If you want to be a powerful speaker, learn how to be a ruthless editor—of your story.
Not just a storyteller. A story editor.
We all have incredible stories. But when we step on stage—or stand in front of our teams—we often try to tell the whole saga: the rise, the fall, the plot twists, the motivational mic drop… all in one breath. And it doesn’t work. Not because the story isn’t good. But because it isn’t focused.
The best keynote speakers, the top corporate communicators, the most inspiring voices in any room—they know how to cut. Not just for time, but for clarity. For impact.
Here’s what I’ve learned after decades in spoken word poetry and public speaking training: great speakers don’t tell everything. They tell the right things.
They trim the fat. They choose the moment. They find the one detail, the one scene, the one phrase that punches through the noise and grabs the heart.
Editing is what separates the good speakers from the unforgettable ones.
Because when you edit your story, you respect your audience’s time and their attention. You make space for them to see themselves in your message. You remove what’s impressive and keep what’s important.
And look, I get it—it’s hard. When I work with leaders in my Stage Might training, they often want to hold on to every sentence. Every quote. Every win. But the truth is, if you try to say everything, people remember nothing.
Want to make your message more memorable?
- Cut what doesn’t serve the core point.
- Kill the clever lines that don’t land.
- Be brave enough to leave space—space for your audience to feel, to reflect, to connect.
It’s not about being the most articulate person in the room. It’s about being the most authentic and intentional.
So before your next speech, Zoom call, or TED-style talk, ask yourself: Have I edited this like someone’s life might depend on it?
Because the truth is… sometimes it does.
