Speaking at the Harvard Business School in 2014, Casey Gerald, soon to work on MBAs Across America, gave a powerful speech about how important it is for a business person to overcome fear. He made effective use of parallel structure in his introduction:
"I arrived four years after applying..."
"I arrived after spending a year in the hallowed halls..."
"I arrived after a failed attempt..."
Parallel language like this ties a speaker's ideas together. Parallel phrases create a sequence in the audience's minds.
Gerald wove his speech around the terrifying personal experience of being a crime victim. He overcame the horror, and it motivated him to maximize his accomplishments. He showed how to turn the negative into the positive. He continued to show how to work for a cause greater than himself. He illustrated his points with many specific examples. He ended with a call to commitment and action.
These are good lessons for any speaker. People identify with specifics, not with generalities. People care about a speaker's personal experiences. Never underestimate the power of an energetic young speaker.
Once again, studying excellent speeches is the best way to learn to give good speeches.
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