2. Action/Humor
Motivational speakers often begin a talk with a funny story, or maybe a brief series of them. Here is an example of one I have occasionally used:
“Years ago my wife and I were in Bolivia attending Spanish School. Our instructors told us to get out in public and practice. One day I took my kids to a public swimming pool where we had to buy tickets at a little ticket booth. Coming through the line I practiced in my mind what I needed to say. We had to speak through a little hole in the glass, so I had to raise my voice in order for the lady inside to hear me. Of course everybody in the line could hear me as well.
I said, “Quero entrada para dos ninos y dos adulteros”
What I actually said was, “I want tickets for two children and two adulterers.”
Unless you are a skilled comedian, I don’t recommend jokes. It is too easy for them to bomb and then it takes half your remaining time to recover.
If the story has a victim or “fall guy” as most funny stories do, make sure the victim is you, the speaker, and not someone else, especially not your spouse or your kids.
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