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This presentation consists of highlights from the interview with Moe Abdou,
founder & host of 33voices®.
John Pollack, who won the 1995 O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships, was a Presidential Speechwriter for Bill Clinton. Earlier, he worked as a foreign correspondent in Spain, as a field assistant in Antarctica, and as a strolling violinist on Mackinac Island. His books include “Shortcut: How Analogies Reveal Connections, Spark Innovation, and Sell
Our Greatest Ideas,” “The Pun Also Rises: How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History and Made Wordplay More than Some Antics,” “Cork Boat: A True Story
of the Unlikeliest Boat Ever Built,” and “The World on a String: How to Become a Freelance Foreign Correspondent.” He lives in New York City.
John Pollack@jdpollack
Writer and Consultant
An elegant speech or presentation is concise and conveys one single idea;
everything else supports it. Think of a race horse running with purpose and speed.
Insight #1
Insight #2
Analogies are compressed stories;they help us make sense of complex ideas, and more importantly, make us feel ‘more at home.”
Insight #3
If you understand that an analogy is an argument that, when unpacked, reveals assumptions, you will be better able to
determine which are most truthful in spirit.
Insight #4
The best presentations flow from listening.Be attuned to your audience and opt not
to give people what they want to hear, rather how you can help them.
Insight #5
“Clear writing requires clear thinking.”Choose not to use $10 words that are likely to obscure your idea when you can use a
$2 word that will reveal its true identity.
Insight #6
Words and analogies are intrinsically subjective, so when a fact conflicts with a
belief, most of us will lean toward our beliefs.
Insight #7
Transparency and openness are a strong leader’s friends. Not only will
these qualities improve accountability, they communicate authenticity.
Insight #8
Those who are persuasive make it a priority to acknowledge the real challenges facing
those with whom they are engaging; they lead with Empathy.
Insight #9
Often, it’s meaningful listening and a cross-fertilization of knowledge that distinguish
extraordinary leaders from the rest.
Insight #10
Want to deliver an impactful speech? Let the moral of your story speak to the
emotions of your audience.
If you had to describe your business with one analogy,
what would it be?
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Presentation created by Chase Jennings
Insights by Moe Abdou
