I began my book on public speaking with a story about how an old friend of mine, a speechwriter and former AP reporter in WW II, had challenged me by saying, "the only reason to give a speech is to change the world."  I’ve seen it reported elsewhere that President Kennedy first said these words, but I have been unable to confirm that in any collection of Kennedy’s speeches, sayings, utterances, or thoughts.  And I’ve looked.   

Regardless of the source, the words have caught on, and people really get the point.  In my workshops and seminars, and in others’ speeches, workshops and seminars, the words have been quoted, discussed, and used to inspire people to give better speeches everywhere.

The brilliant speaker and author Tim Sanders (www.timsanders.com) often quotes them at the beginning of his speeches as a way of saying, "let’s make this time together worthwhile."

Why did those words hit me with such force, and why have they resonated with so many others?  Because they recognize that public speaking is a high-stakes gamble.  It takes courage to address your fellow human beings from the stage, and if you’re going to go to that trouble, you might as well make it worthwhile.  And not waste everyone else’s time.

To change the world with a speech, you have to change the minds of that particular audience at that particular time with your particular message.  Too many speakers lavish all their pre-speech attention on the third item in that list, at the expense of the other two.  But all three are equally important.

You have to understand the particular audience you’re speaking to better than they know themselves.  You have to have thought about the moment in time that you’re commanding, and why it is important — indeed, unique.  And you have to think about your message, of course.  But a great speech synthesizes all three, which is why speeches often don’t read well after the fact. 

Make that your New Year’s public speaking resolution, please.  Change the world, by matching the moment, the audience, and the message to your unique skills and personality.  That’s the only reason to give a speech.