Cadence, Confidence, and Charisma (Les Brown Keynote Breakdown)

Summary

In this Spiegel AB channel video, host Gram Bolin conducts a speech breakdown of Les Brown's motivational talk. Brown, a legendary speaker, emphasizes the importance of believing in one's potential despite setbacks. He highlights the power of stories and examples, such as Roger Bannister's four-minute mile, to inspire change in belief systems. Brown's engaging speaking style, with its strong cadence and volume, captivates the audience, demonstrating the effectiveness of a compelling narrative without the need for slides.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The importance of distinguishing between audiences that want to be present and those who have to be there, as it affects their level of engagement and energy.
• 🗣️ Les Brown's direct approach in starting his speech, highlighting the significance of capturing the audience's attention from the outset.
• 💡 The power of storytelling and examples in speeches to connect with the audience and illustrate key points effectively.
• 📈 Brown's emphasis on the cadence and volume in public speaking, demonstrating the balance between being engaging and maintaining the audience's focus.
• 🔊 The strategic use of repetition, particularly with the phrase 'it's possible,' to instill belief and motivation in the audience.
• 👀 The concept of 'eyesight' versus 'mindsight,' teaching the audience to interpret their circumstances rather than just seeing them.
• 🏆 The inspirational message that with the right mindset and persistence, one can overcome setbacks and achieve their goals.
• 📚 The historical example of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile, illustrating how beliefs can shift and inspire others to achieve what was once thought impossible.
• 🎯 The practical advice for setting and pursuing dreams, encouraging the audience to visualize and believe in their aspirations.
• 📈 The reminder that success often comes from continuous effort and a positive mindset, even in the face of adversity.

Q & A

Who is the main speaker being discussed in the script?

The main speaker being discussed in the script is Les Brown, a legendary motivational speaker.

What is the significance of the audience's anticipation for Les Brown's speech?

The audience's anticipation for Les Brown's speech indicates a higher level of excitement and energy, as they are there specifically to see him, which can enhance the engagement and effectiveness of his message.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of starting strong in a speech?

The speaker emphasizes starting strong because the initial moments with the audience are the most powerful, capturing their full attention and setting the tone for the rest of the speech.

What is the role of storytelling in Les Brown's speech according to the script?

Storytelling in Les Brown's speech is used to illustrate concepts, make them relatable, and inspire the audience by providing concrete examples that support his messages.

How does Les Brown use the concept of 'cadence' in his speech?

Les Brown uses cadence by maintaining a good pace in his speech, which is neither too fast nor too slow, to keep the audience engaged and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed or bored.

What is the significance of the volume and tone of voice in public speaking as highlighted in the script?

The volume and tone of voice are significant in public speaking because they can convey confidence and authority without shouting, and they can also be used to create contrast and draw the audience in during softer moments.

Why does the speaker in the script encourage the audience to repeat 'it's possible'?

The speaker encourages the audience to repeat 'it's possible' to instill a belief in their own potential and to reinforce a positive mindset, which is a key aspect of achieving their goals.

What is the example of Roger Bannister's achievement mentioned in the script, and what is its relevance?

Roger Bannister's achievement of breaking the four-minute mile is mentioned as an example to demonstrate how changing one's belief about what is possible can lead to achieving what was once thought impossible.

How does the script differentiate between 'eyesight' and 'mindsight' in the context of goal achievement?

The script differentiates between 'eyesight', which judges based on appearances and current circumstances, and 'mindsight', which is the interpretation and belief in the potential for change and success despite setbacks.

Why does the script mention the story of two men who were laid off from their jobs?

The story of the two men is used to contrast the outcomes of having a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset, showing that believing in the possibility of success can lead to different actions and ultimately different results.

What is the speaker's stance on the use of slides in presentations as discussed in the script?

The speaker suggests that while slides can be beneficial, they are not necessary for a powerful presentation. Les Brown's speech is used as an example of a compelling talk that does not rely on visual aids.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Introduction to Les Brown's Speech Breakdown

Gram Bolin introduces a speech breakdown of Les Brown, a legendary motivational speaker. The video focuses on a talk from Brown that appears to be from the 1980s, emphasizing the timeless quality of the content. Bolin highlights the importance of audience engagement, the use of stories and examples, and the impact of voice cadence and volume in effective public speaking. He also notes the immediate engagement of the audience, suggesting their anticipation for Brown's speech.

05:00

🗣️ The Art of Captivating Communication

This section delves into the qualities that make Les Brown a captivating speaker. It emphasizes Brown's effective use of cadence, maintaining a pace that is neither too fast nor too slow, and his strong, confident voice that avoids shouting yet remains assertive. The summary also discusses the strategic use of voice modulation to create a dynamic speaking style. Brown's technique of getting the audience to repeat phrases like 'it's possible' is highlighted as a method to instill belief and change mindsets.

