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Success Advice

5 Tricks To Take Your Next Talk From Boring To Fascinating

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Joel Brown

Whether you’re giving a big talk for the first time or the fiftieth, it can still be nerve-wracking to try and decide exactly what to say and how to say it. Public speaking isn’t something that comes easily to everyone, and even established pros sometimes find themselves choking up.

The topic can be unfamiliar, leading you to do a lot of research and making you sound too scripted, or it can be so familiar that you find yourself skipping sections which may be more necessary than you think.

Need to spice up your upcoming talk? These tips will help it be one that is discussed for years – and for good reasons:

1. Practice But Not Too Much

It seems obvious; when you’re nervous about something, you should practice, so that you can succeed. And this is true, but only to a certain point. Any athlete can tell you that there’s a point where you’ve over practiced, and you run the risk of ruining your game. The same thing is true with a talk or presentation.

If you practice to the point that it sounds like you’re reading off a card, or reciting a speech, then your audience isn’t going to be as interested. Practice your speech until you’re comfortable with what you’re saying, and then let it go.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

2. Offer Several Methods of Information Delivery

There’s an old saying that people remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, and 30% of what they see. The wisdom therefore goes that if you combine the senses, people will retain more information. For example, having someone describe the percentages of the population which performs a certain task along with showing a graph of the same information will help people retain that information.

In general, the information needs to be presented differently in each method. Reading someone a slide which they can also read themselves doesn’t help him to retain information. Elaborating on the information in the slide may.

The best way to get people to retain information is to give them something to do, but be careful with this, activities in big groups can quickly get tedious and annoying, and can eat up your time faster than you think.

3. Tone Down The Humorous Anecdotes

If you want to make your talk memorable, making people laugh seems like a good way to do it. The trouble is that making people laugh is harder than you think, and a misplaced joke can alienate a big portion of your audience. If you’re aiming to be funny, make sure that the only person you’re poking fun at is yourself.

Better yet, aim for friendly and personable; these traits crossover cultural borders better than humor, which can be incredibly specific.

4. Make Your Talk Actionable

Any professional level talk should include discussion of how the information you’re presenting is actionable to the people who are listening. You should come out early and tell them what they’re going to learn – within the first two minutes of your presentation, perhaps – and then make sure that they have the ability to implement this knowledge in their organizations or departments before your presentation is done.

For example, if you want to teach people better management techniques, you might choose a particular technique to focus on, such as offering positive feedback. Your talk breaks down motivational theory, why particular techniques work, and how to make positive feedback a business priority. You now have a basic structure for the learning that will be accomplished during your talk.

“It’s totally fine if you feel nervous and stammer a bit. If you give actionable, clear advice, people will forgive it all.” – Tim Ferriss

5. Make Sure You’re Accessible

Some people process information very quickly, and find that they have questions during the immediate Q&A period that follows your talk. Others may find themselves taking some time to churn the information you’ve presented, or may try to implement it and run up against a roadblock they didn’t anticipate.

Leaving them with a way to contact you and ask for additional advice can be a great way to make your talk feel more important and memorable, while also ensuring that they get the full benefit from your presentation.

Depending on your popularity, however, you may want to be clear how you’ll respond. If you say you will respond to each email promptly, and then never do, people will be frustrated. If you say that you’ll look at queries and respond to some in your weekly or monthly newsletter, however, you are setting a more reasonable expectation. Whatever you’re prepared to commit to, say that, but don’t overcommit.

Giving a talk shouldn’t be a scary or an upsetting proposition. Instead, it should be a chance for you to network within your industry, communicate on a topic about which you are passionate, and make connections within your community. Remember to enjoy yourself!

What tips would you give to someone that wants to become a speaker? Please leave your thoughts below!

Margarita Hakobyan is an entrepreneur, wife and mother of two, armed with an MBA from the University of Utah in International Studies and International Business. As an owner of several businesses she brings a wide range of education and experience including business strategy, business ethics and leadership. She is the founder and publisher of www.Solopreneurs.co and www.MoversCorp.com.

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Change Your Mindset

The Secret Daily Routines Behind History’s Most Brilliant Thinkers

Uncover the daily rituals and hidden habits that powered history’s most brilliant minds to success.

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Why Daily Rituals Matter

Every great achiever has one thing in common: discipline. Behind the novels, inventions, discoveries, and masterpieces are small, consistent habits repeated daily. (more…)

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Did You Know

How to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub

Transform your forgotten bio link into a high-impact gateway that fuels engagement, clicks, and conversions across every social platform.

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Image Credit: Midjourney

Social media is one of the greatest marketing tools in 2025. According to a recent study, some 86% of marketers globally use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for advertisements, while 94% use it for content distribution.  (more…)

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Personal Development

These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident

Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

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Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.

But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.

Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.

1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task

Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.

After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.

Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.

But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.

2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First

Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.

Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”

For example, if you’re a writer:

  • Research your topic at night.

  • Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).

  • Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.

You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.

3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace

Focus is the foundation of success.

According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.

Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.

Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.

4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life

Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”

This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.

If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.

5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills

Knowledge compounds over time.

Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.

I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.

Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.

  • A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.

  • A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.

Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.

7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You

I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.

If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.

Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.

Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.

8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions

Good mentors can fast-track your growth.

While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.

If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.

9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations

Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”

Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.

When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.

10. Focus on Your Strengths

Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.

If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.

A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.

Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.

11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs

Your beliefs shape your reality.

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.

Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.

Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.

Final Thoughts

Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.

Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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