Every December, we’re bombarded with the same advice: Set goals. Make resolutions. Be better, faster, stronger next year.

The problem isn’t you; it’s the way we’ve been taught to plan.

Resolutions are narrow. They focus on what you’re doing but rarely ask why.

Being a subject-matter expert, and sometimes even being a great speaker, are no guarantee that you’ll know what works best for one specific talk. We do a lot of work with people delivering TED-style talks, and we see this all the time:

• They think they need a story… but don’t know which one to tell

• They believe it needs to be backed by science… but don’t know how much research to mention and how to describe it

• They think it needs to inspire people… so they turn into motivational speakers

Try as you might, that fire is never going to catch 🤷‍♂️

And those are just three out of dozens of things a speaker needs to consider.

In this article, we're going to look at two common mediums, or vehicles, for speakers to deliver their content: keynotes and workshops.

What are they, what is their purpose, and what can we do to ensure our message is received in the best possible light?

Learn the essential strategy for opening any talk, presentation, or pitch with impact. This guide explains why typical tactics—like starting with a story, statistic, or question—often fall short, and introduces the “Premise Principle” for engaging your audience from the first sentence with clarity and purpose.

I’m scrolling through my feed when I see it again: another 'professional' venting about clients expecting top-quality work for pennies—or worse, for free.

“Why don’t clients value our work?!” the post reads. “It’s like they think I should be grateful for exposure! I’ve spent years perfecting my craft, and they still ask me to work for next to nothing!”

I shake my head and start to scroll by, but I just can't let it go. This problem is SO easily solved, and it starts by asking yourself a simple question:

"Is there anyone else in my market doing similar work and getting paid more?"

Last week I had the incredible honor of sitting down for a livestream Q&A with my friend Tamsen Webster to discuss her latest book, Say What They Can't Unhear.

Tamsen is the idea strategist for the legacy conference TEDxCambridge, now TEDxNewEngland. She is also the author of modern classic Find Your Red Thread, and affectionately known to us in the industry as "The Idea Whisperer."

In this article I'm recapping some of the biggest insights from our conversation about how to create lasting change.

Can we agree that "thought leadership" has lost a bit of its cache? It's also rather confusing. What IS thought leadership? I don't know, but I know all true thought leaders do three things: Make assertions, make judgments, and make predictions.

Learn how powerful branding works by pairing a core message with a core emotion. This article explores how intentional messaging creates emotional connections, using a personal anecdote to illustrate the impact of consistent, emotionally-driven communication that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Imagine you tell me you're tired of sitting in traffic every day on the way to work and I immediately try to sell you on signing up for my new proprietary mindfulness app.

What would you do? Probably ignore me.

Why? Because in your mind, the problem is traffic—not your attitude.

It's not until I help you shift your perspective from thinking the problem is purely about time spent in traffic to understanding that it's really about how you manage stress and find peace in unavoidable situations, that my solution starts to make sense.

What do an activist duo, a financial expert, and a magician have in common? Their recent TEDx talks, while wildly different in execution, were all built on the same powerful framework. In this week's article we explore how reaching for frameworks instead of tactics can elevate your communication and drive impactful change, no matter your message.

If you've ever sat down to a blank page before writing a speech, presentation, email, blog, or social media post, this article is for you.

In this week's article we're going to learn why audiences tune out, take out their phones, or close your video - and how to instantly (and easily) engage them instead.

No matter what kind of presentation you're giving - a keynote speech, workshop, or TED-style talk - there's one constant: if the audience isn't engaged, the presentation will fail.

Distracted, bored audiences don't learn and they definitely don't take action.

If they don't take action, your ideas will not spread.

In a world filled with endless choices and constant noise, clarity is a gift - to both you and your audience. Just like those gluten-free signs helped me navigate my new dietary restrictions, clear messaging can help your customers navigate their needs quickly so they can confidently make decisions. It's easy to assume that what is obvious to us is obvious to everyone else. But the reality is, our customers are juggling numerous priorities, just like I was juggling my grocery trip with a fussy toddler.

In this week's article, I break down how Carole distilled decades of expertise on the incredibly complex science of balance into a simple, 9 minute video at TEDxBocaRaton... That has already spread to 130,000 people in just 3 weeks 😲

Continue reading for the breakdown, and to watch her talk as it's going viral in realtime. It might just help you make sure the last years of your life aren't the worst years of your life.

Discover why professional speakers often fail in TED-style talks and learn the key differences between keynote speeches and Red Dot presentations. This article offers practical advice for both polished keynote speakers and experts new to public speaking, ensuring your message is clear, concise, and impactful.

Learn how to deliver a better speech by using the sales process to understand your audience's true needs. This article provides practical techniques for asking the right questions, uncovering insights, and creating meaningful connections. Perfect for speakers looking to enhance their impact and engagement.

Explore effective communication techniques through Phil's contrasting strategies with his daughters in "Modern Family." Learn to move your audience by understanding their desires and fears, using real-life examples to master empathetic, audience-focused messaging. Ideal for leaders and communicators aiming to drive meaningful action and engagement.

Clarity Up founder Brian Miller's top three lessons for delivering impactful TED-style speeches based on extensive experience with Speaker Slam and successful client engagements. Learn how to define a compelling throughline, utilize storytelling effectively, and bring fresh perspectives to common topics to captivate and motivate audiences towards meaningful action.

Discover why data alone fails to engage and inspire action, as evidenced by a poignant personal anecdote. Learn how storytelling captivates emotions, leading to meaningful action, backed by research insights. Explore the dynamic interplay between narrative and data for effective communication and driving change.

Discover the transformative journey from memorizing to internalizing speeches in this insightful guide. Learn practical techniques for embodying your talk, enhancing audience connection, and ensuring your message resonates deeply. Perfect for speakers aiming to elevate their presentations from mere recitation to impactful storytelling.

Discover the A.C.E. framework (Align, Challenge, Expand) for speech design. Learn to build compelling messages that resonate with your audience's beliefs, encouraging action and change. Perfect for speakers aiming to connect deeply and drive meaningful outcomes, regardless of the presentation's polish.