RSS, Podcasts, PowerPoint as a CD, slideshows, MP3…the list of high technology solutions for communicating seemingly grows every day. But none of these has replaced the impact of a big speech. All of these high tech solutions serve as ways to amplify the big speech. If you doubt me, just try going to Google news and type in “Bill Gates” + keynote or “Steve Jobs” + keynote. Thousands of web pages pop up, all within the last few days.

The more high tech the world become, the more people want to see newsmakers in the flesh. Bill Gates’ speech is often the highlight of the Consumer Electronics Show. Steve Jobs keynote is the highlight of MacWorld. The keynote speech at the national political conventions plus the acceptance speeches of the nominees get the lion’s share of media attention.

My point? Sure you must continue to learn new technologies, but for every hour you spend learning or using a new technology, you should spend just as much time (if not more) learning how to give a great speech.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 at 5:59 pm and is filed under Audio/Video Technology, CEOs/Financial, Great Lectures, Public Speaking Skills, Speaking, keynote speaking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.