1
FutureofWorking.com | Career Advice for the Future When giving a speech or presentation, how you start can make or break you. You want the beginning to be strong and instantly pull your audience in so that you have their full attention from the get-go. Here are 25 effective ways to start a speech or presentation. 1. The Common Ground Open Opening with a real life experience, goal or interest is a great way to grab the attention of the audience to show them that they can gain something by listening to you. By establishing common ground with the audience, especially if it is done with humility and grace, you put yourself on the same level as your audience. If you are an elderly CEO of a company and you discuss finances with a group of younger entry-level employees, you have to share your own business experiences when you were younger so that the audience will better understand your message. 2. Ask a Question If you want to make your audience think right away, ask them a question to start your speech. Ask either a rhetorical or literal question. Whether or not an answer to that question is called for, when people are posed with a question that matters to them, they will intuitively answer. When you ask a question, raise your hand to indicate what you want the audience to do. After asking a question like "How many people here are self-employed?", see if any audience members raise their hands. Take advantage of this engagement by getting into the heart of your speech. 3. Quote Sometimes it is as easy as opening with a relevant quote. You can set the tone for the rest of your speech if you have a quote that is memorable. You should keep in mind that whoever you quote has to be well known by the audience because if it is someone like your next-door neighbor, the quote will fall flat with everyone. If you are discussing topics related to politics, for example, it is wise to quote a former United States President. "If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance." -Abraham Lincoln 4. The Contrast Open If speeches feel like boxing matches to you, this type of opening would often be used. Showcase the difference between diametrically opposed concepts, positions, ideas or words, and the end result will be that some audience members will feel persuaded to change their perspective or embrace something new. There are always two sides to every story, and both sides have to be equally presented. What are the differences between a need and a want? Obstacles and opportunities? Problems and solutions? Highlighting the differences will get audiences to understand the points you are trying to make. 5. Tell a Story Before making the key points of your speech, telling a story to start can draw your audience in. Some of the most powerful words that can immediately grab the attention of the audience would be "Once upon a time" because regardless of age people will love stories of any kind. When you start your speech with a line like "Once upon a time", the audience will know that a story is coming. People will immediately calm down, become quiet, and listen to what you have to say. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, telling a story will resonate with audience members. 6. Imagining Something If you want people to go on a unique journey with you, encourage them to imagine certain scenarios. For example, if you are working for a non-profit organization that brings water to people who lack the resources to get water, a good opener would be something like "Imagine being thirsty all the time, but never having anything to drink." By having them imagine scenarios like that, you make the audience a part of your presentation. They can actively empathize and engage with the content of your speech because they actually put themselves into that setting. 7. Humor Though this should never be forced onto the audience, when properly implemented you will put a lot of smiles on the faces of those you speak to. Being funny during a speech can be very difficult, but it is a way to give yourself relief as a public speaker. Telling jokes in your opening is a sign to the audience that you don't take yourself too seriously, and that they can relate to you in some way. One witty opener would be "If you can hear me, please start clapping as to confuse those that cannot make out what I am saying." 8. "This Day In History" Open One main reason why audiences gather to listen to speeches is that they can learn something. If you start your speech with a historical fact, the audience will immediately pay attention. For example, if the day of your speech falls on March 5, you would open your speech with "On this day, March 5, 1963: the Hula Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958, is patented by the company's co-founder, Arthur "Spud" Melin. An estimated 25 million Hula Hoops were sold in its first four months of production alone." 9. Thank the Organizers and Audience If you want to stick to the basics of public speaking, simply mention the people who made it possible for you to have a presentation. Thanking the event organizers and the audience compliments them, makes them feel proud and happy about your presence, and strongly connects you to the audience. Refer to the person who introduced you to one or more of the senior people in the organization in the audience, and compliment that person as a showing of respect. Be humble and genuine in your positive comments toward the organization. 