We are so pleased to have our latest 7 Questions with Matt Eventoff, founder of Princeton Public Speaking. Enjoy!
1. I’d like to start out with a fun question before we begin. If you could instantly learn a skill, any skill at all, what would it be?
Dunking a basketball! (I am 5’7!)
2. Can you briefly describe Princeton Public Speaking?
At Princeton Public Speaking, the focus is helping professionals and leaders develop public speaking and message development skills that transcend borders, and develop the confidence to utilize those skills effectively.
3. What inspired you to help others with speaking and message development?
The power of communication to change lives. While mediums may change over time, compelling messaging and the ability to effectively deliver that messaging will continue time in memorium. Empowering individuals with the ability to impact others through communication is truly a gift.
4. If there was one thing you wished all public speakers would work on, what would it be?
Spending as much time practicing the delivery of a presentation as a speaker puts into developing the presentation itself. All too often, an individual or team will spend countless hours going back and forth with edits and changes to slides, notes, etc., but only spend minutes running through the presentation before speaking.
5. Do you have a standard pre-speech routine?
I do. I am high energy to begin with, and I like to focus on capturing that energy and channeling it prior to speaking. I listen to a few minutes of either one of Dr. King’s speeches or one of Prime Minister Churchill’s famous addresses, such as the address before the House of Commons on June, 1940 (We Shall Fight…), do a bit of shadow boxing, channel through a breathing routine, stretch and focus my attention on my audience.
6. What does the upcoming year hold for you?
2014 is an exciting year for Princeton Public Speaking as we are officially opening our office in Dallas as well as Dubai. The main focus never changes – to help individuals impact the world through communication.
7. And finally, what would you consider some things to avoid when creating a speech?
Information overload! Professionals in every industry often feel compelled to include every last bit of data and information in each and every presentation. Even with a compelling message, too much information drowns that message out. A close second would be the use of acronyms – an easy way to lose an audience member is to use an acronym he or she is unfamiliar with.
Matt’s specialties include communication training, message development training and communication strategy. He has successfully prepared clients to appear before almost every audience and and on nearly every network and major cable news program, including 60 Minutes, 20/20, Nightline, Dateline, Frontline, Hardball, and Good Morning America. See more at: http://www.matteventoff.com/
