Vital Speeches of the Day: How long should you practice your speech?

Posted by Faith Pincus on February 23, 2012

I love Vital Speeches of the Day, one of the few blogs I read on a semi-regular basis. 

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I just came across this very short post "How long should you practice your speech" and I recommend it for everyone. I get this question at every public speaking training program I teach, i.e. a lot.

And every time I answer the question, I usually get blank stares or looks of disbelief.  It's hard convincing very busy people to add more work to their schedules.  

But there really is no "easy" button when it comes to giving a good speech (much less an excellent one).

So read the post so you know I'm not the only person out there telling you to practice your speech - a lot - if you want to do it well.

 

 

Critical Mass Radio Show Interview Available

Posted by Faith Pincus on February 20, 2012

Ric Franzi's interivew of me, on Critical Mass Radio Show, is now available.  We discussed why and how I create my Continuing Legal Education business (which includes public speaking training), challenges along the way, plans for the future and a few regrets/mistakes I made that I recommend others watch out for.  

I also give a few top tips for improving your public speaking.

Ric Franzi is a great Peer Group Leader/business growth consultant with Critical Mass for Business, located in Orange county. I met him in a peer group I joined a few years back that helped me get through the recession.  I highly recommend peer groups for business owners.  Very helpful and also a great reality check.  It's good to meet monthly with people who have similar challenges, even if they aren't in the same industry.

(Ric is on the left in the photo below).

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From Vital Speeches of the Week: "Oops, we meant 'weak' -- A cautionary tale about impromptu speaking"

Posted by Faith Pincus on February 16, 2012

John Kasich, the Governor of Ohio, recently gave his State of the State Address to an elementary school on February 7th this year.  Those poor kids. They will probably be confused for life.  They certainly won't be inspired to lead or speak in public.

This edited version, highlighting the most idiotic things Governor Kasich said, is pretty funny.  The speech lasted 80 minutes or so.  Again, those poor kids.

I'm sure somewhere in the jumbled 80 minutes he might have said something of substance, this is admittedly an edited version just capturing the choice phrases, but seriously?

As Vital Speechs of the Day points out... this is the hazard of impromptu speaking.  

Nobody needs to sound this stupid.

Or look this stupid.

Someone really needs to tell this guy how to dress when speaking in public.  That shirt, tie and suit combo is atrocious, sloppy and the colors clash.  There is more to dressing than wearing a red tie.