a speech on art

2 Minute Speech On Art & Craft [Best Example]

In this article, we are sharing an example of speech on art and craft. This example is written in easy-to-understand English language. This example will help you get an idea of how to compose a speech on a similar topic.

Speech On Art And Craft

First of all, good morning to the honourable principal, respected teachers and loving friends and all of you gathered here. In your special presence, I would like to deliver a speech on arts and crafts.

Whenever I hear the word “Art”, the first thing that comes into my mind is mother Nature. Have you ever noticed how artistic is our mother nature? Observe nature’s beauty to understand the meaning of art. How beautifully it has crafted every element that leaves us mesmerised.

In fact, the artwork done by artists and craftsmen is more or less inspired by nature . Art is an open-ended phenomenon, it has no limits just like the universe. An artist can never run out of ideas to create a new piece of art.

The human brain is designed in a way that seeks newness in everything. Art can bring newness but It can not be done through the skill of crafts. It is because the craft is a branch of art that reproduces a piece of art that already exists.

Art teaches us that there are an unlimited number of possibilities in the world. If one starts thinking just like an artist, he can find opportunities in each area of life, that no one noticed before. In fact, many people generated unique business ideas with the help of artistic thinking.

Due to the uniqueness of art pieces, many people wish to acquire them. Artists arrange bidding exhibitions in big cities to sell their art. You might be surprised to know that this industry did a business of 65 billion dollars this year.

On the other side, the craft industry sells more products than the art industry. People also like crafts. They buy handmade products crafted by artisans that possess expertise in a specific skill. Most importantly, this industry provides more jobs to people and helps them earn their living.

All in all, our life will become boring without art and craft. We can make our life beautiful and pleasing by embracing art. It is a skill that applies to music, painting, poetry, dance and more. Similarly, we can apply art in every aspect of life.

When you start thinking like an artist, you will see that we don’t know much about this world. This will inspire you to explore new possibilities. Thank you for listening to me.

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Author Interviews

Neil gaiman turns his grad speech into 'good art'.

Make Good Art

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A year ago, writer Neil Gaiman told the graduating class at Philadelphia's University of the Arts that life is sometimes hard — that things will go wrong in love and business and friendship and health, and in all the other ways that life can go wrong. And that the best thing an artist can do at those times is to "make good art."

That commencement speech became a hit on the Web and has now been adapted into a small book, titled, appropriately, Make Good Art.

When the unexpected happens, Gaiman says, "I think you're absolutely allowed several minutes, possibly even half a day to feel very, very sorry for yourself indeed. And then just start making art."

In the 1990s, Gaiman tells NPR's Neal Conan, he had spent several years working on a TV series in the U.K., and when it came out, it was met with "deafening silence — people didn't really like it very much."

But he put all of his upset and frustration about that failed series — Neverwhere — into writing a book, he says.

"And what's lovely is, over the years since then, the book has gone on to become this much-loved thing. And, actually, a couple of months ago, the BBC did a fantastic adaptation of the novel on the radio starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Sir Christopher Lee ... James McAvoy, these fantastic actors. And I thought, OK. You know, 15 years later, the thing fixed itself. The wheel turned."

Neil Gaiman's many books include American Gods, the comic book series The Sandman and, with graphic artist Chip Kidd, his latest, Make Good Art. His new novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, is due out in June.

Interview Highlights

On the lie he confessed to during the commencement speech

Neil Gaiman is also the author of Coraline , Amer ican Gods , Anansi Boys , Stardust and M Is for Magic . He was born in Hampshire, England, and now lives near Minneapolis. Kimberly Butler hide caption

Neil Gaiman is also the author of Coraline , Amer ican Gods , Anansi Boys , Stardust and M Is for Magic . He was born in Hampshire, England, and now lives near Minneapolis.

"It's not something that you could do in today's era of Google and easily accessible information. But when I started out as a very young journalist, phoning editors and just pitching stories, they would often say, well, who else have you written for? And I didn't want to say, well, I haven't actually written for anybody yet. So I would list likely sounding magazines — places that ... somebody like me might have worked for — and I got the jobs.

"And over the next six years, it became this mad point of honor for me to have worked for everybody on the list that I'd said in those first couple of months to people that I'd written for. So I wrote for ... all of these magazines in London, just so that later I could claim that I hadn't actually been lying, I'd just been slightly chronologically mixed-up."

On money as a motivator

"Whenever I did something where the only reason for doing it was money — and this was a lesson that I learned beginning with being a 23-year-old author hired to write a book about Duran Duran — that whenever I did something and the only reason for doing it was the money, normally something would go terribly wrong. And I normally wouldn't get the money and then I wouldn't have anything. Whereas, whenever I did anything where what prompted my doing it was being interested, being excited, caring, thinking this is going to be fun, even if things went wrong and I didn't get the money, I had something I was proud of. ...

"It's something that, you know, I forget. Sometimes somebody waves a paycheck and I go, 'I don't really have any reason for doing it, I'm not interested. But, yes, what amazing money, how can I say no?' And then I do it, and then I regret it. And you can almost feel the universe itself sighing, like, 'Why doesn't he learn this one?'

On the advice he got from horror writer Stephen King

More From Neil Gaiman

NPR's Backseat Book Club

Kids' book club: a 'graveyard' tour with neil gaiman, arts & life, watch this: neil gaiman's imaginative favorites.

"What I said in the speech, and what I say in the book, is the most important piece of advice I was ever given that I didn't pay attention to and I wished that I had, came in 1992 from Stephen King at a signing I did in Boston for a Sandman book called Season of Mists. And he came down. He saw the lines stretching around the block. He wanted to take me out for dinner, but the signing wasn't done until 10:30 at night. And I wound up in his hotel room with Steve and his family, and he said, you know, 'This is really wonderful, this is special. You should enjoy this. Just make a point of enjoying it.'

"And I didn't. I worried about it. I worried it was going to go away. I worried about the next story. I worried about getting things done. And there was a point, a good 15 years after that, where I finally started to relax. And I look back and I thought, you know, I could have enjoyed it. It all went just fine; my worrying about anything didn't change anything. ... I should have enjoyed it."

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Art and The Expression of Freedom

In her artwork Freedom of Speech , which is part of The Met collection, artist Faith Ringgold reflects on the history of the freedom of expression in the United States

A visit to The Met's sweeping halls, towering temples, and sunlit courtyards can offer an escape from our everyday realities. Yet some works of art in the collection draw attention to the very social issues that affect people's daily lives. Here we highlight two artworks by Faith Ringgold and Wendy Red Star that speak out against the mistreatment of cultures and communities. Both artists found a passion for art as kids and grew up to create artwork that considers how we make our world a freer and safer place.

Faith Ringgold (American, 1930). Freedom of Speech , 1990. Acrylic and graphite on paper, 24 x 35 3/4 in. (61.0 x 90.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase Gift of Hyman N. Glickstein, by exchange, 2001 (2001.288)

In the sixties, Faith Ringgold began to use written words and sentences in her art to make statements about the racism and sexism experienced in America by Black women like her. Ringgold's work reflects how Civil Rights activists at that time rallied support through posters, letters, and speeches. Thirty years later, Ringgold created her artwork Freedom of Speech , and its golden block letters still demand our attention. In Freedom of Speech , Ringgold painted an American flag and copied out the First Amendment onto the red stripes. The amendment says that all people should have the freedom to express themselves through religion, speech, or assembly, which means meeting in big groups. If you look closely, you can see that in the white stripes and stars, Faith packed in the names of people and communities who weren't safe to express themselves freely, even though the Constitution promised to protect them.

On the 39th star, for example, Ringgold wrote the name Fannie Lou Hamer, who was a moving public speaker and singer. During the sixties, Hamer organized voters in her community, especially Black working-class women like herself. Although Hamer and other activists were bullied, beaten, and jailed for training and registering Black people to vote, Hamer still went on to create the Mississippi Freedom Party, an organization that fought for Black voting rights and leadership in the state government.

Ringgold may have chosen the American flag as a background because of its power as a symbol, which means it connects to larger ideas. On the surface, the American flag can be a symbol of freedom and pride. Yet the meaning of freedom changes for people who understand that it is not guaranteed. For Fannie Lou Hamer, being a Black woman in America meant she was not treated fairly, and so the flag might have also reminded her of pain and struggle. When Ringgold includes Hamer's name on her painting of the flag, she honors her as someone who spent her life fighting for equal rights. Many other names crowd the flag in Ringgold's artwork, written in gold. Like Hamer, these people and their actions suggest deeper stories about the meaning and cost of freedom in America.