10:02

🏃‍♂️ From Impossibility to Reality: The Power of Belief

The paragraph discusses the transformation of beliefs and the power of achieving what was once deemed impossible, using the example of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile. It illustrates how a single achievement can shift collective beliefs and inspire many to achieve the same feat. The summary encourages viewers to embrace the possibility of their dreams, suggesting that with the right mindset, they can achieve what they set their sights on.

15:03

🛣️ Mindsight Over Eyesight: Pursuing Dreams Despite Obstacles

This part of the script contrasts two friends facing unemployment, highlighting the difference between eyesight, which judges based on appearances, and mindsight, which interprets what is seen. It tells the story of one friend who gives up and another who continues to seek opportunities, eventually finding success through persistence and a positive mindset. The summary reinforces the message that maintaining a belief in the possibility of achieving one's goals is crucial for overcoming life's challenges.

📝 Conclusion and Call to Action

The final paragraph wraps up the speech breakdown by encouraging viewers to apply the insights gained to their own talks and presentations. It invites viewers to subscribe to the channel for more content, like the video to share it, and comment on their key takeaway. The host also prompts viewers to suggest other speakers for future breakdowns, emphasizing community engagement and continuous learning.

Keywords

💡Speech Breakdown

A 'Speech Breakdown' refers to the analysis and deconstruction of a speaker's presentation style, content, and techniques. In the video, the host, Gram Bolin, breaks down a speech by Les Brown, focusing on elements like storytelling, audience engagement, and vocal dynamics. The term is used to describe the process of learning from a master speaker by examining the components that make their speech effective.

💡Audience Engagement

Audience engagement is the process of capturing and maintaining the interest of the audience during a presentation. In the script, it is highlighted by the host's discussion on the difference between an audience that is required to attend versus one that is eager to be there, and how Les Brown's speech resonates with the audience's anticipation and excitement.

💡Cadence

Cadence in speaking refers to the rhythm and flow of speech, which can influence the audience's perception and retention of information. The host points out that Les Brown's cadence is neither too fast nor too slow, which helps in keeping the audience engaged without overwhelming them.

💡Volume

Volume is the loudness or softness of a speaker's voice. The script mentions the importance of varying volume to maintain interest and create emphasis. Les Brown is noted for using a strong, confident voice, which allows him to draw the audience in when he chooses to speak softly.

💡Stories and Examples

Stories and examples are used to illustrate points and make abstract concepts more relatable. In the video, Les Brown uses the story of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile to demonstrate the power of believing in the possible and challenging established beliefs.

💡Call-and-Response

Call-and-response is a technique where the speaker engages the audience by asking them to repeat a phrase or idea back to them. This interactive method is used by Les Brown when he asks the audience to repeat 'It's possible,' reinforcing the message of the speech and creating a collective affirmation.

💡Inner Conversation

Inner conversation refers to the self-talk or internal dialogue one has with oneself. The script discusses how most people's inner conversations are based on past experiences and memories, which can limit their belief in what is possible. Les Brown encourages the audience to operate from a place of imagination rather than memory.

💡Eyesight and Mindsight

Eyesight and mindsight are terms used to differentiate between physical observation and the interpretation of what is observed. In the script, Les Brown contrasts these two perspectives through the story of two men facing unemployment, where one gives up based on his eyesight of the situation, while the other persists due to his mindsight that believes in the possibility of finding a job.

💡Manifestation

Manifestation in the context of the video refers to the act of making one's dreams or goals a reality. Les Brown speaks about how one's beliefs and actions can manifest their desired outcomes, emphasizing the importance of believing in the possibility of achieving one's goals.

💡Rejection and Persistence

Rejection and persistence are themes that run through the video, particularly in the story of the two men facing unemployment. The script illustrates how one man gives in to rejection and fails to persist, while the other continues to seek opportunities despite rejection, ultimately finding success.

Highlights

Introduction to Les Brown's speech and his impact as a legendary speaker.

Discussion on the importance of audience engagement and the difference between an audience that wants to be there versus one that has to be there.

The power of starting a speech with high engagement moments to capture the audience's attention.

Les Brown's approach to directly addressing setbacks and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset.

The significance of storytelling in speeches and how it can be used to inspire and motivate.

The role of cadence and volume in effective public speaking.

The use of repetition to reinforce key messages and beliefs.

The concept of 'eyesight' versus 'mindsight' and how it relates to perception and possibility.

