When you look back at 2009, what will you remember most?
Will it be an amazing vacation?
A mind-numbing move?
The purchase of your first house?
The birth of your first child?
The death of a loved one?
The start of a promising relationship?
2009 was a transitional year for me. I moved from my place of birth (Toronto) to the unfamiliar, sunny state of Florida. For the most part, the year has been a blur, but there are moments that will always stand out in my mind. Those moments were significant to me, but they probably wouldn’t mean much to others.
I think the same can be said for the speeches we deliver. Even though we craft a speech that would make Abraham Lincoln proud, everyone in the audience will walk away remembering what is most significant to them personally or professionally.
Maybe it will be your signature story.
Maybe it will be the statistic they weren’t aware of.
Maybe it will be the metaphor that painted the perfect picture.
Maybe it will be a pearl of wisdom that helps them see their challenge from a different perspective.
For every person who listens to your speeches, they will walk away remembering the points that are most significant to them. You may not know the impact you’re making, but every time you give a speech, you have an opportunity to say something that will be exactly what someone in your audience needed to hear … something they will remember most when they look back.
Have a blessed 2010!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hi John
Sounds like you made a big move in 2009 – hope it works out.
My memory of 2009 is the effect of the credit crunch on employment in the construction industry. I’m a Structural Engineer and 2009 has been hard!
Interesting point that people will remember different things from a speech. Nice if you can hit on something so powerful that everyone will remember it.
I gave a speech some time ago about the power of imagery… I asked the audience to think of a single image from the Vietnam war and then I said… “Is this the image” and showed them the image of the naked girl covered in napalm. I think most people would remember the image.
BTW Many thanks for the link – much appreciated.