Wendy Red Star (Native American, Apsáalooke/Crow, 1981). Déaxitchish / Pretty Eagle , 2014. Inkjet print of artist-manipulated digitally reproduced photograph, 24 x 16 1/4 in. (61 x 41.8 cm) with additional 1" border. Image courtesy of the artist

Just like Faith Ringgold, Wendy Red Star writes messages in her artwork that remind us to treat all people fairly. To create the artwork above, Red Star started with a copy of a historic photograph: an actual portrait of Chief Déaxitchish, whose name means ''Pretty Eagle'' in the language of his people (the language Apsáalooke, also known as Crow).

Red Star researched the chief's story and found out he played an important role in American history. When the U.S. government wanted to build the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1880, it pressured Crow peoples to move off their lands. Pretty Eagle traveled with other chiefs to Washington, D.C. and met with President Rutherford B. Hayes to fight for their peoples' right to keep their homes. That's when the white photographer Charles Bell snapped the photo.

At that time, many white Americans didn't know much about Native peoples firsthand, and often formed opinions based on books they read, ideas they heard, or photographs they saw. They created dangerous pictures of Native peoples in their imaginations and believed that Native peoples were less intelligent, or all part of a single culture. As a result, when white artists took pictures of Native peoples, they didn't always present them as individuals with unique experiences. For example, Charles Bell often left out the names of the people he photographed, or incorrectly labeled them as belonging to the wrong nation.

By creating their own images and speaking up about who they are, Native peoples have resisted the false information that surrounds their communities. When Red Star saw this photograph of the chief, she wanted to bring out his personal story and details about Crow culture and history. Like Chief Pretty Eagle, Red Star is from the Apsáalooke or Crow nation and grew up in Montana. Red Star knew that the clothing Pretty Eagle wears in the photo reveals important details about the life of the stately man who looks out at us with dark, steady eyes. To highlight his special clothes and jewelry, she made notes on the photograph in bright red ink.

Left: Red Star points out the ermine fur on Pretty Eagle's clothes Right: Ermine fur on a Crow war shirt from the same time in history

War shirt . Made in Montana, United States, ca. 1880. Crow, Native American. Native-tanned leather, glass beads, pigment, wool cloth, ermine, human hair, and feathers, 41 x 59 7/8 in. (104.1 x 152.1 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of Native American Art, Gift of Valerie-Charles Diker Fund, 2017 (2017.718.6)

On the long white strips that hang from Pretty Eagle's sleeve, Red Star writes ''ermine'' to identify what they're made of and how important they were to him in his moment in history. The fur from ermine—a particular kind of weasel that turns white in the winter—is a symbol of power and bravery for Crow people. Think of Pretty Eagle wearing ermine to his meetings with the US President: not only did his presence and words command attention, but his clothing also told stories of the brave actions he took to become chief and the respect he had earned back home. Even though the six Crow chiefs had to travel over a thousand miles by wagon train and through snow to D.C., they wore their best clothes to show their pride in where they came from.

I can't stop looking at Chief Pretty Eagle's necklace. Can you imagine the time Red Star took to trace each tiny bead in red ink? Maybe she was imagining the person who made that necklace by hand. When she was a girl, she herself used to watch her grandmother design beaded jewelry and sew clothing on a sewing machine. When she grew up, Red Star sewed traditional outfits as works of art that connect to the creations of Crow women who came before her.

The power of the words in Red Star's artwork might remind you of the names Faith Ringgold included in her painting of the American flag. Like Red Star, Ringgold makes art that draws inspiration from the people around her. Born in 1930 in Harlem, New York City, Ringgold often stayed home as a girl to recover from asthma, but her mother gave her books to read, colored pencils for drawing, and fabric scraps to piece together. From her window high on Sugar Hill, Ringgold could see past the oak trees of Central Harlem all the way to the Empire State Building. On nights when she didn't want to go to bed, she stayed up listening to the women in her family talk about their lives. As an adult, she stitched visions of the neighborhood into quilts and created storybooks inspired by her relatives' words. Remembering their voices, she found her own.

Faith Ringgold and Wendy Red Star make written messages part of their artwork to speak up about situations they believe are unfair. Are there things you'd like to speak up about? Find an image from the news, your family photo album, or the Internet. With strokes of paint, or pen and pencil, you can write and draw over the image to convey your own ideas.

Visit #MetKids , a digital feature made for, with, and by kids! Discover fun facts about works of art, hop in our time machine, watch behind-the-scenes videos, and get ideas for your own creative projects.

Emily Sun is a MuSe intern for #MetKids media production and online features.

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The Art of Speeches and Presentations: The Secrets of Making People Remember What You Say

ISBN: 978-0-470-71184-2

Philip Collins

Be memorable.

Whether you like it or loathe it, public speaking is something many of us have to do. Be it presentations to colleagues or speeches to a room full of near strangers, we all want to shine…or at least get through it with our dignity intact. Luckily Philip Collins, former Chief Speech Writer to Tony Blair, knows exactly what’s needed to give a storming speech.

The secret, according to Philip, is content. Too many of us focus on how we’re presenting, and don’t spend enough time thinking about what we’re presenting. The secret to memorable, polished speeches is to think more about the material you’re sharing – to pay attention to detail and choose your works carefully. Speech writing is and art – and art we can all learn.

When the content’s right, the confidence will follow.

In The Art of Speeches and Presentations Philip Collins provides you with a concise set of tools, preparing you for any speaking occasion. Ranging from the ancient history of rhetoric to what makes Barack Obama such a good speaker, it’s packed with practical examples and tips to teach you the craft of speaking well and making people remember what to say.

“Does Phil Collins know what he is talking about? Here’s the answer – he isn’t just good, he is the best. It’s as simple as that. I spent years writing speeches for major politicians and I now speak publicly myself all the time, and yet there is so much that I can pick up from him and anyone who re4ads this book will too.”— Daniel Finkelstein, Executive Editor, The Times and former speech writer to William Hague

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This guide was created to take you along a step by step process to develop a speech. It is mainly focused on helping you brainstorm, identify, and define a topic to research.

This is a general guide, so it may vary from your classroom assignments. As always, refer to your professor and syllabus for your project requirements. 

Narrow Your Topic

Evaluate your topic, cite your sources.

Consider these questions:

• What subjects or ideas interest you?
• What kinds of life experience do you have?
• What kinds of issues have affected you or people you care about?
• Do you have a passion about an idea, a question, a subject? How can you explain or describe it such that others might be passionate about it as well?
• Does your subject have an edge? Does the topic have passionate supporters and opponents as well as being logical and reasonable? Is it debatable? Is it an unsolved problem?

A good practice is to make a list of ideas. As an example, here is an imaginary student’s list of ideas:

With the topics on your list, ask yourself these questions:

• Which topics are most worthy of your time?
• Why is your topic significant?
• Does it work with my assignment? (Is your speech informative, persuasive, etc.)

It is often beneficial (unless the topic is given or encouraged) to avoid heavily discussed topics. This helps to keep the speech interesting rather than giving an audience information they hear regularly.

Overused topics may include abortion, global warming, affirmative action, the death penalty, recycling, and sex and violence in the media. There is always a possibility to find an interesting angle or portion of the topic, but make sure you verify it with a professor first.

Let's take our student's list as an example. Our student might not want to write a speech on recycling, but maybe they have a a great way to reuse/remake something that is normally thrown out. This could work as a topic for a demonstration speech, though they would need to have the topic approved.

What are some other topics ideas from this list?

One way to develop these ideas is to make a concept map. Below is a sample of the student's concept map if they focused on knitting.

• Concept Mapping

Now this particular student enjoys mysteries and crime shows, because they like to figure out who the culprit is. The student needs to write an informative speech, and decides that they could inform others on how to solve mysteries.

Since it is a very large topic, the student decides to focus on helping people solve mysteries by informing them on how to tell if someone is lying .

After narrowing the topic, evaluate your speech to see if it is a good fit for your assignment.

