🥣Sticky Like Porridge: Crafting Talks That Stick and Serve

Happy Monday, beautiful people! You know, speaking is like making a memorable meal for someone. Just as you wouldn't serve a gluten-free guest a bread-heavy dish, you shouldn't offer an audience a speech that doesn't nourish their specific needs. When you get the opportunity to share your message—be it for a corporation, an event, or even a small community gathering—it's crucial to leave your listeners with something that'll stick. Here's how I like to do it, using a metaphor I like to call "Sticky Like Porridge."

Two Types of Speakers: Self-Serving vs. Serving

In the culinary world of speaking, I see two types of chefs—self-serving and serving. The self-serving speaker is like that overzealous cook who wants to impress with exotic ingredients and complex techniques but forgets the dietary restrictions of the guests. They name-drop and pump up their own egos, leaving the audience unsatisfied.

On the other hand, a serving speaker is all about the audience's palate. Sure, I've got stories that involve recognizable names, but unless those tales add value to my message and serve the audience, they're left on the cutting board.

Prepping the Meal: Know Your Guests

Before crafting my talk, the first thing I do is schedule a briefing call to understand my audience. It's like reading the room before setting the menu. What do they hope to gain from my talk? What keeps them up at night? Knowing this helps me tailor my message so that it resonates with them, just as a chef would customize a meal to individual taste preferences.

Landing the Plane: Crafting the Speech

Once I have a good grasp of my audience, the next step is to find out where I want to "land my plane." What's the main course, the pièce de résistance, the key takeaway I want to leave them with? Knowing this informs the opening, and then it's all about filling in the gaps with stories that support my central message—the through line of the talk. Crafting a speech this way makes it cohesive, satisfying, and, most importantly, memorable.

Yesterday, I spoke at Lucienne's Mind, Body, and Soul Fest. It was an enriching experience, as the attendees were there of their own accord, hungry to nourish their souls. It was different from the corporate talks I usually do, yet the same principles applied. I focused on serving my audience, giving them something that would stick.

The Final Step: Detachment

Ten minutes before I step onto that stage, I let go. Just as a chef has to trust that their meal will be enjoyed, I detach from the script I've prepared. This allows me to be present and truly serve my audience in real-time.

So if you're looking to become a speaker who serves, remember these tips. And if you want more insights into how to become a paid motivational speaker, check out the Mind Workout Vault via the link below. The vault contains a video I created just for aspiring speakers.  I'm confident you'll find the content so enriching that you'll want to stay on board.

Happy speaking, everyone. May your messages be always sticky like porridge. 🥣


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