How to Develop a Terrific Speech Quickly

First, here's what NOT to do:

Don't try to write out your speech or talk from start to finish because that's the least productive and most painful way to create your speech.

Most people take that approach but it's very difficult to create a good speech that way because it's too linear.

Instead, sit down with a pad of paper and a pen or sit in front of your word processor with a blank page, and write down the following sentences (leave space underneath each of these sentences because you'll write out

1. What's my purpose for making this speech? - What's my goal and desired outcome?

2. What's the #1 most important point I want to make?

3. Besides my #1 most important point, what are the top 3 points I want everyone to remember and "take home" after my speech?

Now answer each of these questions one by one, starting with your purpose: what exactly is your goal and your purpose for making this speech? Is it to educate? Is it to sell? Is it to persuade? Is it to inform? Is it to entertain?

You may have more than one desired outcome, that's okay, just write down what your goals are.

Next answer question number 2 - yes, you have to pick just one main point you want to make. Pick the #1 most important thing you want people to leave with. This may be hard for you to decide, or it may be obvious and easy to choose. But choose you must!

Then answer question number 3: what specifically are the top 3 main points (besides your #1 most important point) that you want people to remember?

Now that you've got all of that clear and in writing - yes you must write this down, don't just think about it! - you've got a huge head start on creating a terrific speech.

The next thing to do is to come up with a summary of your main points. Write a summary of your main points that is concise and clear.

After writing it, speak it out loud and make changes so that it flows smoothly - always keep in mind that written words come out differently when spoken, so adjust your summary so that it flows when you speak it.

Make sure your summary covers all the main points you want to cover. Think of your speech like a sandwich: the outer layers of bread are your summary - you're going to give that summary as an overview near the beginning of your talk, and also restate that summary at the end of your speech.

Now, underneath each of your main points, what are the sub-points that comprise that main point? Create bullets - i.e., brief sentences that are important about that point. Now you've got a complete outline and structure for your speech!

Give your speech a test run and see how it flows. Smooth out the rough edges and you're done!