• If it takes a while to explain your topic is either too complicated or too broad. Consider your time requirements and if you can adequately discuss the topic.
• Begin to focus on what you want to say and why. Part of this will already be dictated by the type of speech you are assigned. Making a concept map can help provide you with ideas.
• Who will hear the information? Will they have experience with the topic? What other factors will influence how they will interpret the information?
• You will want to use solid, scholarly information on the topic. General information might be easy to find, but you will need facts and research to back up your claims and information.

In our example the student’s evaluation would look like this:

Write out your research question or thesis statement. Underline words that you believe best represent the main ideas.

How can we determine if someone is lying to us?

Second, create a list of synonyms for each word you underlined and use these terms to search for resources.

Lying OR lie-spotting Face perception Body language. Deception.

You can add additional terms as you survey what is available:

Lying OR Deception AND workplace or business Friendship or workplace or business

As you gather resources be sure to evaluate the resources!

Check out the Searching Strategies for Websites and Databases for more tips. Check out the Evaluating Resources page to avoid choosing bad sources for your projects!

There are lots of reasons to provide references to the sources that you use.

Your audience may want to know how to investigate your topic further. By providing your resources you are helping others who are interested in the same topic.

You also need to credit the people who did the research you are using otherwise you will be claiming it is your own (even if unintentionally doing so). Plagiarism is a serious offense.

Here is a definition of plagiarism:

“Plagiarism is appropriating someone else's words or ideas without acknowledgment. To understand plagiarism we must consider two questions: (1) How is plagiarism like or unlike theft— (2) Why is plagiarism considered wrong; why should we acknowledge the originator of an idea.”

(Encyclopedia of Ethics. London: Routledge, 2001. Credo Reference. 17 April 2009 <http://www.credoreference.com/entry/7915618>.)

Just like in college writing, speeches should provide your audience with verbal cues to the information you have used: the SOURCE where you found your information. (This might be an interview, scholarly article, book, or website, etc.); the AUTHOR, when available, and the DATE when your source was published or accessed (for web sources and interviews).

Here are three ways to incorporate citations for your speech:

• Use quotation marks to attribute words of another person on your note cards. You can express quotations in your speech in several ways.
• Provide credit or citation such that the audience can trace back to the original source.
• Paraphrasing the main ideas WITH correct attribution.  A paraphrase will replace some of the words while keeping the main idea of the original work.

For more information on how to cite sources, see the “Citation” page in this guide.

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Turn Your Favorite Words of Wisdom into Beautiful Art

A new company called Epic Frequency turns historic audio files into artwork

Megan Gambino

Senior Editor

This Epic Frequency print captures the famous line from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Courtesy of Epic Frequency.

If public speaking is an art form, then presidential elections produce some masterpieces—from memorable speeches and powerful sound bites to well-timed digs in the debates.

But Bill Seaver and Nathan Moore, two innovators from Nashville, have taken this idea to the next level. Their new company, Epic Frequency , takes the aural high points in history and actually transforms them into visual showpieces for your home.

According to the company’s Web site, the idea came to the co-founders one evening four years ago when they were recording their monthly podcast on new media and technology. (Seaver is a social marketing consultant, and Moore is a web developer.) It struck the two of them that the jagged waveform of an audio file in recording software is quite eye-catching. Why not select some of the most significant speeches and audio clips in history, they thought, and print the waveforms in bright colors on large black canvasses?

Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream,” an Epic Frequency print based on the civil rights leader’s famous speech delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. Courtesy of Epic Frequency.

Epic Frequency launched just last week with nine initial offerings. The works of art include Neil Armstrong’s “One Small Step,” Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall,” Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Fear Itself,” John F. Kennedy’s “Ask Not,” Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” Albert Einstein’s explanation of “E=MC 2 ,” President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration speech and, not to ignore this election season, both Mitt Romney and President Obama ‘s convention speeches.

The criteria for choosing clips, says Moore, is “reflected in our name.” The speeches have to be epic . “Every audio recording that we select must have played an important role in our history. Usually these are moments that truly defined that era. They are glimpses into our past that changed the way we looked at the world,” he says.

On the side of each canvas is a QR code. A viewer can scan the barcode with their cell phone to access a mobile version of the print, with the actual audio overlaid on it. This way, one can listen to the speech and follow along with the peaks and valleys of the waveform. The company will sell 5,000 prints of an iconic speech, before retiring that particular design.

Clearly, Epic Frequency bridges art and history. But, of course, I am especially interested in how the concept combines art and science. What can these works teach people about sound? The artwork itself is data. So, what can viewers gather from it?

“We have continually been fascinated by the information that can be uncovered by analyzing the waveforms,” says Moore. “Since the sound amplitude is represented, volume and cadence become immediately apparent.” Seaver told Wired that he thought President Obama might have a speaking style similar to that of Martin Luther King, Jr., based on a visual comparison of their speeches.

Neil Armstrong “One Small Step.” Courtesy of Epic Frequency.

The co-founders have their artistic preferences. They tend to think that the shorter the recording, the more visually appealing it is, because the sounds and silences are more pronounced in the waveforms. When looking at the “One Small Step” print, says Moore, you can almost hear Armstrong’s words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” uttered on July 21, 1969.

Epic Frequency is even venturing into personal histories, creating custom prints based on audio clips that customers provide. “We have definitely had some interesting requests,” says Moore. “Most are romantic or sentimental in nature, such as ‘I Love You,’ wedding vows or a baby’s first cry.”

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Megan Gambino is a senior web editor for Smithsonian magazine.

“Just Do It”

This speech was originally delivered by Art Williams at the 1987 National Religious Broadcaster Convention.

Speech Transcript

I was asked to talk to you about how to win in business. I think it’s a good subject for you to think about because I believe business in America is in a crisis situation today. All you have to do is read the paper, and every month see our trade deficit, and it’s just a very depressing situation.

To speak to you about how to win in business, there’s a lot of obvious things I could talk about. You first have to find a need. You’ve got to fill the need for the consumer out there. You’ve got to have a market. You got to have somebody to sell your product or your service to. You’ve got to, if you really want to get big and win big, you’ve got to have a uniqueness, there’s got to be something a little bit different from you than all the competition out there. But by far the most important thing you’ve got to have to win in business in these United States today, is a very unique kind of mental toughness.

I believe the difference in winning and losing in the free enterprise system, is so small it’s almost too scary to talk about. You can 99% of the things right in business, and yet if you don’t possess what I call that winning edge, that mental toughness, folks it’s impossible to win.

I believe the thinking in corporate America has been screwed up over these last 20-25 years. And I believe this screwed up kind of thinking started in our big liberal universities today. I believe a college degree in business from most universities today, is not worth the paper it’s written on.

I just had a son graduate from the University of Georgia a few months ago. The reason I think that, is because most of these professors and most of these universities today, haven’t got enough common sense to get in out of the rain. They don’t have any idea what it takes to win out there in the real world. They deal in a bunch of theory. These people have tried to fill up corporate America with this kind of thinking.

These are the special people, if you’re born rich, if you’re born on the right side of the track, they rule you the privileged class in America. If you’re born poor from an average ordinary background like I came from, they say you’re supposed to give up all your big dreams and all your big ambitions and all your big hope. If you have a high IQ, they rule you brilliant. If you have an average IQ, like me, they say you ought to drive a truck or be a janitor.

Well bull. That ain’t the way, that ain’t the way it is and that ain’t the way it ever was. They ain’t nobody ever designed to test, nor will they design a test, that can measure the heart of a man or woman. The things that are unique to winning in business in America today, are not outside artificial things like IQ’s, college board scores, college degrees, and stuff like that.

The key to winning in these United States, is what’s inside a person. It’s your integrity. It’s your people abilities. It’s your character.

I believe in developing this winning edge. I’ve got 212 points that I won’t be able to go over with you tonight, but let me just give you a flavor of what I think you got to do to succeed in these United States.

Number one, you’ve got to get excited. Folks, I don’t believe anybody will ever tell you anything more important than this in winning these United States. 90 plus percent of winning in anything you try to do in America today, you’ve got to be excited. People in America won’t follow or believe in a negative, dull, disillusioned, frustrated, dadgum cry baby. People want people that are positive and excited and enthusiastic and tough.

The greatest lesson. The greatest definition I ever heard. I thought about this 10 million times when I wanted to quit along the way of a winner. This guy said, “Almost everybody in America can stay excited for 2 or 3 months. A few people can stay excited for 2 or 3 years, but a winner will stay excited for 30 years or however long it takes to win.”

