Most people agree stories are powerful. So why do we default to facts, stats, and frameworks when it’s time to pitch an idea, write a post, or deliver a talk? Because it feels safer. More “professional.” Less vulnerable. And that’s exactly why people tune out.

“Just chill!”

“There’s nothing to worry about!”

“You’ll be just fine!”

If you’ve ever been told these things before giving a talk – or have said some version of these to yourself – then you know they don’t quite work.

Why? Because it’s very hard to control the mind with the mind.

This is both good news and bad.

In this week's article, let's figure out when and where to focus on brevity, clarity, or both.

You’re about to be interviewed on a podcast. You know the general topic you'll be asked about, but you have no idea what questions will be thrown your way. Oh, and you only have eight minutes. Plus, it won't be edited.

In this week's article I'm breaking down how I used our Core Messaging system to be totally prepared without any rehearsing, and delivered a knockout interview.

In 2024, our team at Conquer the Red Dot® had the privilege of helping 7 students book their talks and 11 speakers to deliver the talk of their dreams at conferences including TEDxAlexanderPark, TEDxBocaRaton, TEDxWesternU, and TEDxBelltown Women.

They spoke on topics from finance to activism to mental health to the science of balance, racking up a combined 1,724,000 views and one Editor's Pick.

In this week's article, we're discussing how you can turn your audience's attention into true engagement so they'll stick around long enough to hear about your brilliant solutions.

Being a subject-matter expert, and sometimes even being a great speaker, are no guarantee that you’ll know what works best for one specific talk. We do a lot of work with people delivering TED-style talks, and we see this all the time:

• They think they need a story… but don’t know which one to tell

• They believe it needs to be backed by science… but don’t know how much research to mention and how to describe it

• They think it needs to inspire people… so they turn into motivational speakers

Try as you might, that fire is never going to catch 🤷‍♂️

And those are just three out of dozens of things a speaker needs to consider.

In this article, we're going to look at two common mediums, or vehicles, for speakers to deliver their content: keynotes and workshops.

What are they, what is their purpose, and what can we do to ensure our message is received in the best possible light?

Learn the essential strategy for opening any talk, presentation, or pitch with impact. This guide explains why typical tactics—like starting with a story, statistic, or question—often fall short, and introduces the “Premise Principle” for engaging your audience from the first sentence with clarity and purpose.

I’m scrolling through my feed when I see it again: another 'professional' venting about clients expecting top-quality work for pennies—or worse, for free.

“Why don’t clients value our work?!” the post reads. “It’s like they think I should be grateful for exposure! I’ve spent years perfecting my craft, and they still ask me to work for next to nothing!”

I shake my head and start to scroll by, but I just can't let it go. This problem is SO easily solved, and it starts by asking yourself a simple question:

"Is there anyone else in my market doing similar work and getting paid more?"

Discover why professional speakers often fail in TED-style talks and learn the key differences between keynote speeches and Red Dot presentations. This article offers practical advice for both polished keynote speakers and experts new to public speaking, ensuring your message is clear, concise, and impactful.

Discover why data alone fails to engage and inspire action, as evidenced by a poignant personal anecdote. Learn how storytelling captivates emotions, leading to meaningful action, backed by research insights. Explore the dynamic interplay between narrative and data for effective communication and driving change.