The historical example of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile and its impact on belief systems.

The importance of operating from imagination rather than memory to achieve dreams.

The practical application of believing in the possibility of achieving one's goals.

The story of two men facing unemployment and how their different attitudes led to different outcomes.

The idea that persistence and a belief in possibility can lead to opportunities.

The significance of not needing slides to deliver a powerful speech.

Final thoughts on applying the lessons from Les Brown's speech to one's own presentations.

Call to action for viewers to engage with the content by subscribing, liking, and commenting on the video.

Transcripts

hey what's up friends gram Bolin here

welcome back to the Spiegel AB channel

where today we're gonna be taking a

speech breakdown with the legendary Les

Brown les is a guy that has obviously

been in the speaking game for many many

years he's someone that a lot of you

have reached out and requested that we

do a speech breakdown for so we're gonna

take this video that he has from a talk

he did several years ago this looks like

that may even be from the 80s it's an

old video there but the content is

really really good I found myself even

just lost in it at times so we're gonna

talk about whether or not you should use

slides hint he doesn't use any slides

we're also gonna be talking about the

power of stories and examples and

application of that so can we talk about

the cadence and volume of your voice

whenever you're speaking so lots to get

into Lassa learn from the legendary Les

Brown let's get right into it

[Applause]

Oh y'all look good I want you to look at

now let's point out something here

there's a big big difference in an

audience that wants to be there versus

an audience that has to be there so you

may have been speaking at something

before where they were the audience was

required to attend by their boss or

their company made them or something

like that or they just didn't want to be

there so there's not nearly the

anticipation the excitement the energy

versus an audience that wants to be

there now and there's a difference also

between an audience that wants to be

there

for the event and an audience that wants

to be there for this specific speaker so

it seems like this audience came

specifically not just for this random

conference random event or whatever this

venue may be or setup may be but they

came to see Les Brown right so there's a

different energy there so think about

for you if you're gonna go see if you're

gonna go to a local club to see a

musician or an artist or a band play

it's one thing to I'm gonna go to this

this club or this venue just because I

like listening to live music it's

another thing to I'm gonna go there

because my favorite band on the planet

is going to be there there's a different

energy that you bring to the table there

when you go with that type of

anticipation for who's going to be

performing or play so the same thing is

true for an audience whatever comes to

speaking the audience most likely is

here because of Les Brown this may be

his own event and so people are much

more excited much more into it from the

beginning before he's even really said

anything and look at something right now

thank you some major goal you want or

maybe it's one you're already working on

and you have experienced a lot of

setbacks a lot of defeats you've

experienced a lot of disappointment

maybe you've already given up and maybe

you just need a little farm now did you

notice here he's going right into it

right so he said man you look good today

something like that and then he's not

wasting any more time because those

first few moments that you have as a

speaker with the audience is some of the

most powerful moments that you have the

audience's attention is fully engaged

they're fully dialed and they're fully

with you and so everything from here the

audience that attention span is

naturally going to decrease and so he

goes right into it and comes out of the

gate swinging with some with some

content so this is really good service a

little encouragement to get back in the

game again here's what I want you to

look at

there are winners and they're losers and

there are people who have not discovered

how to win and all they need is some

coaching all they need is some help and

assistance just a little support all

they need is some insight or a different

strategy a plan of action to make some

adjustments that will open up the key to

a whole new future for them that will

give them access to the unlimited power

that they have within themselves that's

all that they need so what I want you to

do is think about something you want for

you that's real for you that's important

for you that will give your life some

special meaning and power and I don't

even want you to say I can do that

I don't want you to assume that see five

years ago when I started out in this

area I would not have been able to make

the mental leap that I would be up to

where I am right now I don't want you to

begin to just psych yourself out no no I

want you to be able to say something to

yourself that will enable you to

maintain a level of integrity with

yourself that when you say this even

when you face tremendous setbacks it it

will be a benchmark to keep you in the

game to keep you moving forward in

experimenting and readjusting your

strategy and your plan of action

continuously looking for ways to win so

what is that something when you got an

idea you want to move on you might not

have the money you might not have the

education you might not have the support

or resources you need what is that

something that can keep us going that

will enable us to act on our dream

what's one of those keys now I want you

to pay attention to two things he's

doing really well here and just as a

communicator I find myself just locked

in and engaged here with the talks it's

just rich really good content he's a

very captivating speaker so what makes

him a captivating speaker there's two

things that he's doing one is his

cadence he's not go he's going at a good

pace here where it doesn't feel like

it's too fast where it's you're having a

hard time keeping up with him or it

doesn't feel like he's going too slow