10. Positive Statement Staying positive throughout a speech can be challenging, but it will become easier if you start your speech with a positive statement. You can begin by telling the audience how much they will like and appreciate what you have to say. For example, you could say something like "You're really going to enjoy the time we spend together today. I'm going to share with you some of the most thought-provoking ideas my company has ever made." The upbeat tone of this opening is enough to make the audience invested in whatever follows. 11. The Skeptical Audience Open A doubting audience is a difficult audience to handle. From the start, they may not trust your ideas or they could be against what you are proposing. Whether they were disappointed in the past or if they are simply stuck in their ways, they will put up a brick wall in front of you. The more hostile the crowd, the faster you must address the gap. Blending your goals and the needs of the audience requires a careful combination of anticipating the major objections, avoiding defensiveness, acknowledging the obvious truths early, and understanding the divided loyalties between the intractable, the undecided, and the supportive. Identify which of those must hear your message and adjust accordingly. 12. The Puzzle Open Brain teasers and mind puzzles tend to capture the attention of audiences that like to be given mental exercises. As the audience tries to figure out what it will take to solve them, they become highly engaged with the practice. Capitalize on this behavior by proposing a riddle, asking a puzzling question that you promise to reveal in the end, and suggesting that the audience complete a mathematical equation and promising to give the answer context as you go along during the speech. Alternatively, reveal one puzzle piece after another throughout the course of your speech to help your audience find the right solution. 13. Refer to Current Events Bringing documentation of something that is currently relevant to the public will help you to illustrate your point the way you want to. Use a current event story that is on the front page of your local newspaper to transition into your subject, and hold it up as you refer to it in your introduction. This serves as a visual image to the audience that they will keep in their minds as they see you hold up this documentation. When they hear you recite or read a key point of the news story, they will carefully pay attention to you. 14. Refer to a Recent Conversation One way to keep the topic you wish to talk about relevant to the audience is to refer to a recent conversation you had with someone attending this public speaking event. Hours or minutes before you get on stage to address the audience, you could be engaging in a thought-provoking conversation with someone in a lobby, and that person might tell you that this is one of the best times to be working in a specific industry. It is likely that many audience members will share the same view as that person, so when you mention this conversation in your introduction they will have something to relate to. 15. The Activity Open An active audience is one that will be more likely to keep listening to you after you finish your introduction. Keeping an audience preoccupied with an activity works well during training sessions and workshops when you are trying to teach a specific skill. Engaging in activity right from the start allows the audience to recognize the benefits of listening to your message. The activity has to be fun but also challenging enough. If they quickly get through it they will spend the rest of the workshop sitting in their chairs doing nothing. 16. The Study Hall Open If you are someone who loves using data-heavy charts and graphs to illustrate your points, you have to be careful about how you present your data to the audience. While they want to be informed, people in the audience also don't want to be bombarded with too much information all at once. Establishing a school setting and distributing paper handouts of data to your audience to begin your session helps them to follow along. Ask them to read the charts and graphs, and following their review you are well on your way to making your key points. 17. The PowerPoint Open When PowerPoint technology is used correctly it is a highly effective tool for the audience. Otherwise, it immediately makes your presentation feel boring. Slides that are overly literal will fall flat, but conceptual and eye-catching images give strength to your words. Pick captivating and intriguing images. If you present a talk on how to make ice cream, you could begin with a slide that shows the finished product of your ice cream brand. Describe the process of making ice cream in your introduction, and as you proceed you show slides in reverse, moving from final product to the very beginning. Along the way, you guide the viewer through each step. 18. The Audio Clip Open Your voice remains front and center for your talk, but additional sounds can bring more clarity to your message. Your words will be given more meaning with the help of a short audio clip as it makes your message more memorable. If you are teaching a music school, you can include two brief audio excerpts, a before and after of student instruction. Though your words do matter, these clips can have a better impact in persuading students to join your school. Audio testimonies, song recordings, oral accounts, and speech snippets all make for good audio clips. 