This time, we’re going CORPORATE. Did you know that stories are THAT powerful? Its use can be extended even in our super competitive world of business!

I’ve written an article before some time ago about using stories to pitch better, sell faster and win more busineses. But recently, I found another gem on how to use stories in the business context. This entry is inspired by that book, “Storytelling: Branding In Practice” written by Klaus Fog, Christian Budtz and Baris Yakaboylu. In fact, I’m holdng on the book so tightly that its been a month overdue. (I hope no one working for the National Library Board is reading this)

Share This

I was casually browsing through some blogs when I stumbled upon a new article titled “25 Ways To Help A Fellow Human Being Today” at Zen Habits. And then a couple of hours later at a coaching program, “compassion” became the word of the day. I took that as a hint to write an article revolving around compassion. And riding on the theme of this blog, I am going to share with you my list of 13 ways you can help a fellow speaker today. (Please add on to my list so we can hit 25!)

If you are the audience…

Share This

(That’s me in action at Raffles Junior College)

It has been a crazy two weeks for me which explains the awkward silence in The Public Speaking Blog. However I will like to assure you that I am still alive (thankfully!) and I have prepared a couple of interesting entries for next week. Meanwhile, let me share with you a recent article sent to me by Patricia Fripp, one of the more well known coaches in USA.
…….

Share This

TO ALL MOTHERS WHO ARE READING THIS: HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!! *HUGZ*

If you have not wish your mum a happy mothers’ day, please do so right now. No no, this entry can wait. Go on.. wish her. Make sure you give her a big hug and tell her how much you love her. In fact, you should do it everyday because they deserve it.

Clockwise from left: Eileen (my sister), Dad, really beautiful Mum and my girlfriend, Yiting.

Share This

Have you experienced the weird atmosphere which comes after a funny story you’ve cracked fell flat on the target audience?

Or, do you have the belief that you are, simply, not funny at all?

Even the most confident speakers may falter when it comes to the skill of injecting humour adequately in their speeches. Not to worry, though, as this entry aims to offer several tips which, I hope, will guide you in adding just the right dosage of humour in the right moment so as to make your stories or punchlines work.

Share This

After one week plus of dry spell, it is time to turn this blog up a few notches.

And I shall start off by sharing with you a video taken by my friend Bo from Massachusetts, USA. (I was interviewed by him on podcast last year for The FAQ Book on Public Speaking - scroll down to interview #11) Possibly one of the funniest table topic speech ever! For the newly initiated, table topic is a speech delivered by a speaker on the spot, so this trains you in your quick thinking skills and organizational ability. However, this table topic session was slightly different. The audience are told that the speaker will be given a particular topic while the speaker was given another. As you can see from the video, the mis-match causes the audience to break up in fits of laughter. This, by the way, is a comedy technique.

Share This

Inspired by Andrew Dlugan’s recent post “Stop Rehearsing! 3 Critical Things to Do Before Your Speech“, I will like to add to his list 7 more things you can do before your speech to take the nervousness out of you.

First, let’s do a quick recap of his three excellent pointers.

1. Study the venue logistics
2. Meet your audience (extra tip: build before rapport)
3. Watch, listen and participate in the event agenda

Share This

“Would you have quitted drinking?!”

Yes, I know it is the weekend and I am NOT suppose to be blogging. Or at least that was my promise to my mum who thinks I work too hard. In my defense, blogging isn’t work… it’s something I enjoy doing, especially since I know I have an audience. YOU! (grins)

Anyhow, I think you would love this entry! So read on.

Why is humor so important?

Share This

How do you attract positive attention and draw a sizeable crowd to you?

This is a question I ask myself when I did my first book talk in KL. Unfortunately, I could not find any credible or relevant information that answers this burning question of mine. In times like this, I improvise.

The good news is some work and I will like to share them with you.

Here are the workable ones that have been refined after three book talks.

1. A crowd attracts a bigger crowd… hire groupies if you need to

Share This

I just got wind from my publisher that The FAQ Book on Public Speaking has hit Kinokuniya’s bestseller! (DO THE CHICKEN DANCE!) And we are very close for MPH and Borders. Not sure how many books we sold thus far but hey, bestseller at one of the top bookstores in Singapore… that should mean something right? And here’s the best part, we haven’t been actively promoting the book. So I suspect it has got to do with YOU! So here’s a BIG hug from me and Andrew.

Share This