Another key to building this winning edge and this mental toughness, is you got to become a dreamer again. You know I’m a Methodist and we just changed ministers a few weeks ago, and our new minister came in and the church was just packed. And the first thing he said is, “Well looks like everybody came out to see the mucky perform.” And the second thing out of his mouth, he said, “For a church to be a great church, you got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, you’re dead.” And boy I sat up and I said, man me and this guy are going to get along good because he knows what he’s talking about.

See folks, I believe in order to win, you got to feel good about yourself. When I was coaching football for 7 years back in Georgia, and I had a paddle in my coaching office it was about this thick and this long. And at the fat end I had little holes bored into it, so you could really get some speed and blister that little butt. You know when they misbehaved, and I had a rule on my football team that if any kid said I can’t, if any football player heard one of my football players said I can’t, he got to bring him in the coaches’ office and give him three licks. And it took me about a month to get all that thinking out of my players every year, and I’d have football players knock on my door at recess and at lunch and after school. And he said, “Coach, he said it. Coach, he said it.” And I’d make that kid bend over and I’d give that other kid the board, he’d bust him three times. And folks, it didn’t take long. You couldn’t create a word game to get one of my kids to say I can’t.

Bring it home a little bit more personal, when April and little Art were just this little and could understand words. Every time they said I can’t, I made them do three push-ups. Folks, there ain’t nothing you can’t do in America if you want to bad enough.

Another key in building this winning edge, is folks you’ve got to stand for something. People in America, the good people in America, are fed up with here with these dadgum fence sitters and mealy mouths. Our corporate America has an especially black eye in business today. Most people in America think you can’t find a company; they think you can’t find a salesperson, that’ll tell you like it is and stand behind their word. They think these companies will sell anything, say anything, just to make a sale, just to make a profit. Well you know what, folks if you want to win in the free enterprise system in America today, you’ve got to stand for something.

And another point, thank you, Is you, is yes, you’re going to be controversial. Folks, if you want to win in these United States today, just get ready. You’re going to be controversial. The only way not to be controversial is to be average and ordinary. They just call me anything but average and ordinary.

Now I know some of you might say, “Well you know, I don’t think I like Art Williams. He sounds like an old tough butt to me.” Well folks, I’m telling you, you can be good and tough at the same time.

I bet nobody’s ever talked to a religious broadcaster like that.

Another key, another key to developing this winning attitude that’ll give you a chance to do something great in American business, is folks you’ve got to make a total commitment to what you’re about. Do you know almost … The American people have lost their toughness. They’ve lost their ability to make a commitment.

See folks, in trying to win in business you’re just going to have so many false starts. You think you get it going time after time, and you just get knocked back to ground zero. And it’s your ability to compete, to pick yourself up off the bat one more time, to go for it one more time, that’s going to determine success or failure.

You know we’ve got a divorce rate in America, some 50% right now. You know it just seems like that people that go in business today, they have an attitude well I’m going to stick my toe in it. If I start making all this money, get all these promotions, then I’ll see this thing through. Well folks, that’s not the way it works.

The first step to winning in business in America today, is you’ve got to make a total commitment. Total commitment gives you that little extra ounce of courage you need to fight back through the tough times. Winning in business, demands the same kind of commitment that winning in marriage demands.

You know I fell in love with my wife in the second grade. Only girlfriend I ever had. We went off and got married our freshman year, had both of our children before we left college. We’re true business partners in marriage. We go everywhere together. I spend more time with her, been married to her 26 years, and I’ve got two grand babies, love them more today than I ever have. But I don’t like her all the time.

There’s a bunch of times everyday that I don’t like her. You know I’m a nut about brushing my teeth. If I can get a toothbrush, I’ll brush my teeth 4, 5, 6 times a day. And Angela’s always forgetting everything, you know. She always leaves the cap off the toothpaste, you know. And when I go in there to brush my teeth, the cap’s off so it’s got that hard little crust around the edge, and that just burns me more than I can tell you.

I get on Angela’s nerves about a lot of things. We were having dinner last week, and every time we’d get through Angela kicks me under the table. You know what gets me back in my room, and says, “Art, you ain’t got no class. I wish Art you could learn to eat with your mouth closed.”

But see folks, if you want to win in business, everything’s not going to work out like you want it too but you’ve got to be committed. I want to have great kids. I want to have a wonderful relationship. I want to have tremendous grand babies.

Another key in building this winning edge in business, is you’ve got to learn to treat people good. Another thing’s that these universities pollute America corporations with, is this attitude you better not get to know your employees. You better not become friends or get to know the spouse or the children, of your employees because you might have to fire them. You might have to reassign them. And if you’re close friends, you can’t manage people in a tough minded way. Bull.

Folks, the only way to manage people and get the most out of people, is treat them good. Learn to love them and care about them. Yes, it hurst from time to time, but it’s the only way.

You know everybody you work with in business, you’ve got to look at them and pretend there’s a flashing sign on their chest. Everybody’s asking you, make me feel special. Make me feel important. Say something good to me. I want to be somebody.

Another key of winning in business in America today, is folks you got to establish the right kind of priorities. First company I went with 15 years ago, was ITT. When I was out there struggling, dying every day, wanting to quit and go back in coaching a thousand times. My first hero’s in this business were Vice President’s at ITT making 40 or 50 thousand dollars a year. And I said, “Man if I could ever get to be that kind of person, it’d be a dream come true.” I couldn’t want anymore out of life.

A few years later I earned the right to get promotions to that level and found so many of my heroes in business, their personal lives were a disaster. They were alcoholics and divorced 3 and 4 and 5 times.

I just read an article about an author of In Search of Excellence, and I saw where he says, “I can’t find evidence of any successful business person in America that’s not tunnel vision, that just doesn’t give everything to business.” Folks, I said back then, 15 years ago, that if that’s the price you’ve got to pay to win in business, it’s not worth it.

15 years later, a multi-millionaire. Folks, I can stand and preach to you but you can’t separate your personal life from you business life. God’s got to come first. You’re family’s got to come second. And business has to got to come third. And I believe if you have a lousy spiritual life, and a lousy personal life, long range it’s going to be devastating to your business.

Another thing in building this winning attitude. Another thing in building this winning attitude in business, you know I see tall people making big in business and short people, dumb people and smart people, fat people and skinny people, but if you cut open the winners in business I see a heart of a champion. And all these are competitors, and they don’t quit.

I believe desire and will to win, is everything. I don’t know why I’m like I am, but my butt’s always burning. There’s always something say, “Art dadgumit, you’re supposed to go for it. Art dadgumit, you’re supposed to be somebody. You’re supposed to make a difference with your life.”

What does a $500000 year person do, that a $50000 a year person doesn’t do? You look at the outside and study those two individuals, everything seems to be the same. They both are the same sex. They both are the same age. They have the same training, the same positions. The same contract. The same French benefits. They both are successful. They work hard. They’re good family people, make tough commitments. But what’s the difference? What does the $500000 a year person do, the $50000 a year person doesn’t do?

He pays the price of a little bit more. He works hard and a little bit more. He’s loyal to the company and a little bit more. He bleeds and a little bit more. He makes money and a little bit more. He saves money a little bit more.

If you want to win in these United States, you got to be tough, and you can’t quit.

The last thing I’ll talk to you about today in building this winning edge, is folks if you want to win in business, you got to be a leader. Leadership is everything. You show me anything in these United States that win, I’ll show you a leader at work. You show me a successful church, Boy Scout troop, club, football team, business; I’ll show you something run by a leader.

See I thought at one time in my life, you had to be smart to win. I used to have these smart people that dressed so pretty, and talked so pretty, and used these big words. They just intimidated me. I said, “Art you can’t ever be that good. Why don’t you just throw in the towel and go on back and coach football for a living?”

And I found two things out about smart people. I think it’s almost impossible for a smart person to win in business in America today, because I find smart people spend their whole lifetime figuring things out. They always trying to figure out an easier way, and a quicker way. And another thing I found out about smart people, is they just don’t get around to doing nothing.

And see somebody like Art Williams, everybody said, “Well he can’t do it. Somebody like that can’t do it.” But he does it.

See folks, I want you to know almost everybody in America almost does enough to win. They almost get there. They almost are over the hump. They almost have it going. They almost, in everything they do, almost is a way of life to almost everybody in America. But the winners do it.