19. Silence A subtle pause of silence, even if it extends to only 10 seconds, gives your audience enough time to sit and quiet down. Most audiences expect a speaker to begin right away. If you want to get the attention of an audience, taking that extra pause will help your cause. People will start wondering why you are being so quiet as they gather around, and when you break your silence and start speaking you can use that pause to illustrate a key point. Sometimes the main challenge in public speaking events is to get the audience into a silent state. 20. The Challenge Open Audiences want to be challenged and motivated to contribute to something they feel passionate about. Open your speech with a challenge if you are looking to increase sales, raising money for a project, asking for volunteers, or wanting legislative change. It isn't just about buying into your message but also taking the actions to manifest it. Start your speech with something like this: "Leaders see possibilities where followers see obstacles. I am here today to call for leaders to encourage those who are unsure about the project to look past the stumbling blocks we face in the development of this local park and consider giving citizens a better environment." 21. Multiple Choice Test Presenting your own multiple-choice test can draw your audience to your topic, and this approach is tailor-made for a talk with multiple perspectives about an issue or different solutions to the same problem. An example of this open would be to say the following: "As a company, we have several routes we can take regarding growth and increased sales. We could a) buy smaller companies to diversify our portfolio of services, b) move resources to focus on only a few, or c) we could opt to franchise. After we evaluate these options together, I will offer the option that I think is the way for us to go." 22. The Mystery Open The odds are likely that your audience loves to solve mysteries. Whether they are read in books or watched on television, mysteries grab the attention of people simply because of the uncertainty that is wrapped around them. When using this open present some clues on stage, regardless of which side of the argument they lean towards. Remind the audience of these clues throughout the speech and encourage them to come up with their own conclusions before revealing how your mystery gets solved. 23. Have Audience Members Talk to Each Other All audiences will be sitting close together in a setting where they will be visible in front of you, so you might as well take advantage of this. Encourage people to talk to others that are sitting next to them, and specifically to let them know what they would like to learn from your speech. Encourage your audience to discuss with each other any particular points. Any commands or show of leadership on your part will easily influence the audience, as long as you do it with confidence. 24. Bring Up Statistics Even if you don't bring any charts or graphs to illustrate your points, simply mentioning important statistics will resonate with the audience to get your message across the right way. Statistics have the potential to trigger the emotional appeal of the audience. One example of presenting statistics in your open would be something like: "In 2019 there were 152,000 homeless people roaming the streets in California. By 2025 that number is expected to nearly double." This kind of open highlights the need to address the problem of homelessness because the statistic is powerful, personalized and surprising. 25. The Unexpected Definition Open Dictionaries are obviously accurate, but there are times when words gain more power when they are redefined. If you are a valedictorian and you want to share how much your fellow students mean to you, the open can go like this: "The dictionary defines classmate as a member of your class, but my definition for you all is much broader than that. We were friends, teammates, and mentors. As worthy opponents, we challenged each other on the field and in the classroom. And, we now can define ourselves as fellow graduates." Conclusion How you start your presentation will depend on what kind of presentation you are giving, and what tone you want to set for your audience. Regardless of which you choose to begin with, incorporating one of these strong tools into your speech ensures that your presentation is a success from the very start.
2
Canadian Vehicle History Reports | CARFAX Canada Buying or selling a used car? Get the Full Vehicle History Report from CARFAX Canada (formerly CARPROOF) which will help you make informed decisions. Never buy a used car without the CARFAX!
3
Property in Nigeria - Rent & Buy Real Estate | Private Property Find the latest property for sale or for rent across in Nigeria from trusted landlords and agents. Sell your property with us or find a new home easily and convenient from our wide range of flats, apartments, houses and more. Read our free expert advice on real estate and make an informed decision on your next home
4
Property in Kenya - Rent & Buy Real Estate | BuyRentKenya Find the latest property for sale or for rent across in Kenya from trusted landlords and agents. Sell your property with us or find a new home easily and convenient from our wide range of flats, apartments, houses and more. Read our free expert advice on real estate and make an informed decision on your next home.
