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Public Speaking: The Best Six-Word Speeches

Six-Word memoirs, stories, mottos and novels(!) are all the rage right now.  I came across the Best Six-Word Speeches list that follows on the SpeakerNet News site.  SpeakerNet News subscribers are some of the most talented and busiest public speakers out there.  I thought I’d share it with you because who better to write the best six-word speeches than the most talented speakers!

Note:  I’ve selected my favorites.  Which are yours??

Grand Prize

* Give wisdom away; it returns tenfold. (Charlie Hawkins)

Advice to Speakers

First Place
* Stand up, be great, sit down. (Margaret McDonald) - A Terri Favorite

Second Place
* Check zipper. Open heart. Walk on. (Max Dixon)

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
* Speak eloquently, be funny, get paid (Doc Blakely)
* Tell a better story: inspire change. (Rachel Prosser)
* Explain persuasive visuals, don’t read slides (Dave Paradi)
* Inspire me to listen to you (Patti Wood)
* Quit adding value, start having impact. (Tim Durkin)
* Be different or nobody remembers you (Jeff Hornstein)
* Make us laugh - we’ll remember you. (Pamela Alexandra)
* Tell me a story, I’ll listen. (Pamela Alexandra)
* Want to work? Make ‘em laugh (Victoria Maxwell)
* Stories add poetry to your prose. (Kathy Reiffenstein)
* Reading from PowerPoint slides brings snores. (Pamela Alexandra)
* A speech without humor breeds boredom. (Pamela Alexandra)

About Speaking & Training

First Place
* Model what you seek to teach. (Max Dixon)

Second Place
* Don’t speak unless you improve silence (Jesus Nebot) - A Terri Favorite

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
* Whoever tells the stories shapes society (Plato) (Gayl Murphy)
* Presentations are verbal and visual ballets. (Kathy Reiffenstein)
* It’s a joy watching people blossom. (Robert and Rande Davis Gedaliah)
* Hungry old dogs learn new tricks (Dick Larkin)

About Life

First Place
* Measure your life in lives touched. (Mark Black)

Second Place
* We are each experiments in possibility (Rob Swineford)

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
* If exercise is fun, it’s done. (Rita Makana Risser)
* Rewards received equate to risks taken. (Douglas Rice)
* Gave up security; having more fun! (Milo Shapiro)
* Life is a gift, cherish it! (Clark Roberts)
* Life is a conversation with yourself. (Marvin Marshall)

Motivation

First Place
* Change your thoughts, change your life! (Victoria Carvalho)

Second Place
* Predict your future by designing it (Sharon Worsley)

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
* Don’t settle for less than wonderful. (Barbara Niven)
* Everybody has the power of choice (Glenn Brandon Burke)
* No more excuses. Make better choices. (Sam Silverstein)
* Larry Winget: You’re broke, I’m not. Listen up (David Newman)

Writing & Communication

First Place
* Never underestimate the power of words (Victoria Maxwell)

Second Place
* Words are tools, be a technician (Joe Liss) - A Terri Favorite

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
* Listening takes place between the ears. (Al Borowski)
* One-way communication is an oxymoron. (Helen Wilkie) - A Terri Favorite
* Good business writing requires great editing. (Al Borowski)

Success

First Place
* Daily discipline will determine your destiny (Lisa Ford)

Second Place
* You’re in control of your choices. (Pat Altvater)

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
* Big ideas usually start out small. (Dave Balch)
* Recession redemption…live simply, give generously. (Elaine Froese)
* Wasted time can never be recycled (Cathy Emma)
* Written goals are your treasure chest (Leanne Hoagland-Smith)
* Believing in yourself leads to success. (Pamela Alexandra)
* For success, make others feel important. (Bob Shaff)
* Have higher standards, get higher results. (Jeffrey Scott)

Leadership

First Place
* Employee appreciation isn’t a special event (Donna Cutting)

Second Place
* True leaders share their lessons learned. (Shawna Schuh)

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
* Most disengaged workers were once engaged. (Terri Kabachnick)
* Seek counsel, but decide for yourself. (Douglas Rice)
* Pick a strategy, stick to it. (Douglas Rice)

Other

First Place
* Give wisdom away; it returns tenfold. (Charlie Hawkins)

Second Place
* Hope is not an investment strategy. (Douglas Rice)

Third Place
* Net worth and self worth differ. (Douglas Rice) - A Terri Favorite

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
* Customer loyalty is fleeting and subjective (Lisa Ford)
* Exceptional service is no longer optional. (Laurie Brown)
* Pamper your clients. Confound the competition. (Mitch Carnell)
* Repeat customers are the most profitable (Dick Larkin)
* Referred prospects make the best customers (Dick Larkin)
* Social networking - come tweet with me. (Jim Carrillo)
* No stress with three deep breaths. (Rita Makana Risser)
* Stop whining. It hurts my ears! (Susanne Gaddis)
* A closed mouth doesn’t get fed. (Peggy Duncan)
* Only the visible get known. Really! (Roberta Guise)
* Investing in the future is history (Doc Blakely)
* Read people from the outside in. (Patti Wood)
* Wear your jammies while educating people (Joe Liss)
* Use brains before you use brawn (Bob Mittelsdorf)
* The opposite of harassment is respect. (Rita Makana Risser)
* Wrap your work around your lifestyle. (Cher Holton)
* Your children will lead the world (Brian J. Donley)

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