What do they do? They do whatever it takes to get the job done. They do it, and do it, and do it, and do it, and do it, until the job gets done. And then they talk about how great it is to be somebody they’re proud of.

We need leaders in America who can do it. If you want to become somebody, do it. If you want to go in business for yourself, do it. If you want to become financially independent, do it.

I hear too much talk in these United States, everybody can talk a good game. We need people in America, who can do it. I go all over this country … and I have people say, “Art, you can count on me.” Wonderful. Just do it.

“Art, I guarantee this is my last stop. I’m going to win now.” Super duper. Just do it.

“Art, if I could just have one good month and get the ball going I know I could make it big.” Super. Just do it.

“Art, if I could just pay off this debt I could really go.” Great. Just do it.

“Art, if I could just sell my house.” Do it. “But houses ain’t selling?” Do it anyway.

“Art, I’m not making any money. What can I do?” You just do it. “Do what Art?” You do it, and do it, and do it.

“Art, I guarantee I’m going to win this contest.” Super duper. Just do it.

“Art, I’m over the hump now, watch my smoke.” Great. Just do it.

“Art, I want to make it so bad I can taste it. What do I do?” You just do it.

“Art, I’m a Vice President now, can I quit doing it?” Nope. “Art, I don’t know if I can keep on keeping on. I’m really hurting. What do I do?” You just do it. “Do what Art?” You do it, and do it, and do it.

“Art, all my life I wanted to be somebody important.” Well do it then.

“Art, I’m going to save money so I don’t have to go through this again.” Great. Just do it.

“Art, I don’t feel like I’ve had enough training. What do I do?” You just do it.

“Art, my manager don’t give me no help. What do I do?” You just do it. “Art, you don’t understand. I was Mr. Everything at my former company. You don’t mean I have to start off down here at the bottom and do it, do you?” Yep. You really got to do it.

“Art, what’s the primary difference between winners and losers?” The winners do it.

They do it, and do it, and do it, and do it, until the job gets done. And then they talk about how great it is to have finally have achieved something you need. And how glad they are that they didn’t quit like everybody else. And how wonderful it is to finally be somebody they’re proud of. And make a difference with their life.

Thanks for reading. You can get more actionable ideas in my popular email newsletter. Each week, I share 3 short ideas from me, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question to think about. Over 3,000,000 people subscribe . Enter your email now and join us.

James Clear writes about habits, decision making, and continuous improvement. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits . The book has sold over 20 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 60 languages.

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• All Speeches

1 Minute Speech on Art is Essential to Life in English

Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends, a wonderful morning to all of you. Today on this special occasion, I would like to speak some words on the topic- Art is Essential to Life.

We all have artistic impulses hidden in us. These talents and impulses nurture our soul and help us create beautiful things, whether it is music, stories or drawings. We must do our best to bring out these talents and hone them, because we cannot live without art or beauty.

Related Posts:

Think & Play Bigger!

Public Speaking Is An Art

Public speaking is an art. I will tell you why and it is my hope that you will engage yourself in learning and enjoying public speaking.

Public Speaking Was A Chore

When I was young, I was not into public speaking . It was a chore. It was something you have to go through each day during class recitations. Though it feels great when a teacher says ” very good”, it was never an enjoyable experience.

That’s because I had no control. I speak to survive, not to express myself.

I gained more exposure to public speaking in high school. I was a member of a Marian group. We pray every day. Seminarians visit our school once a week. They taught us about leadership and Christian piety.

At the same time, I was a member of Patronato, a Sunday class at the Church of Antipolo.

I got many opportunities to speak without being graded. I was free to speak my mind and express my feelings. Those experiences helped me appreciate public speaking.

But it took me 20 more years to pay attention to developing skills in public speaking.

When I entered the seminary after high school, I was amazed by the number of hours seminarians invest to prepare themselves for public speaking engagements.

For example, one seminarian who was to deliver a one-hour challenge talk had to practice his speech for two days, six hours each day. His speeches were remarkable. He owns it. No one speaks like him. And I can say the same for others.

During this time, I was an imitator as a public speaker. I hear something from speakers and I can tell the story myself. I tweak stories for new audiences.

New seminarians are copycats. Until I realized that there was an Easter Sunday, two years before I entered the seminary when I was original.

Public speaking is an art. It is a visual expression of who you are, what you believe the world to be, and what it means to you and your audience.

Speak because you want your audience to see the world you see, to experience what you experience, and to be one with them.

The public speaker is an artist.

You can use the word walk to describe yourself when walking. Everyone knows what it means. But as a public speaker, you explore other words to paint meanings.

You will choose between amble or bounce, clump or falter, hike, hobble, limp, lumber, mince or march, pace, parade or promenade, peregrinate, plod, pound, prance, ramble, roam, saunter, and wander. Hues are many, and you the artist decide what you want us to hear, see, feel, smell, and experience.

As an artist, go beyond what words can paint.

Use gestures. Gesticulate to show how big is big and how small is small. Use gestures to show fast and slow, chaos and flow. Show us how many or how few, how high or low. The artist knows how and when he can use his hands.

Use your face to show when you are cheerful, contented, delighted, ecstatic, elated, glad, joyful, peaceful, pleased, thrilled, upbeat, blessed, captivated, gay, gleeful, gratified, intoxicated, jolly, laughing, light, looking good, or on cloud nine. You have a thousand faces.

You don’t have to wear a mask to show that you are guilty or sad, the artist in you can make us see and feel what you see and feel.

Use your voice. With your voice alone, tell us that the message is “for our ears only”. You hint. You gossip. You insinuate. You scream, howl, roar, cry, yap, yell, and yammer.

We can close our eyes, but we can’t close our ears to you. Create a visceral experience with your voice.

Use your body. Don’t just walk. Bounce, march, prance, or mince. To show how you feel, walk away, walk around, or walk forward. Jump. Kneel. Sit. Do all these because you want your audience to see and feel what you mean.

Rearrange your words and you can change meanings. Stop talking to create meaning.

Choose to tell stories. Pick a pencil and tell a story about it. Pick an avocado seed and you can make your audience imagine that it grows. Give each of them a can of soda and have everyone shout “I CAN! Public speaking is a participatory art.

It is an art about us and for us.

Public speaking is an art and every art has its patrons. Through your speech, create a world we all truly care about. Think of the public speaking artist Martin Luther King Jr and his art “I Have A Dream”.

Most of us remember the second part of his speech, not the first part. The first part was propaganda. It was created by a committee. It was meant to achieve a political objective. That it was made by a committee does not make it less art. But every art has its audience.

The second part of his speech was about the art meant for the people in his audience. It was heartfelt because it was what everyone was dreaming about, deep in their hearts, be they white, black, yellow, brown, or whatever color.

This is why I love public speaking. It is a lifestyle, a discipline, a science, and an art. I breathe it and smell it and feel it.

You Are the Art of Public Speaking

As I have said earlier, public speaking is a “visual expression of who you are, what you believe the world to be, and how it means to you and your audience.” You can study the many elements of public speaking and make people see your message.

But there is something that I want you to realize today.

You are not just the messenger, you are the message in public speaking. You are not just the artist, you are the art of public speaking.

This is very important, because whoever you think you are you communicate with the world.

You will form your words around your beliefs. You will use your hands, arms, body, facial expressions, and voice around your beliefs.

As artists, we have to know ourselves so we can share our art.

The artist becomes that art.

Let me explain.

Public speaking, often perceived as a mere delivery of words, is an intricate dance of authenticity, beliefs, and emotions.

Every time you stand on a podium, it’s not just about conveying a message; it’s about revealing a piece of yourself, your essence, and your beliefs.

Much like how a painter’s every stroke tells tales of her emotions and vision, a speaker’s words and gestures paint a vivid canvas for the audience.

Think about fashion, for instance. An outfit isn’t just fabric; it’s a tangible expression of someone’s personality and mood. Similarly, as a speaker, your words drape you in your beliefs, experiences, and emotions, providing depth to your message.

The music we cherish, its rhythm and lyrics, can be paralleled with public speaking. A speaker’s tone, pace, and pauses create a symphony, with stories and beliefs as its lyrics.

This harmonious blend composes a tune that can deeply resonate, inspire, or uplift its listeners.

The key to effective public speaking lies in self-awareness .