5
Car Buying Strategies, Tips & Advice. w/Prices, Reviews & Tools Make an informed buy decision. Get the best deal and walk away with confidence. Our car buying guides offer insider pricing secrets, tips, tools and advice that work
6
Buy Fresh Custom Cakes and Desserts online |Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad| Free home delivery Order Cake Online from the best bakery in Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Mangalore. Get freshly prepared cakes delivered for free in 3 hours. Cakes Starting from Rs. 449 for all occasions. Mid Night Delivery Available. Online Cake Delivery | Order Cake Online - WarmOven WarmOven is the best online cake shop in Bangalore or Bengaluru. We are among the best rated bakeries in Bangalore, on Zomato. We have been operational for more than 5 years and have mastered the cake delivery in Bangalore. We have delivered smiles to many many customers across the world and our team of expert chefs have years of baking experience. WarmOven - The pioneer in the Online Cake Delivery We operate a full stack model wherein we control every aspect of the process from having a bakery to delivery. We pioneered the online cake delivery in Bangalore more than 5 years ago. WarmOven provides you a refreshingly new and professional service. We want to change the way cakes are consumed in Bangalore,Pune & other Hyderabad and redefine your experience to order cake online. Unlike any other online bakeries and online cake shops, we operate our own cake bakery and cakeshop. We have 18 kitchens in Bangalore and 3 Kitchen in Pune and Hyderabad and have mastered the art of online delivery of cakes. We have delivered more than a 4,00,000 cakes to the customer’s doorstep. We place an extraordinary emphasis on quality and customer delight is of utmost importance to us. As a result, regardless of when you buy a cake online or order a cake online, we will deliver a sensationally delicious and fresh cake on time at your doorstep. Please check our customer feedback on Twitter Order cake online at WarmOven - Advantages Most of us are busy and unfortunately going out to a neighbourhood store is tiring due to the traffic conditions or the issues related to parking. While we have started to purchase a number of products online over the last decade, a new entry in this online world is food. Cakes have only recently started to move online with WarmOven being one of the pioneers with an end-to-end model from baking to cake delivery in Bangalore and Pune. Often times, you may not find great quality products close to where you live. Fortunately, searching online is easy and online cake shops in Bangalore and Pune like us are just a click away. There are a lot of advantages of our online cake delivery model. Cake is a very delicate product. You need not worry about carrying the cake or the damage during transit. Our delivery team has been trained in handling these fragile products carefully and we have perfected this art over the last 5 years of operations. WarmOven delivery team takes utmost care in ensuring your product reaches you on time and in perfect shape. You are absolutely free from the hassles of visiting your local bakery shop and collecting your order when it is ready. All of our cakes are made fresh once you place an order or buy on our website. We do not stock any finished cakes. As a result, you can decide what you want and we have a wide variety of choice. You have unlimited choice in terms of flavours or size. You are not constrained by what is on display, like you may be when you visit your local bakery! The traditional bakeries generally give you limited option of flavours and shapes. You have to just settle for the general round or square cakes. Online cake bakeries, like WarmOven, give you a variety on the shapes and sizes as well. Life can’t be much easier than this! Send cake online from the wide variety of options available at WarmOven From your standard black forest cake or our special regal red velvet cake to theme and photo cake, you can buy fresh cakes online Bangalore on our website at your convenience from your home. We also have a wide range of dessert options if you feel like having one or you can always start by ordering our all time favourite Chocolate Cakes. You have no choice, but to accept cakes or desserts that are at least a day old when you walk into your local bakery.Freshness of the products is the biggest advantage of an online bakery like WarmOven. All your cakes, pastries and desserts are delivered fresh to you within 2 hours. The freshness is not restricted to just cakes. Cupcakes, muffins, cookies, macaroons, and any other item listed on our website is prepared fresh for you. If you are planning an event or a birthday party or an anniversary, you can research all the options using our website and make an informed choice from the comfort of your home. We can also be reached on the phone, if you need some more help. Why WarmOven Cakes are the best cakes? There are a huge number of online bakeries that you may find when you search online, but be careful who you choose. Most of them don’t have any expertise in baking -- they pick up cakes from a local cake bakery and deliver it to you at exorbitant prices. WarmOven is different and the best bakery for a reason. We understand the importance of getting