00:00 Welcome to Steal The Show with Michael Port. From speeches to job interviews to deal-closing pitches, how to guarantee a standing ovation for all the performances in your life. This is Friday fan-mail, common and comical public speaking questions and answers. You have questions; I’ve got the answers. And if you like the answers, head on over to stealtheshow.com and check out all of the bonuses I give you when you buy the book “Steal The Show.” Content creation and storytelling templates, tickets to live events around the country, public speaking video documentaries and online training programs, and much much more. My goal in life is to delight and entertain you and to help you think bigger about who you are and what you offer the world.

00:48 Today’s question comes from Phil Collins in Nebraska. Hey, Phil. You have a familiar-sounding name. So, here’s your question. Phil’s question. “What’s the best way to create a powerful opening?” Bottom line, cut to the chase. Don’t waste time with filler. Things like “I’m happy to be here,” or “Oh my god, what a beautiful space. I noticed that there’s a big parking lot outside,” or “Hey, did you see the Tesla in the driveway?” Or any number of other things that people use as filler just to try to get themselves comfortable. But what you need to do is get right to it. Now, this is art. Public speaking, performance, et cetera. It’s all art. There isn’t one way to make it. So you can take it really easy, or you can make a big splash of an opening. One of my friends, Pat Flynn, recently did a speech where he actually came on stage dressed as Michael J. Fox driving a Delorean, an actual Delorean, on the stage. It was quite an opening. Now that’s a show-stopper in a good way. That’s a steal the show kinda moment. But you don’t have to do that. That’s quite expensive, I imagine, and you can simply, if you’re relaxed, you can smoothly move right into your presentation, and you’ll be fine. You captivate your audience’s attention from the moment that your speech begins because you’re focused. You’re focused. There’s no filler. There’s no unnecessary information. You’ve cut the fat.

02:25 And one of the biggest mistakes that people make when they’re stepping onto stage is wasting time. So don’t waste anybody’s time. I won’t waste your time. You won’t waste anybody else’s time. The best thing you can do with your time, however, is read “Steal The Show.” So pick it up anywhere books are sold, or go to stealtheshow.com. Get your copy there. Lots of bonuses, free giveaways, and prizes when you buy the book from stealtheshow.com.

02:57 Since I don’t wanna waste your time, my promise to you is this: If you read the book and you don’t love it, which would be a surprise, but if you don’t love it, just send me an email with your name and your address, and I’ll buy you another book of your choice that teaches public speaking or performance, because I want you to be successful no matter where you get the information. So if you like this podcast, please go ahead, subscribe. If you like this podcast, please give it a five-star review so you can spread the word and help other people shine in the spotlight moments of their life as well. You’ll be doing a good public service. This is Michael Port, signing off. Bye for now.