Just as a musician must understand his instrument or a painter her palette, a speaker should deeply understand their own values and beliefs. This connection with oneself allows a speaker to convey messages with clarity and genuineness.

Public speaking is an art form, a dance, a song, a canvas.

But what sets it apart from other arts is that the artist isn’t just delivering the art; the artist is the art. By embracing this, you can truly leave an indelible mark in the minds and hearts of your audience.

So, the next time you stand to speak, remember, you’re not just sharing words, you’re showcasing yourself, and in that vulnerability and authenticity lies unparalleled power.

Jef Menguin

Faqs about public speaking, what are the purposes of public speaking.

The most common purposes of public speaking are to inform, educate, indoctrinate, entertain, sell, persuade, motivate, inspire, and evangelize. You can effectively achieve its purpose by understanding your audience and practicing techniques that can help you get your message across.

Why is public speaking important?

Public speaking allows you to communicate with other human beings to inform, educate, entertain, and inspire them. Public speaking communicates better than writing because you are not only using your voice. You are using your whole body to express yourself.

Does public speaking get easier?

Public speaking gets easier with practice. It is a science you can study. You can learn techniques and the best practices of influential speakers. As an artist, you become more creative as you gain more exposure to public speaking too. If at first, you find it difficult to speak, there will come a time when you’ll find it difficult to stop. That’s because there is much that you want to express.

Can you teach us public speaking?

I will be happy to teach you public speaking. I want you to have the confidence and ability to express yourself. Through public speaking, we can enrich each other’s lives.

Why is public speaking a performance?

When you engage yourself in public speaking, you set goals. Your effort to achieve your goals is performance. You use your voice, hand, face, and every part of your body to express yourself. Your lips dry, and your needs shake because your brain tells you you are performing. And, like all performances, you can master public speaking.

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I'll dive deep into your questions on my podcast and articles, offering actionable advice, strategies, and stories from my experiences. No question is too big or too small—if it's on your mind, it's worth exploring. Submit your questions.

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15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Powerful speech opening lines set the tone and mood of your speech. It’s what grips the audience to want to know more about the rest of your talk.

The first few seconds are critical. It’s when you have maximum attention of the audience. And you must capitalize on that!

Instead of starting off with something plain and obvious such as a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Good Morning’, there’s so much more you can do for a powerful speech opening (here’s a great article we wrote a while ago on how you should NOT start your speech ).

To help you with this, I’ve compiled some of my favourite openings from various speakers. These speakers have gone on to deliver TED talks , win international Toastmaster competitions or are just noteworthy people who have mastered the art of communication.

After each speaker’s opening line, I have added how you can include their style of opening into your own speech. Understanding how these great speakers do it will certainly give you an idea to create your own speech opening line which will grip the audience from the outset!

Alright! Let’s dive into the 15 powerful speech openings…

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

1. Ric Elias

Opening: “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”

How to use the power of imagination to open your speech?

Putting your audience in a state of imagination can work extremely well to captivate them for the remainder of your talk.

It really helps to bring your audience in a certain mood that preps them for what’s about to come next. Speakers have used this with high effectiveness by transporting their audience into an imaginary land to help prove their point.

When Ric Elias opened his speech, the detail he used (3000 ft, sound of the engine going clack-clack-clack) made me feel that I too was in the plane. He was trying to make the audience experience what he was feeling – and, at least in my opinion, he did.

When using the imagination opening for speeches, the key is – detail. While we want the audience to wander into imagination, we want them to wander off to the image that we want to create for them. So, detail out your scenario if you’re going to use this technique.

Make your audience feel like they too are in the same circumstance as you were when you were in that particular situation.

2. Barack Obama

Opening: “You can’t say it, but you know it’s true.”

3. Seth MacFarlane

Opening: “There’s nowhere I would rather be on a day like this than around all this electoral equipment.” (It was raining)

How to use humour to open your speech?

When you use humour in a manner that suits your personality, it can set you up for a great speech. Why? Because getting a laugh in the first 30 seconds or so is a great way to quickly get the audience to like you.

And when they like you, they are much more likely to listen to and believe in your ideas.

Obama effortlessly uses his opening line to entice laughter among the audience. He brilliantly used the setting (the context of Trump becoming President) and said a line that completely matched his style of speaking.

Saying a joke without really saying a joke and getting people to laugh requires you to be completely comfortable in your own skin. And that’s not easy for many people (me being one of them).

If the joke doesn’t land as expected, it could lead to a rocky start.

Keep in mind the following when attempting to deliver a funny introduction:

• Know your audience: Make sure your audience gets the context of the joke (if it’s an inside joke among the members you’re speaking to, that’s even better!). You can read this article we wrote where we give you tips on how you can actually get to know your audience better to ensure maximum impact with your speech openings
• The joke should suit your natural personality. Don’t make it look forced or it won’t elicit the desired response
• Test the opening out on a few people who match your real audience. Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary
• Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you

4. Mohammed Qahtani

Opening: Puts a cigarette on his lips, lights a lighter, stops just before lighting the cigarette. Looks at audience, “What?”

5. Darren Tay

Opening: Puts a white pair of briefs over his pants.

How to use props to begin your speech?

The reason props work so well in a talk is because in most cases the audience is not expecting anything more than just talking. So when a speaker pulls out an object that is unusual, everyone’s attention goes right to it.

It makes you wonder why that prop is being used in this particular speech.

The key word here is unusual . To grip the audience’s attention at the beginning of the speech, the prop being used should be something that the audience would never expect. Otherwise, it just becomes something that is common. And common = boring!

What Mohammed Qahtani and Darren Tay did superbly well in their talks was that they used props that nobody expected them to.

By pulling out a cigarette and lighter or a white pair of underwear, the audience can’t help but be gripped by what the speaker is about to do next. And that makes for a powerful speech opening.

6. Simon Sinek

Opening: “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?”

7. Julian Treasure

Opening: “The human voice. It’s the instrument we all play. It’s the most powerful sound in the world. Probably the only one that can start a war or say “I love you.” And yet many people have the experience that when they speak people don’t listen to them. Why is that? How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?”

How to use questions to open a speech?

I use this method often. Starting off with a question is the simplest way to start your speech in a manner that immediately engages the audience.

But we should keep our questions compelling as opposed to something that is fairly obvious.

I’ve heard many speakers start their speeches with questions like “How many of us want to be successful?”

No one is going to say ‘no’ to that and frankly, I just feel silly raising my hand at such questions.

Simon Sinek and Jullian Treasure used questions in a manner that really made the audience think and make them curious to find out what the answer to that question is.

What Jullian Treasure did even better was the use of a few statements which built up to his question. This made the question even more compelling and set the theme for what the rest of his talk would be about.

So think of what question you can ask in your speech that will:

• Set the theme for the remainder of your speech
• Not be something that is fairly obvious
• Be compelling enough so that the audience will actually want to know what the answer to that question will be

8. Aaron Beverley

Opening: Long pause (after an absurdly long introduction of a 57-word speech title). “Be honest. You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

How to use silence for speech openings?

The reason this speech opening stands out is because of the fact that the title itself is 57 words long. The audience was already hilariously intrigued by what was going to come next.

But what’s so gripping here is the way Aaron holds the crowd’s suspense by…doing nothing. For about 10 to 12 seconds he did nothing but stand and look at the audience. Everyone quietened down. He then broke this silence by a humorous remark that brought the audience laughing down again.

When going on to open your speech, besides focusing on building a killer opening sentence, how about just being silent?

It’s important to keep in mind that the point of having a strong opening is so that the audience’s attention is all on you and are intrigued enough to want to listen to the rest of your speech.

Silence is a great way to do that. When you get on the stage, just pause for a few seconds (about 3 to 5 seconds) and just look at the crowd. Let the audience and yourself settle in to the fact that the spotlight is now on you.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about starting the speech off with a pure pause that just makes the beginning so much more powerful. It adds credibility to you as a speaker as well, making you look more comfortable and confident on stage. 

If you want to know more about the power of pausing in public speaking , check out this post we wrote. It will give you a deeper insight into the importance of pausing and how you can harness it for your own speeches. You can also check out this video to know more about Pausing for Public Speaking:

9. Dan Pink

Opening: “I need to make a confession at the outset here. Little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I’m not particularly proud of. Something that in many ways I wish no one would ever know but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal.”

