Why?

Because you want to be connected with your listeners as soon as possible. You want everyone on the same page quickly. And you want that community ready to receive your message instantly.

Compare these two paragraphs below with the opening paragraph...

"I was in the eighth grade at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. I joined a softball league and played in the outfield. It was a tough league but I found out how to give my team an advantage.

"Another team's star player did not qualify to play. I knew about it. If I reported it, then she'd be sidelined for the rest of the tournament. Then we'd have a better chance to win."

These are good, but drags a bit. These two paragraphs can be condensed into one as I have done at the top. More words mean it will take longer to create community. And the longer it takes, the more your audience continues wandering.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money thro

"The inescapable truth was—she was my friend. We got along. I knew her brothers. But she didn't qualify and I exposed her for self-serving reasons.

"Today I see the folly of my ways...

"I could have lost a valuable friend because I was only thinking of myself. I was focused on short-term rewards, but was blind to long-term consequences. And the irony for me is: I don't even remember if we'd won the tournament."

This is a personal story from my youth. But it also could be a powerful opening to teach themes about "Eternal Friendships," "Winning Hearts—Not Trophies," or "The Destructive Power of Me, Me, Me." It's personal, powerful, and draws listeners in.

Which is the secret to compelling rapt attention...

By weaving personal stories to support lessons or making points, your audience will instantly relate with their own personal experiences. They will remember the times when they were in similar situations. Some may crack a smile. Others a frown.

Maybe they were the bad gal. Maybe they were the hero. Or maybe they know someone who went through the same circumstances but isn't present to benefit from your message.

Whatever the case, the major benefit is: you have created community...

A safe haven where your listeners join you in one fell swoop. In a nanosecond they will travel with you to another time, and another place. Instantly they will have forgotten all the chattering in their minds to be present with you.

You have captured their hearts and minds. You've gripped them with your personal story. They're leaning over the edge of their seats in anticipation of your every word.

For most speakers and writers—this is nirvana. The ability to engage their audience by being genuine. Nothing pre-fabricated. And nothing phony.

You can create this magic when you present a workshop, a seminar, or a keynote. You can become instantly riveting in your book, website, or journal. And you can hold everyone spellbound during a campfire.

To create this unique community, keep these three factors in mind:

1) No smuggling. This is the bane of most speakers. They repeat the exact stories their peers are telling. The audience is tired of hearing these rehashed stories. Especially if two speakers recite the same story on the same program.

For example:

The Roger Bannister 4-minute mile story, the lighthouse story, or the Make-a-Wish Foundation story fall under this category. They've been used, re-used, and frankly (I believe) abused for the umpteenth time.

It creates a disconnect between you and your audience. It screams you're a hack. And this will prevent bureaus from promoting you properly.

On the other hand, nothing is more powerful than your original personal story. It's fresh and organic. It parallels a retina scan. No one else in the world has the same pattern.

Another important factor:

2) Having purpose. Avoid telling stories just to elicit smiles or laughs. Unless you're a storyteller. Or a humorist.

Your story should lead to a point or a particular lesson. What do you want your listeners to learn? How will it help them? Or maybe it's what you want them to unlearn.

And you shouldn't speak for the sake of making a back of the room product sale. That's shallow and manipulative. And people will see right through it.

And a very overlooked factor:

3) Keeping it tight. The best speakers do this well. This keeps people riveted to you and your message. And this is how the best copywriters can write 99-page letters and keep readers engaged.

To accomplish this: Short and pithy is better than long and winded. Short sentences - even a single word sentence - can carry more weight than longer sentences.

Why?

Because you want to be connected with your listeners as soon as possible. You want everyone on the same page quickly. And you want that community ready to receive your message instantly.

Compare these two paragraphs below with the opening paragraph...

"I was in the eighth grade at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. I joined a softball league and played in the outfield. It was a tough league but I found out how to give my team an advantage.

"Another team's star player did not qualify to play. I knew about it. If I reported it, then she'd be sidelined for the rest of the tournament. Then we'd have a better chance to win."

These are good, but drags a bit. These two paragraphs can be condensed into one as I have done at the top. More words mean it will take longer to create community. And the longer it takes, the more your audience continues wandering.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money throu

Maybe they were the bad gal. Maybe they were the hero. Or maybe they know someone who went through the same circumstances but isn't present to benefit from your message.

Whatever the case, the major benefit is: you have created community...

A safe haven where your listeners join you in one fell swoop. In a nanosecond they will travel with you to another time, and another place. Instantly they will have forgotten all the chattering in their minds to be present with you.

You have captured their hearts and minds. You've gripped them with your personal story. They're leaning over the edge of their seats in anticipation of your every word.

For most speakers and writers—this is nirvana. The ability to engage their audience by being genuine. Nothing pre-fabricated. And nothing phony.

You can create this magic when you present a workshop, a seminar, or a keynote. You can become instantly riveting in your book, website, or journal. And you can hold everyone spellbound during a campfire.

To create this unique community, keep these three factors in mind:

1) No smuggling. This is the bane of most speakers. They repeat the exact stories their peers are telling. The audience is tired of hearing these rehashed stories. Especially if two speakers recite the same story on the same program.

For example:

The Roger Bannister 4-minute mile story, the lighthouse story, or the Make-a-Wish Foundation story fall under this category. They've been used, re-used, and frankly (I believe) abused for the umpteenth time.

It creates a disconnect between you and your audience. It screams you're a hack. And this will prevent bureaus from promoting you properly.

