile. Our faces light up—because it feels good to share stories that we know and love. We come across as more confident and credible.

your perspective, what you believe, what you think needs to be done.

give the speech that only you can give. Personalize it. Tell the stories that only you can tell—especially your own.

How are my life and work perhaps an example of a larger story that can bring people together?

Who am I? Where do I come from? What am I working toward? What’s important to me? What are the values that guide me? What do I believe? Why do I do the work I do? What are my disappointments and fears? What do I hope to achieve in my life and work?