Resources
& Articles
How to Create the Conditions for Lasting Change (with Tamsen Webster)
Last week I had the incredible honor of sitting down for a livestream Q&A with my friend Tamsen Webster to discuss her latest book, Say What They Can't Unhear.
Tamsen is the idea strategist for the legacy conference TEDxCambridge, now TEDxNewEngland. She is also the author of modern classic Find Your Red Thread, and affectionately known to us in the industry as "The Idea Whisperer."
In this article I'm recapping some of the biggest insights from our conversation about how to create lasting change.
How To Thoughtfully Respond To Public Disagreement
Can we agree that "thought leadership" has lost a bit of its cache? It's also rather confusing. What IS thought leadership? I don't know, but I know all true thought leaders do three things: Make assertions, make judgments, and make predictions.
The problem? When I give this advice to my clients they often feel anxious. And when I inquire, they tell me the anxiety comes from a fear of being wrong... but that’s not it. The real fear? It’s the fear of being disagreed with. Publicly.
And that's totally understandable. Disagreement can feel like an attack on your credibility, your authority, or even your identity.
But here’s the thing: there's no leadership without disagreement.
How to Strengthen Your Brand with a Core Emotion
Learn how powerful branding works by pairing a core message with a core emotion. This article explores how intentional messaging creates emotional connections, using a personal anecdote to illustrate the impact of consistent, emotionally-driven communication that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.
Why Paradigm Shifts are More Important Than Solutions
Imagine you tell me you're tired of sitting in traffic every day on the way to work and I immediately try to sell you on signing up for my new proprietary mindfulness app.
What would you do? Probably ignore me.
Why? Because in your mind, the problem is traffic—not your attitude.
It's not until I help you shift your perspective from thinking the problem is purely about time spent in traffic to understanding that it's really about how you manage stress and find peace in unavoidable situations, that my solution starts to make sense.
Why Frameworks are Better Than Tactics
What do an activist duo, a financial expert, and a magician have in common? Their recent TEDx talks, while wildly different in execution, were all built on the same powerful framework. In this week's article we explore how reaching for frameworks instead of tactics can elevate your communication and drive impactful change, no matter your message.
If you've ever sat down to a blank page before writing a speech, presentation, email, blog, or social media post, this article is for you.
How To Make Your Audience Put Away Their Phones
In this week's article we're going to learn why audiences tune out, take out their phones, or close your video - and how to instantly (and easily) engage them instead.
No matter what kind of presentation you're giving - a keynote speech, workshop, or TED-style talk - there's one constant: if the audience isn't engaged, the presentation will fail.
Distracted, bored audiences don't learn and they definitely don't take action.
If they don't take action, your ideas will not spread.
What Going Gluten-Free Taught Me About Messaging
In a world filled with endless choices and constant noise, clarity is a gift - to both you and your audience. Just like those gluten-free signs helped me navigate my new dietary restrictions, clear messaging can help your customers navigate their needs quickly so they can confidently make decisions. It's easy to assume that what is obvious to us is obvious to everyone else. But the reality is, our customers are juggling numerous priorities, just like I was juggling my grocery trip with a fussy toddler.
Your First Step on the Road to the Red Dot
In this week's article, I break down how Carole distilled decades of expertise on the incredibly complex science of balance into a simple, 9 minute video at TEDxBocaRaton... That has already spread to 130,000 people in just 3 weeks 😲
Continue reading for the breakdown, and to watch her talk as it's going viral in realtime. It might just help you make sure the last years of your life aren't the worst years of your life.
Why Professional Speakers Often Fail on the Red Dot
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.
How the Sales Process Helps You Deliver a Better Speech
Learn how to deliver a better speech by using the sales process to understand your audience's true needs. This article provides practical techniques for asking the right questions, uncovering insights, and creating meaningful connections. Perfect for speakers looking to enhance their impact and engagement.
What Modern Family's Phil Teaches Us About Powerful Messaging
Explore effective communication techniques through Phil's contrasting strategies with his daughters in "Modern Family." Learn to move your audience by understanding their desires and fears, using real-life examples to master empathetic, audience-focused messaging. Ideal for leaders and communicators aiming to drive meaningful action and engagement.
Why the Most Powerful Short-Form Speeches Do These 3 Things
Clarity Up founder Brian Miller's top three lessons for delivering impactful TED-style speeches based on extensive experience with Speaker Slam and successful client engagements. Learn how to define a compelling throughline, utilize storytelling effectively, and bring fresh perspectives to common topics to captivate and motivate audiences towards meaningful action.
The One-Page Keynote:
How to Design a Speech That Always Works, No Charisma Required by Brian Miller
#1 Bestseller
US • UK • Canada • Australia
“The One-Page Keynote deserves a place on your desk, not on your shelf.”
Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
past President, National Speakers Association; author of Deliver Unforgettable Presentations