On the other hand, nothing is more powerful than your original personal story. It's fresh and organic. It parallels a retina scan. No one else in the world has the same pattern.

Another important factor:

2) Having purpose. Avoid telling stories just to elicit smiles or laughs. Unless you're a storyteller. Or a humorist.

Your story should lead to a point or a particular lesson. What do you want your listeners to learn? How will it help them? Or maybe it's what you want them to unlearn.

And you shouldn't speak for the sake of making a back of the room product sale. That's shallow and manipulative. And people will see right through it.

And a very overlooked factor:

3) Keeping it tight. The best speakers do this well. This keeps people riveted to you and your message. And this is how the best copywriters can write 99-page letters and keep readers engaged.

To accomplish this: Short and pithy is better than long and winded. Short sentences - even a single word sentence - can carry more weight than longer sentences.

Why?

Because you want to be connected with your listeners as soon as possible. You want everyone on the same page quickly. And you want that community ready to receive your message instantly.

Compare these two paragraphs below with the opening paragraph...

"I was in the eighth grade at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. I joined a softball league and played in the outfield. It was a tough league but I found out how to give my team an advantage.

"Another team's star player did not qualify to play. I knew about it. If I reported it, then she'd be sidelined for the rest of the tournament. Then we'd have a better chance to win."

These are good, but drags a bit. These two paragraphs can be condensed into one as I have done at the top. More words mean it will take longer to create community. And the longer it takes, the more your audience continues wandering.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money thro

You can create this magic when you present a workshop, a seminar, or a keynote. You can become instantly riveting in your book, website, or journal. And you can hold everyone spellbound during a campfire.

To create this unique community, keep these three factors in mind:

1) No smuggling. This is the bane of most speakers. They repeat the exact stories their peers are telling. The audience is tired of hearing these rehashed stories. Especially if two speakers recite the same story on the same program.

For example:

The Roger Bannister 4-minute mile story, the lighthouse story, or the Make-a-Wish Foundation story fall under this category. They've been used, re-used, and frankly (I believe) abused for the umpteenth time.

It creates a disconnect between you and your audience. It screams you're a hack. And this will prevent bureaus from promoting you properly.

On the other hand, nothing is more powerful than your original personal story. It's fresh and organic. It parallels a retina scan. No one else in the world has the same pattern.

Another important factor:

2) Having purpose. Avoid telling stories just to elicit smiles or laughs. Unless you're a storyteller. Or a humorist.

Your story should lead to a point or a particular lesson. What do you want your listeners to learn? How will it help them? Or maybe it's what you want them to unlearn.

And you shouldn't speak for the sake of making a back of the room product sale. That's shallow and manipulative. And people will see right through it.

And a very overlooked factor:

3) Keeping it tight. The best speakers do this well. This keeps people riveted to you and your message. And this is how the best copywriters can write 99-page letters and keep readers engaged.

To accomplish this: Short and pithy is better than long and winded. Short sentences - even a single word sentence - can carry more weight than longer sentences.

Why?

Because you want to be connected with your listeners as soon as possible. You want everyone on the same page quickly. And you want that community ready to receive your message instantly.

Compare these two paragraphs below with the opening paragraph...

"I was in the eighth grade at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. I joined a softball league and played in the outfield. It was a tough league but I found out how to give my team an advantage.

"Another team's star player did not qualify to play. I knew about it. If I reported it, then she'd be sidelined for the rest of the tournament. Then we'd have a better chance to win."

These are good, but drags a bit. These two paragraphs can be condensed into one as I have done at the top. More words mean it will take longer to create community. And the longer it takes, the more your audience continues wandering.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money thro

Another important factor:

2) Having purpose. Avoid telling stories just to elicit smiles or laughs. Unless you're a storyteller. Or a humorist.

Your story should lead to a point or a particular lesson. What do you want your listeners to learn? How will it help them? Or maybe it's what you want them to unlearn.

And you shouldn't speak for the sake of making a back of the room product sale. That's shallow and manipulative. And people will see right through it.

And a very overlooked factor:

3) Keeping it tight. The best speakers do this well. This keeps people riveted to you and your message. And this is how the best copywriters can write 99-page letters and keep readers engaged.

To accomplish this: Short and pithy is better than long and winded. Short sentences - even a single word sentence - can carry more weight than longer sentences.

Why?

Because you want to be connected with your listeners as soon as possible. You want everyone on the same page quickly. And you want that community ready to receive your message instantly.

Compare these two paragraphs below with the opening paragraph...

"I was in the eighth grade at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. I joined a softball league and played in the outfield. It was a tough league but I found out how to give my team an advantage.

"Another team's star player did not qualify to play. I knew about it. If I reported it, then she'd be sidelined for the rest of the tournament. Then we'd have a better chance to win."

These are good, but drags a bit. These two paragraphs can be condensed into one as I have done at the top. More words mean it will take longer to create community. And the longer it takes, the more your audience continues wandering.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money thro

Why?

Because you want to be connected with your listeners as soon as possible. You want everyone on the same page quickly. And you want that community ready to receive your message instantly.

Compare these two paragraphs below with the opening paragraph...

"I was in the eighth grade at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. I joined a softball league and played in the outfield. It was a tough league but I found out how to give my team an advantage.

"Another team's star player did not qualify to play. I knew about it. If I reported it, then she'd be sidelined for the rest of the tournament. Then we'd have a better chance to win."

These are good, but drags a bit. These two paragraphs can be condensed into one as I have done at the top. More words mean it will take longer to create community. And the longer it takes, the more your audience continues wandering.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at www.TommyYan.com.