185. Say Less, Mean More: Craft Compelling Communication

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart

Communicating, Influence, Career Skills, Career, Business, Education, Leadership, Careers, Communication, Career Growth, Public Speaking, Language Learning, Improv

4.7 • 711 Ratings

🗓️ 11 February 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How to captivate an audience and make your message stick.

Pitches and presentations don’t fall flat because speakers aren’t prepared. For Guy Kawasaki, it’s because speakers miss the point. “If all you're trying to do is inform, you're not going to pull it off. You have to entertain your audience.”

A renowned author, speaker, and entrepreneur, Kawasaki knows that the point of great storytelling isn’t about information, it’s about emotion. “Too many speakers think, ‘I need to inform my audience. I need to get my story across,’” he says. But throughout his career, formerly as Chief Evangelist at Apple and now co-founder of Canva, he’s shown how successful communication is about captivating audiences, not conveying facts. “If you entertain people, you have a chance of informing them.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Kawasaki joins Matt Abrahams to explore practical strategies for building decks, structuring presentations, and tips for keeping audiences engaged. From investor pitches to keynote presentations, these strategies help create effective storytelling — in business and beyond.

Episode Reference Links:

Connect:

Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:56) - The Key to Great Storytelling
(03:44) - The Purpose of a Pitch
(07:29) - How to Structure a Pitch Effectively
(09:01) - The 10-20-30 Rule for Slide Presentations
(12:27) - Using Images vs. Text in Presentations
(13:08) - Lessons from Podcasting
(14:39) - The Final Three Questions
(18:49) - Conclusion

********
Get $50 off coaching today at Strawberry.me/tfts
Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hi, Matt here. You've invested in your education to grow, advance, and unlock new career opportunities.
0:07.0	But here's the challenge. How do you position yourself to stand out in a competitive job market?
0:13.0	It's not just about what you know. It's about how much you communicate your value, build strategic relationships, and take decisive action.
0:21.7	That's where today's sponsor, Strawberry.me, career coaching, comes in.
0:26.2	They match students and professionals with certified career coaches who will help you refine
0:31.1	your personal brand to confidently articulate your skills and experiences,
0:35.3	to develop a results-driven strategy and stay accountable so you
0:39.8	follow through on networking, applications, and negotiations. Because knowing what to do is one thing.
0:46.4	Having a coach to push you forward, that's how you create real momentum in progress.
0:51.9	Visit strawberry.m.m.m. TFTS and claim your $50 credit. That's strawberry.
0:59.0	dot me slash TFTS. Getting to the point is critical in all communication, but especially storytelling and pitching.
1:16.6	My name's Matt Abraham's, and I teach strategic communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Welcome to Think Fast, Talk Smart, the podcast.
1:20.6	Today I'm excited to speak with Guy Kawasaki.
1:22.6	Guy is a renowned author, speaker, and entrepreneur.
1:26.6	He was chief evangelist for Apple in the late 1980s and early 90s.
1:31.4	Currently, Guy works for Canva, which he co-founded.
1:34.5	He hosts a podcast and has authored many books, including his latest,
1:38.5	Remarkable, Nine Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.
1:43.0	Guy, I had a great time chatting with you on your
1:45.6	remarkable podcast. It's such a fun conversation. I'm looking forward to our conversation here.
1:50.4	Lala, I hope we can exceed what we did there. Well, thank you so much. Should we get started?
1:55.2	Yes. When you craft a story, what are the things that you are thinking about in terms of sequencing,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Think Fast Talk Smart, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Think Fast Talk Smart and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.