where it's just almost lulling you to

sleep there and it's just dry

the thing to is he stock he's talking in

a very strong confident voice so it's

not to allow that doesn't feel like he's

yelling at you or shouting down to you

but also doesn't feel like he's just

he's whispering but what this means is

because he has a strong voice then when

he goes to the other extreme where he

brings it down to maybe a soft whisper

it draws you in even more because

there's such a big difference between

where he's speaking now and what a

whisper sounds like so that just be

aware of that of when you're speaking

it's it's okay to be loud it's okay to

be strong and confident without yelling

or without coming down on people but by

speaking on a more confident strong type

of approach and strong type of voice it

also means that you can be softer and

that can be much more powerful and

effective as well that will begin to

help us to discover the secrets to our

dream here's what I want you to repeat

after me please with power and

conviction say it's possible that's all

I want you to do when you look at your

dreams just say to yourself every day

it's possible just say that every day to

you have it's possible because what does

that do see simple little

call-and-response now I want you to say

and say proud and say with conviction

it's possible and so now how many of you

found yourself as he's saying it again

and again you find yourself repeating

back to him what he just said right you

send yourself saying in your head it's

possible it's possible as possible so

just that simple act of getting people

to say something right so it don't have

to be this long drawn-out paragraph that

they're gonna repeat back could just be

a word could be a couple of words with

some key thing these not gonna drills

that in their head from the beginning it

begins to change a belief system see the

way in which we operate ladies and

gentlemen it's a manifestation of what

we believe what's possible for us

whatever you've done up to this point

all that it really is is a duplication

it's a reproduction of what you believe

subconsciously that you deserve and

what's possible for your life most

people operate out of their personal

history out of their memory things have

done things have experienced things have

seen things that they have observed what

I'm suggesting that you operate out of a

larger vision of yourself I want you to

see yourself doing what you want to do

experiencing what

you want to experience it having what

you want to have doing what is that

gives your life the meaning and value

operate out of your imagination not your

memory because whatever you look at

where you want to go I'm wanting to warn

you you will have some conversation back

here after you go through the data that

you've experienced in life saying you

can't do it and so what you want to

begin to do is ignore that inner

conversation well most people ladies and

gentlemen when something happens to them

what they do is they begin to believe

that that's the way it is

that's the way it's always been and they

can't see the possibility of it being

any different example before in April

1954 okay this is a good job of giving

an example right so you kind of give

this concept here and people are kind of

like processing in their mind like okay

what are the things in my own life that

have happened and I assume like it's

always going to be like that this is the

way it is that's the way it's always

going to be so good job here of

interjecting and giving here's a

concrete example of what this actually

looks like the common belief the

universe will believe because it had

been tried again and again and again and

people that fail the belief was that man

was not physically capable of breaking

the four-minute barrier that he could

not run a mile in less than four minutes

that was the belief on the planet it had

never been done but here's what happened

ladies and gentlemen Roger Bannister

came along and he broke the four-minute

barrier now here's what's significant

about that since that time no this is

the type of story that you could build

out a little bit more there so the

punchline so to speak the delivery that

the key point is Roger Bannister comes

along and he runs the four-minute mile

so he could build out that story a

little bit more of you know on this date

on this race in this state you know he

was a hot day started slow but then he

built up and he had the energy of the

crowd was into and yadda yadda yadda and

that by the end he broke the four-minute

mile so

more of a build-up to climax versus just

going straight to the punchline now you

you can go straight to the punchline

just because it's like it doesn't need

all of that be if this is not that

powerful of a story for not a a key

story that he's using right this is just

a quick story

that's all that's meant to be tell upon

line and move on but if it's something

where either a he wanted to make it more

powerful or B he wanted just to even

fill an extra minute or two he could

flush out that story a little bit more

up to this day over 20,000 people have

done it including high school kids what

changed 20,000 people what changed

here's what happened when they got on

the track they knew it had been done and

because they knew it had been done there

was a new belief about this barrier

about this goal that was unreachable and

those 20,000 people got into raised

believing knowing in their heart that

someone had done it that it's possible

that they could do it and I'm saying

that if you know anybody that had some

goals some dreams something they wanted

to do and they did it denies saying that

you know in your heart that if someone

has done it then you can do it it's

possible that if someone can make that

dream comply with discernment it's

possible that you can make your dream

become reality and so as you begin to

look at where you want to go beginning

to embrace that it's possible I'm

blessed and highly favored I've got a

lot going for me I got some good stuff

in me and it's possible that I can bring

my greatness out here in the universe

that I can do what I want to do it's

possible I can write my own book I can

have my own business I I can take the

trip and drop okay good job here are

then giving some concrete examples of

