How to Prepare Your Speech

Notice I didn't say "Write".

Why?

Because writing a speech can be a lot of work and it may not be necessary. I tell most of my clients NOT to write their speeches, especially short ones like you are giving.

If you are REALLY passionate about your topic, you can just have an outline and then, let it rip!

So, here are the possibilities:

STEP ONE: A TOPIC YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT

Make sure that you have selected a topic that you ARE passionate about, something you REALLY want to share with America so we will:

Think Something (that they may have never thought before your speech)
Feel Something (that they may have never felt before your speech)
Do Something (that they may NOT have done without seeing/hearing YOUR speech)

That is the goal of giving a speech.

NOT to simply download information. We have computers for that these days. YOUR job as a speaker is to move, persuade, motivate, empower!!

STEP TWO: RESEARCH IT

Speeches must have some substance, even short ones, to have the most impact. That's why we have provided you with ISSUES BRIEFINGS from our sponsors on some issues and connected you with some very cool media companies as our "Official News Sources". So, browse through the ISSUES BRIEFINGS, tune in to the news sources and, of course, Google away all you want.

STEP THREE: GET THE INFO DOWN ON PAPER!

3 ways to do this:

1. Write it all out
2. Make a detailed outline
3. Make a "bullet point" outline
4. Write it all out and then go through it and turn the sentences into either a detailed outline or, preferably, a "bullet point" outline.

#4 is the way most speakers do it and the way I would recommend.

STEP FOUR: PRACTICE AND TIME

Remember, this is a 2 - 3 minute speech. If it is more than 3:30, you will be disqualified, so you might want to practice it once or twice for time before you videotape it!