Speaker Steals Intellectual Property

How would you like that to be the headline after your speech?

But sometimes people steal without realizing it - especially intellectual property. However ignorance has never been a valid legal nor ethical defense. Of course stupidity and arrogance are not acceptable arguments either.

I witnessed this speaker as she clearly used copywrited music and video in her presentation, (popular music, TV Theme song, Video commercials, main stream movies). She used so many clips from so many sources that I cannot imagine how she obtained permission. And at no time did she allay the concerns of her audience by stating that she had obtained permission to use this copywrited material.

I can only assume that she stole. She took something that wasn’t hers, didn’t get permission, didn’t pay for it nor acknowledged the source. On top of that she did it with that haughty corporate executive superior ‘can’t touch this’ attitude.

Some might suggest that the theft of Intellectual Property doesn’t hurt anyone.
Tell that to authors.
Tell that to patent holders.
Tell that to artists.
Tell that to inventors.

Yes, I know that in corporate meetings, managers and executive get away with pirating Dilbert cartoons. It’s theft. I wonder how those corporate executives would feel about entrepreneurs stealing their Intellectual property.

The irony about this speaker was that she was speaking to a public meeting of entrepreneurs. She warned entrepreneurs that corporate purchasing departments would steal their designs if they could. She warned the entrepreneurs to protect their Intellectual property.

Yet while warning about the illegal behaviour of her colleagues, she was demonstrating her own blatant theft. I don’t believe this speaker was stupid. She appeared intelligent and educated. She expressed an understanding of the value of Intellectual property, therefore could not profess ignorance. Her manner conveyed arrogance – in that Conrad Black divine entitlement way. So I can only conclude that she was a thief - a blatant and arrogant thief.

Funny that this speaker told me how excited she was that she was now writing and speaking for a professional association. I wonder if they read the headline. I wonder if she did.

Speaker Steals Intellectual Property


PS: No I will not tell you who this speaker is.

PPS: Yes, if you are this speaker and you call me to ask if I mean you – I will tell you.


George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives




Two voices - at the same time!

Have you tried to listen to two people talking to you at the same time?

You don’t hear either one.

When you speak be sure that your listeners are hearing one voice at a time.

Don’t talk to them while you want them to read.

Don’t talk to them while you want them to listen to an audio track.

Don’t talk to them while you want them to think.

If you want people to listen when you speak – speak only when they can listen.


George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives

Presentation Skills Success

How to prepare, write, rehearse and deliver your speech, presentation or public speaking program from the “Speech Coach for Executives” – George Torok.

Your presentation is the vehicle for delivering your message and to create results. A successful presentation is one that moves people to action.

You know it was a success if... read more

George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives


What is the Value of your Speech?

How do you measure the value of your speech?

Is the value of your speech based on:

How long you spoke?
How long you prepared?
Your education or title?


If you are toying with any of those yardsticks – you are way off.

The real value of your speech is based on the value of what you make happen as a result of your speech.

So if your sales presentation closed a $10M deal – it was a $10M speech.

If your impassioned plea generated $30,000 in association revenue – it was a $30,000 speech.

If your presentation inspired another $100,000 in donations – it was a $100,000 speech.

If your talk inspired your staff to work together and finish the $3M project on time – it was a $3M speech.

If your speech pushed the button on a $25,000 sale – it was a $25,000 speech.


Knowing that, what will you do to better prepare?
What will you invest in making your speech a success?

Consider this: Million Dollar Speeches don’t come cheap.


George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives

Robin Williams is a Genius


My friend and I were watching, “Robin Williams On Broadway”. We both were laughing and enjoying the antics of Robin Williams when my friend exclaimed, “Robin Williams is a genius.”

And without thinking I replied, “Yes he is a genius and a skilled master.”

My friend responded, “He is a genius.” I repeated my statement. My friend could see only the art.

Because I am trained in the skill – I saw and appreciated the technique.


Learning points:
We see what we are trained to see.

Presentation skills are more about learned skill than talent.

George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives

Public Speaking Problem

Q:
Hi, I do a lot of public speaking. My problem is that unconsciously my eyes flutter when I speak. I speak often so I do not feel nervous, but when I watch myself on tape I am stunned at how fast my eyes flutter.
Is there something I can do to correct this?
Thanks,
Mike

A:Hi Mike,
A curious condition.
Hard to be sure without seeing you speak and flutter.
I wonder if your eyes tend to flutter at other times.
Are you only noticing it on your speaking tapes because you don't tape yourself at other times?Has anyone else ever pointed this out to you?
Maybe it is not a problem or maybe it is and you do it more often than you know.
If it is only occurring when you speak - then nerves and adrenalin could explain the fluttering. The eyes are cleaning themselves to prepare you for danger - fight or flight response.

Try this exercise before you speak: (Don't let your audience see you doing this)
Flutter your eyes quickly for 10 seconds. Then close your eyes for 10 seconds and while doing this breathe in and out slowing for only one cycle, i.e. breathe in for 5 seconds then exhale for 5 seconds.
Then open your eyes and focus on one point while doing the same slow breathing exercise.
This exercise can help you focus attention and control on your eyelids (even though blinking is an automatic reaction you can temporarily take control). The slow breathing conditions you to link that to your eyelids, so when you speak you only need to focus on slow breathing to have some control of your eyes.

George Torok
Executive Speech Coach
Presentation Skills Specialist
Keynote Speaker
www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com

To get your free monthly tips on presentation skills register at http://www.torok.com/presentation/free.html



Picture your Audience in their Underwear

Years ago the advice given to nervous public speakers was to picture their audience in their underwear.

What stupid advice.

I understand the reason for this misinformed advice. The speaker was anxious and possibly feeling intimidated by the audience. So if the speaker could picture the audience in their underwear that might feel less intimidating.

But think about it – do you really want to see your audience in their underwear?

There are only two possibilities to this question.

Yes – you do - that would be way too distracting.

No – you don’t - that would also be way too distracting.

My advice to you?

Picture your audience as they are – contemporaries who have come to listen to what you have to say to them. Picture them as equals who have come to learn from you.

They are not better nor less than you. They are simply listening to your words of wisdom.

George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives

Quotations about Communicating

Enjoy these powerful quotations about communicating. Learn from them, and if you repeat them be sure to quote the one who first spoke these words.

Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all.
Sir Winston Churchill

If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur.
Doug Larson

He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas of any man I ever met.
Abraham Lincoln

If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.
Benjamin Franklin


For more quotations on communicating.

For quotes from George Torok on presentation skills.

A great source for many quotations you might use.


George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives

Presentation Skills Coaching

Is Presentation Skills Coaching right for you?

It depends .....

It depends on how important your presentations are to the success of your career or business. If you want to get there faster – then a presentation skills coach can do that faster than any other means.

It depends on how important your time is to you. There are other means of improving your presentation skills; seminars, Toastmasters and books on presentation skills. However, the best use of your time is by working with a presentation skills coach one-on-one.

It depends on the strength of your character. How well can you work closely with a coach and expose yourself to examination of your challenges? A good coach doesn’t criticize. A good coach points you in the direction to grow.

Is Presentation Skills Coaching right for you?

It depends on where you want to go and how fast you want to get there.

Look here to explore more about presentation skills coaching.

Learn more about George Torok as your presentation skills coach.


George Torok
Your Presentation Skills Coach