a perfect cake and have delicately created a business model of online cake delivery considering every small aspect in detail. We operate our 21 kitchens from 7AM till late night. We have a team of expert chefs who have been trained for a number of years and ensure our quality is superior to everyone else in town. We are not yet another cake bakery, we want to be the best in town. Do check out the reviews from fellow customers at Zomato. We operate our kitchens for most part of the day and hence we are able to do midnight cake deliveries at very reasonable rates compared to others. You can send cake online to your loved ones or buy a cake online for yourself and get it delivered within 2 hours. We offer delivery anywhere in Bangalore and Pune. Do we offer eggless cakes? Yes, WarmOven has a variety of eggless cake available in different flavors. Special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, wedding parties ,festivals etc are a real struggle for the people who are veggie as eggs are the unseen elements in many foods, so most of the time you have to overlook your favourite pleasures. But with WarmOven, you can enjoy your sweet stuff without any fears as we have categorized each cake with an option of eggless and non-eggless cakes at our web portal. Our website is loaded with quality baked eggless cakes, available in many flavors, shapes, designs and types. Our team mainly works with the main motive of customer satisfaction and to achieve this, we also provide eggless cakes delivery in India, keeping in mind the sentiments of pure vegetarians. Cake delivery in Bangalore - In 2 Hours Cakes can often be last minute decisions. We can bake a fresh cake for you within an hour and deliver it to your home or office within a couple of hours. We can also make a custom photo cake and deliver it to you within 2 hours. Be it a birthday cake or an anniversary cake or even a birthday cake with a photo, we will always deliver it fresh! Our customers swear by our Chocolate Cakes and red velvet cake. You could also delight yourself with some of our wonderful cup cakes. You can place an order from anywhere in the world and delight your loved ones in Bangalore and Pune. We keep you notified at different stages of the process - be it preparation or the dispatch from our kitchens to your loved one. Go right ahead, delight your friends and loved ones with an awesome cake. Place an order for a cake online and be sure to be delighted with the best cakes in Bangalore and Pune. Our customers tell us we’re the best bakery and cake shop in the city – so give us a try. You’ll be glad you did! Recent Feedback from Customers @warmovenindia
7
Chair Adviser | Chair Buying Guides and Reviews by Experts Chair Adviser is your one stop shop destination to find and buy best chair for yourself. Visit our website and make an informed purchase of your new chair.
8
Dwello - The right address is waiting Buy your home with confidence by appointing a Dwello Consultant. We do extensive due diligence and scientific analysis of properties so that you can make informed decisions.
9
LifeRejoice - Tech, Home Improvement, Reviews & How-Tos LifeRejoice helps you make an informed decision to buy gadgets, gears, and appliances.
10
Gato Island | We LOVE Cats! If you are a cat parent, you will want your cat to have all your love and affection – and cat treats are the best way to show your love and affection for them. Not just any cat treats, a cat parent is always concerned with their cat's health and will always want to give them healthy food. They always make sure that they are looking for healthy options for their cats. The cat food and treats should be according to your cat's health. Raw fruits and vegetables are not a thing for most cats, whereas dogs can easily snack on them. However, this does not mean that you can't give your cats or kittens something from your cupboard or fridge. Small pieces of cheese, cooked fish, chicken, and turkey can be good treats for your cats, which they will love to munch. If you are looking for packed treats from the market, you will have various options. You will be provided with different treats based on the companies, cat age, and tastes. The first thing to do when buying cat foods and cat treats is to avoid cheap products with artificial colorings, flavor, fillers, and preservatives. They are the most dangerous thing for your cat's health. Below, some more important information is mention related to cat food and cat treats. Always keep this information in mind when doing shopping for your cat. Things You Need to Avoid Firstly, as mentioned above, avoid cheap and fake products. Always go for the best and high-quality products, not after the company name or packaging style. Thus, do not buy products that have meals, grains, artificial ingredients, sugar, or high carbohydrates. High levels of carbs can alter your cat's blood sugar balance, leading to obesity, which you will not want for your cats. In addition, plant protein products for cats will work against cats' metabolic design, as they are strictly carnivores, and it will be against their nature of eating.Animal protein can also work great for your cats. Always look for the ingredients list on the back of the products before buying it for your cat. If they contain a long list of chemicals and ingredients