Know How to Plan your Talk – Video

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How to Prepare a Speech with a Clear Purpose

Introduction

This video explains why the best speeches begin long before you write a single line. You’ll learn why clarity of purpose drives everything, how to plan your message and why preparing a speech is more like making a film than jotting down ideas. When you start with a strong intention and a clear story, the rest of your speech becomes easier to design and deliver.

What you’ll learn

• Why speeches fail when you jump straight into writing
• How clarity of purpose shapes your content
• Why planning your structure matters more than early drafting
• How thinking like a filmmaker helps you create a stronger narrative
• The role of a clear story in building a memorable speech

Summary

A great speech starts with intent. Before you write anything, you need to know exactly what you want to achieve. Too many speeches suffer because the speaker begins by brainstorming without any direction. Instead, define your purpose, then plan your structure. It’s similar to making a film: you need a story and a script before you start shooting. Without them, the final result will lack direction. Clear intent gives you a stronger narrative, a more coherent argument and a speech the audience can follow.

Mini FAQ

What’s the first step in preparing a speech?
Decide what you want to achieve. Everything else follows from that.

Why shouldn’t I start by writing ideas?
You risk producing a speech with no direction. Purpose should come first.

How does planning help?
It gives your speech a clean narrative and ensures every part supports your goal.

Why compare speechwriting to filmmaking?
Because both rely on a strong story and a structured script before anything else.

Transcript (edited)

Probably the most important thing about a speech is knowing what you’re trying to achieve. Too often people have a speech to give and start writing straight away, brainstorming ideas. That’s not the way to prepare a good speech. To create something strong, be absolutely clear about what you want to achieve, then plan.

It’s a bit like making a movie. If you start a film by going out and trying to shoot lots of random scenes, you won’t get anywhere. You need a story, and from that story you need a script. Without a good story and a good script, you won’t have a good film — and the same is true for speeches.

Suggested Links

• Define your core message
• Build a stronger presentation structure
• Shape your story before you write
• Plan a more effective speech

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