I’m going to do a series of blogs on what we learned from the Public Words Speaker Forum 2010.  If you attended, please add your own takeaways! 

We felt extraordinarily lucky in having a wonderful group of participants.  There was a generous vibe in the air, and the conference was memorable for the enthusiasm and wholehearted participation of the attendees.  Before the conference began we were vowing we’d never do another one, because of the intense amount of work involved in getting it off the ground.  By the end, we were already talking about next year.  That conversion came thanks to the participants.  Thank you all for bringing so much joy and generosity. 

For this first blog, I’ll lead with some headline quotes.  In subsequent blogs, I’ll go into more depth. 

Why are most speeches so boring?  Three reasons:  #1 They’re all about the speaker; #2 The speaker lacks passion; #3 Death by Powerpoint

To make speeches better, have an intellectual AND emotional component.  Well-told stories bring emotion. 

It's your job to know your audience. What are their dreams? What are they afraid of?

All good speeches should take the audience on a journey through a valley of despair before they climb a mountain of hope. 

All entrepreneurs, and professional speakers, have to learn to focus and say no. 

Social media tip from David Meerman Scott:  take advantage of things that happen in REAL time and capitalize on the moment.  Don’t wait for the lawyers to give you permission to act. 

Steve Farber on success: have a deep desire and love for your work; hone your chops to speak about it and get clear on your point of view. 

Pam Slim on your audience:  Whom are you meant to serve? What do they need from you?  Your job is to connect them, amplify their message, and advocate for them. 

Mark Bloomfield on authors:  Authors are the CEO's of their books and publishers are the investors.  Authors should use that that investment to promote your book.

Steve Farber on identity:  What's your life's work? Answer that question, deepen that question, and it becomes a magnet for you. 

Mark Bloomfield on Publishers and Authors:  publishers have a privileged relationship with retailers. Authors have a privileged relationship with readers. 

Steve Farber on new speakers:  New speakers often focus on getting gigs, but that’s the wrong question; instead focus on your body of work. 

Christine Carlson, meeting planner, on how to get invited back as a speaker:  1)  Do your homework.  2)  Understand how the company works.  3)  Speak to as many people in the company as possible

Martin Perelmuter, Speaker Bureau CEO:  The three most important things to remember when working with a bureau:  1)  Be responsive – get back to a bureau right away when they call.  2)  Be transparent – don’t try to do an end run around a bureau.  3)  Be a partner with the bureau to grow the business together. 

Martin Perelmuter, Speaker’s Spotlight CEO:  To connect with a bureau, first get introduced.  Then invite the bureau to a speech.  And then ask them to handle a booking. 

Mark Bloomfield on the book publishing industry:  “books are a 16th Century technology, under a 19th Century business model, trying to operate in the 21st Century.” 

Pam Slim on Social Media:  Before you use social media – think about what's at the root of what you do, who you serve and what people need.