10. Kelly McGonigal

Opening: “I have a confession to make. But first I want you to make a little confession to me.”

How to use a build-up to open your speech?

When there are so many amazing ways to start a speech and grip an audience from the outset, why would you ever choose to begin your speech with a ‘Good morning?’.

That’s what I love about build-ups. They set the mood for something awesome that’s about to come in that the audience will feel like they just have to know about.

Instead of starting a speech as it is, see if you can add some build-up to your beginning itself. For instance, in Kelly McGonigal’s speech, she could have started off with the question of stress itself (which she eventually moves on to in her speech). It’s not a bad way to start the speech.

But by adding the statement of “I have a confession to make” and then not revealing the confession for a little bit, the audience is gripped to know what she’s about to do next and find out what indeed is her confession.

11. Tim Urban

Opening: “So in college, I was a government major. Which means that I had to write a lot of papers. Now when a normal student writes a paper, they might spread the work out a little like this.”

12. Scott Dinsmore

Opening: “8 years ago, I got the worst career advice of my life.”

How to use storytelling as a speech opening?

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” Steve Jobs

Storytelling is the foundation of good speeches. Starting your speech with a story is a great way to grip the audience’s attention. It makes them yearn to want to know how the rest of the story is going to pan out.

Tim Urban starts off his speech with a story dating back to his college days. His use of slides is masterful and something we all can learn from. But while his story sounds simple, it does the job of intriguing the audience to want to know more.

As soon as I heard the opening lines, I thought to myself “If normal students write their paper in a certain manner, how does Tim write his papers?”

Combine such a simple yet intriguing opening with comedic slides, and you’ve got yourself a pretty gripping speech.

Scott Dismore’s statement has a similar impact. However, just a side note, Scott Dismore actually started his speech with “Wow, what an honour.”

I would advise to not start your talk with something such as that. It’s way too common and does not do the job an opening must, which is to grip your audience and set the tone for what’s coming.

13. Larry Smith

Opening: “I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you’re going to fail to have a great career.”

14. Jane McGonigal

Opening: “You will live 7.5 minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

How to use provocative statements to start your speech?

Making a provocative statement creates a keen desire among the audience to want to know more about what you have to say. It immediately brings everyone into attention.

Larry Smith did just that by making his opening statement surprising, lightly humorous, and above all – fearful. These elements lead to an opening statement which creates so much curiosity among the audience that they need to know how your speech pans out.

This one time, I remember seeing a speaker start a speech with, “Last week, my best friend committed suicide.” The entire crowd was gripped. Everyone could feel the tension in the room.

They were just waiting for the speaker to continue to know where this speech will go.

That’s what a hard-hitting statement does, it intrigues your audience so much that they can’t wait to hear more! Just a tip, if you do start off with a provocative, hard-hitting statement, make sure you pause for a moment after saying it.

Silence after an impactful statement will allow your message to really sink in with the audience.

Related article: 5 Ways to Grab Your Audience’s Attention When You’re Losing it!

15. Ramona J Smith

Opening: In a boxing stance, “Life would sometimes feel like a fight. The punches, jabs and hooks will come in the form of challenges, obstacles and failures. Yet if you stay in the ring and learn from those past fights, at the end of each round, you’ll be still standing.”

How to use your full body to grip the audience at the beginning of your speech?

In a talk, the audience is expecting you to do just that – talk. But when you enter the stage and start putting your full body into use in a way that the audience does not expect, it grabs their attention.

Body language is critical when it comes to public speaking. Hand gestures, stage movement, facial expressions are all things that need to be paid attention to while you’re speaking on stage. But that’s not I’m talking about here.

Here, I’m referring to a unique use of the body that grips the audience, like how Ramona did. By using her body to get into a boxing stance, imitating punches, jabs and hooks with her arms while talking – that’s what got the audience’s attention.

The reason I say this is so powerful is because if you take Ramona’s speech and remove the body usage from her opening, the entire magic of the opening falls flat.

While the content is definitely strong, without those movements, she would not have captured the audience’s attention as beautifully as she did with the use of her body.

So if you have a speech opening that seems slightly dull, see if you can add some body movement to it.

If your speech starts with a story of someone running, actually act out the running. If your speech starts with a story of someone reading, actually act out the reading.

It will make your speech opening that much more impactful.

Related article: 5 Body Language Tips to Command the Stage

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Final Words

So there it is! 15 speech openings from some of my favourite speeches. Hopefully, these will act as a guide for you to create your own opening which is super impactful and sets you off on the path to becoming a powerful public speaker!

But remember, while a speech opening is super important, it’s just part of an overall structure.

If you’re serious about not just creating a great speech opening but to improve your public speaking at an overall level, I would highly recommend you to check out this course: Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking on Udemy. Not only does it have specific lectures on starting and ending a speech, but it also offers an in-depth guide into all the nuances of public speaking. 

Being the founder of TED Talks, Chris Anderson provides numerous examples of the best TED speakers to give us a very practical way of overcoming stage fear and delivering a speech that people will remember. His course has helped me personally and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn public speaking. 

No one is ever “done” learning public speaking. It’s a continuous process and you can always get better. Keep learning, keep conquering and keep being awesome!

Lastly, if you want to know how you should NOT open your speech, we’ve got a video for you:

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Everything You Need to Know About Giving a Brother of the Bride Speech

• Author: Natali Grace Levine
• Reading time: 7 min 41 sec
• Publication date: 09/09/2024
• Updated: 09/09/2024

How to Write a Brother of the Bride's Wedding Speech

Brother of the bride speech examples, things to avoid in brother's speech for sister's wedding, brother speech at sister’s wedding faqs.

Stepping up to the microphone as the brother of the bride comes with its own unique set of emotions. Pride, joy, a touch of nervousness—it's a significant moment where you get to share your thoughts and feelings about your sister's big day. Whether you're a seasoned speaker or a novice at public addresses, crafting a speech that captures the essence of your relationship and the joy of the occasion is crucial. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to deliver a memorable and heartfelt brother-of-the-bride speech. Let’s dive into creating a speech that not only honors your sister but also resonates with every guest in the room!

Creating a memorable wedding speech as the brother of the bride means weaving together emotion, humor, and personal touches that celebrate your sister’s big day. Here’s a detailed guide on crafting a speech that will resonate with the audience and make the day even more special for your sister:

• Open with Heart: Begin your speech with a warm welcome to all the guests, expressing your happiness on this joyful occasion. It's always a good move to start with something light-hearted or a gentle joke to ease yourself into the speech and capture the audience’s attention.
• Express Gratitude: Acknowledge the people who played significant roles in making the day possible. Thank the parents, the other members of the wedding party, and specifically mention any family or friends who have traveled a long way to be part of the ceremony.
• Reflect on Shared Memories: Share anecdotes that illustrate your relationship with your sister. These can range from humorous childhood memories to poignant moments that highlight her qualities. The key is to pick stories that not only entertain but also show her character and the bonds you share.
• Compliment Her Qualities: Speak to your sister's unique traits and achievements. Whether she’s incredibly creative, fiercely independent, or the most caring person you know, let these qualities shine through your words. This not only personalizes the speech but also lets the audience see her through your eyes.
• Welcome the Spouse: Make a point to formally welcome the bridegroom into your family. Discuss your positive impressions of them, your initial meeting, and the qualities that make them a perfect match for your sister. It's important to strike a balance between celebrating your sister and acknowledging her partner's role in her life and happiness.
• Share Wisdom: If it feels appropriate, offer some light-hearted or sincere advice to the couple. Drawing from your own experiences or even quoting advice from beloved family members or cultural wisdom can add depth to your message.
• Conclude with a Toast: End with heartfelt wishes for the couple’s future. Raise a toast to their health, happiness, and a lifetime of love. Make sure your closing lines are hopeful and uplifting, leaving both the couple and the guests feeling positive and moved.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Practice your speech several times. This helps you manage any nerves and ensures that you deliver it smoothly on the day. It also allows you to fine-tune timing and pacing, ensuring your delivery feels natural and engaging.
• Stay True to Yourself: While it’s great to draw inspiration from other speeches, make sure your speech feels true to who you are. Your sister will appreciate the authenticity and personal touch, making the speech memorable for all the right reasons.

By following these steps, you'll be able to craft a speech that not only honors the occasion but also deeply touches your sister and all the guests, creating a memorable moment during the wedding celebration.