what this would look like so it's one

thing to talk about you know your dreams

can be possible you can see those things

happening and it's like I don't know

what that means or I don't know what

that would entirely look like so then

giving an example of here's how it look

like

roger bannister and you had a bunch of

people who didn't believe it was

possible to run a four-minute mile one

guy did it and now 20,000 people have

done it since then right so here's a

concrete example of what this looks like

now let's bring it to a practical level

because most people in the audience

aren't thinking like man I would just

rather love to run a four-minute mile if

someone will just tell me that it's

possible right most people in the

audience aren't thinking that but they

are thinking man I would love to write a

book or those a sort of business or I

love to whatever the other examples are

he's getting ready to give so all of a

sudden it takes this thing and it makes

it much more relatable and applicable

for where the audience is at what

they're trying to accomplish a lot of

the world it's possible I can bounce

back from adversity and reinvent my life

it's possible regardless of where I am

the things can get better for me it's

possible you notice how he keeps saying

the line as possible as possible as

possible so again going back to what we

talked about before where he says that

line it has the audience repeated back

and then he keeps just hammering that

line hammering that line hammering that

line so that's really good because again

it just drills it in their minds not

like this long here's this this long

sentence I want you to remember here's

this key principle just a really simple

thing it's possible it's possible as

possible saying that over and over and

over again reiterating that point making

that point really net point in is really

really powerful and effective here I'm

thinking about two men right here in

Chicago who are fairly successful

similar background educated they work

for corporation for many years and they

were among many people that were laid

off two guys who were very good friends

one went out looking for a job

for several weeks along with the other

one and they face disappointment and

rejection again and again and again they

couldn't find any work which is the

story of many people across this country

one guy stopped he became discouraged he

stopped going he stayed home looking at

television became very argumentative and

toxic with his wife drinking beer

getting on the phone talking to his

other negative unemployed friends

and he just gave up I don't know if that

was mid to be funny but when the

audience is laughing and we're

responding in that way again part of the

reason they're doing that is because of

the natural engagement and connection

that they have to Les Brown not just

some generic speaker but to him they

came to see him so he says something

that's semi funny they get gets a good

reaction from the audience so if the

audience reacts like that the best thing

for you to do is what he just did which

is just the pause don't keep talking

over them while people are laughing like

give that time to subside before you

continue the other guy kept looking for

a job everywhere it could go every time

he could get an opportunity kept asking

people networking checking the

newspapers every day kept going

everywhere he could trying to find a job

you have too much education you

overqualified you won't be here long

enough he kept going you kept going he

went to a place and say look he I tell

you what if you can't hire me and I know

you can use my talents abilities and

skills I don't want to sit home and do

nothing just just let me do some

volunteer work you don't have to give me

anything all right I just want to work I

want to be busy guy said okay telling

you now but don't don't expect me to

give me anything it's okay this guy came

in and work he was the first one there

the last one to leave was the best

employee there about four weeks later

one of the top managers quit they were

looking for a replacement guess who they

selected this other guy this guy who was

volunteering his time he got the job

what was the difference between the two

men eyesight and mindsight

eyesight is judging on what you see

judging according to appearances but

mine sight is how you interpret what you

see one guy said it's not possible it's

over I'm finished I can't do it I can't

make it

he's surrender I'm faced rejection again

and again I'm not going anymore there

are no jobs out there but this other guy

he felt that in spite of the knows and

rejections in spite of how bad

economy is in spite of what the

newspapers are saying that it's possible

that somebody somewhere will give me a

job he just kept going thinking it was

possible and guess what ladies and

gentlemen that's what we have to do with

our dreams because things happen to you

in life that you can never ever

anticipate and many times when those

things happen you want to give up I

remember when I was in broadcasting when

I was a disc jockey I became very

controversial that'll be alright let's

point out something here what do you

think of his slides so far doesn't have

any slides right I think all the time

two speakers we feel like you have to

have slides but know this that there are

plenty of great speakers who don't use

slides right I personally I don't use

slides I wouldn't put myself in a

category of Les Brown but I personally

don't use slides nothing wrong with them

slides can bring a lot to a presentation

and a talk that you then that you may

not be able to get from just the spoken

word now also give them the benefit of

the doubt here this looks like it was

probably from maybe the 80s and the

technology was dramatically different

back then than what it would be today

but you don't always need slides to make

a powerful point this has been a really

powerful message so far and we haven't

heard and we haven't seen anything

related to slides you may not do

anything with slides and that's okay so

don't feel like that you have to have

slides in order for a talk to be great

all right there you go my friends hope

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friends thanks for hanging out with us

we'll catch you next time you're awesome