"One axiom of public speaking is simple. Don’t just make your speech interesting make it the most interesting speech your audience have ever heard. It’s not that difficult."
- Stand and Deliver, page 25
"What are the principles? The first is actually quite obvious and maybe that’s why so many speakers seem to forget it. It can be stated in a single short sentence, know what you’re talking about."- Stand and Deliver, page 3
Yes, simple enough, but have you ever considered writing out at least fifty questions about your topic? Fifty is described as the minimum and you are advised to think of as many as possible over a twenty-minute period. This is a bit of a brain storming exercise that enhances whatever it is that you know. So what, you might be thinking, I could do that easily. And that is precisely the point. Everything in this book anyone could do easily.
Mr. Carnegie believed that speakers should know forty percent more about their topic than they shared in a presentation. And he was probably right! The onus is put fairly and squarely on you to do your homework and master the information for your presentation. Then when you have digested all the tips on being your very own expert the book goes on to develop your ability to DELIVER!
"Even a raw beginner can manage a successful opening by using a story to arouse curiosity."- Stand and Deliver, page 122
There is something about the pace and tone of the book that encourages you to be involved in the process and engage with the teacher. Simple advice is the name of the game and we are all enabled to take a look at what we do now and how we can improve it. Starting with the preparation, there is a logical progression through to questions, answers, and reflection at the end. It is apparent that while you are learning some real top tips on overcoming stage fright, using humour, and motivating your listeners you are really learning much more about becoming a polished communicator.
The book consistently gives you ideas, like begin with something interesting in your very first minute, not the second. Not the third. The first. An example is shared from one of their students that begins with the sentence Eighty two years ago, and just about this time of year there was published a little story that was destined to become immortal. And in the next paragraph there are various facts given with the reader continuing to tease you until you, the recipient, are guessing but ultimately really curious about which story is being referred to – which incidentally for the record was Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The point being made is who is not susceptible to curiosity?
And if you want to hugely increase the impact of what you’re saying, simply mention that you read your information while you were on an airplane. It’s almost like magic but it’s true that just associating your message with certain settings and experiences has a major amplifying effect.
"In just the short time required to read this chapter, you can learn an absolutely surefire method for making your talk memorable for your audience and lead them to make immediate and positive changes based on it. All this is made possible by the speaking technique that Dale Carnegie called the Magic Formula – and once you start using that technique you’ll see that it is a magic formula."- Stand and Deliver, page 177
This book acknowledges that many of the examples and case studies refer to icons of the past, however it also tips its cap to the present. The magic formula offered in Chapter 10 acknowledges how the old advice—introduction, middle and end—is still relevant and to be respected. Somehow though we need to accommodate our ENTERTAIN NOW CULTURE. The Magic Formula is a technique for creating connection, motivation, inspiration and action for your audience in the shortest time when necessary, and here it is.
1. Describe a personal story that describes a positive change in your life.
2. Ask for action and do it right now.
3. Refer to one specific benefit to the audience.
The Magic Formula is described as a framework for public speaking that has served thousands of participants in the Dale Carnegie organization. It is said that this formula will make you into a polished speaker in the shortest time. The emphasis on creativity and finding ways to improve your thoughts while observing all the markers given to you is relentless.
There are no excuses accepted if you want to be a great public speaker; the map is given to you in full colour, post codes and all. You are invited to take just one hour a day five days a week and devote that hour to your development as a public speaker. The most important thing the hour accomplishes is to deeply embed your goal into your subconscious mind. The message is clearly you can accomplish this.
Dale Breckenridge Carnegie (originally Carnagey until 1922 and possibly somewhat later) (November 24, 1888 – November 1, 1955) was an American writer and lecturer and the developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking and interpersonal skills. Born in poverty on a farm in Missouri, he was the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, first published in 1936, a massive bestseller that remains popular today. He also wrote a biography of Abraham Lincoln, titled Lincoln the Unknown, as well as several other books.
