Tips for dynamite public speaking

I am, first and foremost, and will always be, an envelope salesman. My business card says so. But more people probably know me as an author and speaker — which evolved from my sales career. Who would have thought?

Regardless of the title on your business card, everyone is a salesperson whether you want to admit it or not. Why? Because from the time you get up in the morning until the time you go to bed at night, you are continually communicating, negotiating, persuading, influencing and selling ideas.

When you can get up on your feet and talk extemporaneously on a lot of subjects, it instills confidence, develops poise and breeds conviction. You become more convincing in your meetings and your encounters. And you become a better leader, manager and salesperson.

I never pass up an opportunity to promote Toastmasters International, which started in 1924 and today has more than 300,000 members in 126 countries and nearly 15,000 clubs. Toastmasters changed my life.

Another organization that can dramatically change your life is Dale Carnegie Training.

I am also a proud graduate of Dale Carnegie.

You may not aspire to a public speaking career, but chances are you will need to speak in front of a group at some point. I have a very useful tool to make speaking easier. It's called "Harvey Mackay's 35 To Stay Alive." It's available free at 35tostayalive.net. I've chosen a few key tips from that tool.

Have the first row set very close to the stage. Too much space between the speaker and the first row can destroy the connection with the audience.

Studies show people remember more and laugh more in bright areas. Turn the lights up full blast, unless you are showing overheads.

Practice, practice, practice. Know your stuff. Don't ever give another speech without it being entertaining as well as educational.

Never, never, never end your program with a question-and-answer session. You cannot control the agenda or the quality of the questions. Start the Q&A five minutes before the end of your talk, and then end with an awesome story.

Find out who the group's last three to five speakers were and how they were received. Ask why they were successful or why they failed.

Never mispronounce a person's name. If you're not sure, check with the sponsor. Then double-check.

Stick to your allotted time and don't go over it.

If you don't have a smashing "opener" and "closer," go back to the drawing board. Don't step up to the microphone until you do.

And finally, number 35 on the list: Debrief yourself within 24 hours of a speech, and take 10 minutes to write down what you could do better next time. Try something new every time you speak and you'll never become stale.

Mackay's Moral: A public speaker should stand up to be seen, speak up to be heard and shut up to be appreciated.