Great speakers are made – not born.

I want you to think of speakers you’ve listened to recently. Think of those who have made a positive impression on you. Now think of how and why you have them at the top of your list.

Was it their message or was it their ability to share that message with you? Share it in a positive way that helped you take what they said and apply those ideas to your life. Most importantly, because of the speaker’s ability to make the words come alive, made your life, your job, your special ambitions move forward positively.

Let me share with you a personal example of what I mean.

Not long ago, I was at a luncheon. I was seated at a large, round table for ten. I’d arrived a little early. When two women sat down opposite me, I stood up to introduce myself. After shaking my hand, one of the women said, "You don’t know me but I heard you speak at a conference about seven years ago. What you shared changed my life. I’ve always meant to write to you and thank you. I’m so happy I can thank you now!"

You can imagine my feelings. It’s what we all hope for when we speak isn’t it.

However, that’s not the end of the story. About five minutes later two more people sat down in the remaining two chairs. Again I stood up to stretch across the table and shake hands. As I did so, one of these two new ladies said, "Betty, you gave a workshop for our Company about six years ago. What I learned from you that day changed my life. I apply your communicating strategies every day. I’ve meant to write and tell you so, but time just passes so quickly." Then she thanked me.

What a "WOW" day for me. This is what I want you to experience.

I want you to have the tools you need to make a difference when you talk one-on-one; to a group at work; in your community; or within your circle of family and friends. I want what you say and the way you say to be powerful. Powerful enough the people you talk to truly remember what you’ve said; are better for hearing it; and can act on your words.

If this isn’t happening to you over and over again, you really do need to order my first book, "Speak With Power". Because it is now an ebook, you can download it wherever you are in the world.

You also need to take the words of an old jazz song seriously. "It ain’t what you say it’s the way that you say it that gets results." I’ve proven those words to be true to the thousands of people I’ve coached or spoken to about speaking with power. However I‘ve added one word to that line. "It ain’t JUST what you say".

This is true whether you are talking one to one or presenting to a group. The way you say what you say makes all the difference.

All creatures are born with the ability to communicate. I have said for years; listen carefully to the cries a baby makes. You will know if the child is hungry, lonely, frightened or needs changing. The emotion behind the sound sends a clear message.

Not long ago Oprah Winfrey had a guest on her TV show. She was a specialist who had spent years studying the cries of children. What she said and showed endorsed what I have always noted and the jazz song underscores. She had video clips of hundreds of babies crying in different ways. No matter where they were their cries for their various needs were the same.

This ability to communicate is always there for us. As babies start to grow up, before they are even saying simple words they can express their needs with a simple "uh-uh" or "um-hum". It’s not what they are saying – it’s the way they are saying it that gets you to do what they want you to do!

The English language is a language of stress. Good stress! Not the "stress" that makes you feel nervous or fearful. It is the stress you put on the word you want to emphasize. It changes the meaning or intent of what you are saying. Such important clarity of intent depends on what I call "The 4 P’s to Speak with Pow!-R!"

How to use these four tools effectively is explained in my "Speak With Power" book available right here on this web site. However to get you started, here’s a quick example. The thought behind the word you emphasize is in (brackets). Read the sentences aloud.

HE was there. (not the other people) He WAS there. (Don’t tell me he wasn’t) He was THERE. (not somewhere else)

Let me close by sharing a quick way to get started on your road to speaking with power. I call it the first four steps up the ladder to becoming a person people will want to listen to.

Remember people ‘buy in’ emotionally first and justify logically. So the meaning behind the words must be clear. Don’t just say the words. Think of the meaning you want to share when you say them. To do this you have to go through this cycle.

• Feel it in your heart
• Think it in your head
• See it in your mind’s eye
• Then say it.

You will go through the steps in a flash – but you must go through all them on your journey to Speak With Power!