When it comes to delivering a memorable speech as the brother of the bride, having a few examples can be incredibly helpful. The tone and content of your speech can vary greatly depending on your relationship with your sister, the style of the wedding, and your personal comfort with public speaking. Below, you’ll find three diverse examples of brother of the bride speeches.

Funny Brother of the Bride Speech

"Ladies and gentlemen, grab a drink and settle in; you're about to enjoy the shortest fairy tale ever — once upon a time, I had to share my room with my sister, Sarah, and now, thankfully, that burden falls to Tom! But in all seriousness, I couldn’t be happier. From stealing my baseball caps to stealing my heart with her kindness, Sarah has been the best sister anyone could ask for. Tom, she’s all yours now, but no refunds or exchanges, please! Here's to a lifetime of love, laughter, and finding my hats in your closet instead of mine. Cheers!"

Short But Heartfelt Brother of the Bride Speech

"Good evening, everyone. As Sarah’s big brother, I’ve had the joy of watching her grow from a feisty little girl into the beautiful woman she is today. Sarah, you've always been my partner in crime, my confidant, and my friend. It fills my heart with joy to see you so happy with Tom. Tom, take good care of her; she's a gem. To my sister and her new husband, may your life together be filled with endless love and joy. Here's to new beginnings and unforgettable memories. Cheers!"

Formal Brother of the Bride Speech

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to stand here today as the brother of the bride. On behalf of our family, I extend a heartfelt welcome to all of you and a special acknowledgment to Tom’s family, who we are delighted to join through this blessed union. Reflecting on the journey Sarah has made, from her early days filled with ambition to the wonderful, compassionate person standing before us, I am overwhelmed with pride. Sarah, your strength and grace inspire me daily. Tom, your integrity and passion are evident, and I am confident in the beautiful life you will build together. May your marriage be a beacon of love and stability in all seasons of life. To the bride and groom!"

When you’re standing up to speak at your sister’s wedding, the aim is to enhance the joy and celebration of the day. However, there are certain pitfalls you should avoid to ensure your speech contributes positively to the occasion. 

Inside Jokes and Obscure References

While it’s tempting to include personal jokes or references, remember that the audience is diverse, and not everyone will understand them. Avoid alienating guests with humor or anecdotes that are too specific to your family or friend group.

Mentioning Past Relationships

It might seem humorous to bring up past flings or relationships, but a wedding is a celebration of the couple’s future together. Bringing up past relationships can be uncomfortable, not just for the bride and groom, but also for the guests.

Inappropriate or Offensive Humor

Keep the content of your speech appropriate for all ages present at the wedding. Avoid any humor or stories that are off-color or offensive. Remember, what might be funny in a more private setting could be inappropriate at a wedding.

Rambling and Overly Long Speeches

Keep your speech concise and to the point. A long, rambling speech can lose the audience’s attention and detract from the flow of the wedding festivities. Aim for a speech that’s about 3-5 minutes long, as this is usually enough time to say what’s heartfelt and meaningful without dragging on.

Excessive Teasing

While light teasing can add a humorous touch to your speech, be cautious not to overdo it. Too much teasing can embarrass your sister and make the speech feel more like a roast than a tribute. Balance any teasing with genuine compliments and affection.

Overly Emotional Content

While it’s perfectly fine to show emotion, be mindful of not turning the speech into an overly emotional ordeal. Keep the tone balanced; it’s a celebration, after all. Share touching moments or tear-jerking memories sparingly and focus on celebrating this happy milestone.

Delivering a speech as the brother of the bride can feel like a daunting task, especially if you're not accustomed to public speaking. To help ease any anxiety and ensure you're well-prepared for this honorable role, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions about giving a brother of the bride speech. 

Q1: How long should the brother of the bride speech be?

Aiming for a speech length of about 3-5 minutes is ideal. This duration is long enough to include a heartfelt tribute, a couple of memorable anecdotes, and well-wishes for the couple, without losing the attention of your audience. If your speech is engaging and well-paced, it will feel neither rushed nor drawn out.

Q2: Is it okay to read from a paper?

Absolutely, it's perfectly fine to read from a paper or note cards. Many people find that having a written copy helps them stay organized and calm during the speech. However, try to maintain eye contact with the audience as much as possible. Practicing your speech several times before the big day can help you become familiar enough with your text that you can look up from your notes frequently and engage with your audience.

Q3: What if I get emotional during the speech?

It’s completely natural to feel emotional while giving a speech at your sister’s wedding. If you find yourself getting choked up, take a moment to pause, take a deep breath, and compose yourself. The guests will understand—after all, it’s a significant moment for you as well. If you anticipate being very emotional, practice your speech more to get accustomed to saying the words out loud. This can help manage emotions on the day of the wedding.

Q4: Can I use quotes in my speech?

Including a meaningful quote can add a thoughtful touch to your speech. Whether it’s a famous saying, a line from a poem, or a piece of advice from a family member, make sure the quote enhances your message and fits seamlessly into your speech. Choose something that resonates with the sentiment you wish to convey and ensure it aligns with the tone of the rest of your delivery.

Q5: How do I make my speech memorable?

To make your speech memorable, focus on delivering it with sincerity and personal touch. Include specific anecdotes or qualities about your sister that highlight your unique relationship. You can also incorporate a meaningful quote, a brief poem, or a special message from other family members who couldn’t attend. Engaging with your audience through eye contact, expressive delivery, and genuine emotion will also help make your speech stand out.

Q6: What is the best way to end a speech?

The best way to end your speech is on a positive, uplifting note. You can do this by expressing your best wishes for the couple's future, proposing a toast, or sharing a hopeful or inspiring thought about love and marriage. Ensure your closing words reflect the joy and significance of the occasion, leaving both the couple and the guests feeling inspired and celebrated.

Q7: Is it appropriate to make references to the bride's childhood or family traditions?

Yes, referencing the bride's childhood or family traditions can add a rich, personal layer to your speech. These references can evoke nostalgia and offer the audience deeper insight into her background and the formative experiences that have shaped who she is today. However, ensure these references are shared with a tone of respect and affection, and are relatable enough so the broader audience can appreciate them.

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James Earl Jones, Whose Powerful Acting Resonated Onstage and Onscreen, Dies at 93

He gave life to characters like Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King,” and went on to collect Tonys, Golden Globes, Emmys and an honorary Oscar.

James Earl Jones in 1980. He climbed to Broadway and Hollywood stardom with talent, drive and remarkable vocal cords. Credit... M. Reichenthal/Associated Press

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By Robert D. McFadden

• Sept. 9, 2024

James Earl Jones, a stuttering farm child who became a voice of rolling thunder as one of America’s most versatile actors in a stage, film and television career that plumbed race relations, Shakespeare’s rhapsodic tragedies and the faceless menace of Darth Vader, died on Monday at his home in Dutchess County, N.Y. He was 93.

The office of his agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed the death in a statement.

From destitute days working in a diner and living in a $19-a-month cold-water flat, Mr. Jones climbed to Broadway and Hollywood stardom with talent, drive and remarkable vocal cords. He was abandoned as a child by his parents, raised by a racist grandmother and mute for years in his stutterer’s shame, but he learned to speak again with a herculean will. All had much to do with his success.

So did plays by Howard Sackler and August Wilson that let a young actor explore racial hatred in the national experience; television soap operas that boldly cast a Black man as a doctor in the 1960s; and a decision by George Lucas, the creator of “Star Wars,” to put an anonymous, rumbling African American voice behind the grotesque mask of the galactic villain Vader.

The rest was accomplished by Mr. Jones himself: a prodigious body of work that encompassed scores of plays, nearly 90 television network dramas and episodic series, and some 120 movies. They included his voice work, much of it uncredited, in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, in the credited voice-over of Mufasa in “The Lion King,” Disney’s 1994 animated musical film, and in his reprise of the role in Jon Favreau’s computer-animated remake in 2019.

Mr. Jones was no matinee idol, like Cary Grant or Denzel Washington. But his bulky Everyman suited many characters, and his range of forcefulness and subtlety was often compared to Morgan Freeman’s. Nor was he a singer; yet his voice, though not nearly as powerful, was sometimes likened to that of the great Paul Robeson. Mr. Jones collected Tonys, Golden Globes, Emmys, Kennedy Center honors and an honorary Academy Award.

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