you don't know about, then immediately put it back on the shelf. And don't forget to ask your veterinarian about the best quality cat foods and treats. What Will Be Best for Your Cat? Remember that the best quality cat food and treats will have few and simple ingredients in their products. The treats are not just related to your cat's taste buds, but also its health. The cat food should have the taste and benefits of raw meat and fish. And if you are giving raw meat and fish as a separate diet, do not cook them too much that all the natural enzymes, minerals, and vitamins are no longer left in them. It will become useless for your cat. As cats are true carnivores, they love to have protein and fats in their diet. They should be given species-appropriate treats. Their diet must include Arachidonic Acid, which is an essential fatty acid for cats. This essential fatty acid helps them in fats utilization and energy production. This fatty acid is mostly found in raw meat. Northwest Naturals has the best raw meat cat treats; they are in the form of freeze, dried, and single ingredients treat available in the liver, beef, chicken, salmon, and lamb. Their raw-freeze dried products include 98% meat, organs, and bones in chicken and turkey flavor. They can be used as treats or topper to your cat's food or as a complete diet too. Otherrenowned companies, such as 'The Real Meat Company,' make treats from natural and domestically sourced meats. They mostlyhave lamb and beef in their products. The company is also adding other meats to their product line to fulfill their growing consumer demand as they have high-quality cat treats. Another best company for cat food and cat treats is 'RedBarn Pet Products.' They also offer the best quality products for your cats. If you are already feeding them with these cat food and cat treats or some other good quality ones, then you are doing your best for your cat. Instead of choosing your cats' products because of cute names and clever packaging, always go for informed treatment choices and their ingredient lists. If you are a good cat parent, you will consider these treats not just a fun way to show your love but also an essential part of your cat's healthy diet routine. Product Visual Where to Buy The Real Meat Company 828102 Cat Jerky Chicken/Venison Treat, 3-Ounce Redbarn Cat Protein Puffs Chicken (1-Count) Only Natural Pet Calming Hemp Soft Chews - Stress & Anxiety Calming Treat for Dogs & Cats, L-Theanine, Chamomile & Lemon Balm Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats, 30 oz. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Soft-Moist Grain-Free Cat Treats Variety Pack - 4 Flavors (Chicken & Duck, Chicken & Trout, Chicken & Salmon, and Chicken & Turkey) - 2 Oz Each (4 Total Pouches) Meow Mix Irresistibles Cat Treats Some Other Recommended Cat Treats Few better options related to cat treats are as follows: Only Natural Pet Calming Hemp Soft Chews As the name suggests, these are detectable soft treats that will help your pet, both cats and dogs, stay calm and relaxed. They have no fillers, no pesticides, or unsavory ingredients. They are Non-GMO treats. Temptations Classic Treats for Cats These treats by Temptations are something extra than any other average crunchy treats. They are crunchy outside and soft inside, making them even tastier. They are nutritionally balanced treats that can be used as a replacement for your cat's kibble. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Soft-Moist Grain-Free Cat Treats Your cats won't be able to resist these moist tune treats by the Blue Store. They are quite affordable and made with real meat. These treats have no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. They can be used as a treat or a topper, but not a complete replacement to your cat's leading food. CBD American Shaman CBD Cat Food Kitty Nugs They are chicken specified treats, which make them deliciousfor your cats. These raw pack treats are a hefty nutritional punch. These treats include chicken, salmon, beets, spinach, watercress, and other vegetables necessary for a cat's health. Meow Mix Irresistibles, Soft White Meat Chicken These are soft treats available in tasty chicken flavor and offer great value. You can get them in four different flavors, depending on your cat's liking. It is a high-quality product at an affordable price. Some Important Tips When Giving Cat Treats Whenever you are buying cat treats, make sure they are complementary to your cat's main diet. Let's make it simple by giving an example; if you are giving a grain-free diet to your cat, provide grain-free treats to them. If you give your cat raw food as the main diet, give it treats in the form of dehydrated or freeze-dried raw meat. This will keep your cat's health balanced. Conclusion In short, cat food and cat treats can have raw meat in them but in a processed form. They should be added with their complete nutrients, so your cat can have a healthy diet. Meat is an important part of a cat's eating nature; therefore, you can't completely stop them from consuming it. Just make sure that whatever your cat is having, it should be healthy and high-quality.
11
TechCompact | TechCompact, what else? TechCompact aims to provide you with Reviews of Tech Products that you are looking to buy so you can make an informed decision!