You're preparing a motivational speech. How can you weave storytelling seamlessly without running over time?

A well-chosen story is a secret ingredient in speech. Select a tale that aligns with your topic and evokes the desired emotions. Make it relatable and universal, so your audience connects deeply with your message. Plan it before, so you do not end up chatting without clear directions. Remember, less if often more. A concise story pack with key points illustrations is a powerful punch.

Decide quickly where to put your story. You can start with the story and then link the rest of the speech to the story or you can give your speech and use the story to summarise or illustrate your key points. This means putting your story in the middle of the speech. Or you can put your story at the end especially if it brings some practical aspects to some abstract or theoretical material. Personal stories are most powerful. Or you can also use at least two or three stories and use each story to illustrate an important point.

Prioritize Key Stories: Choose one or two impactful stories that directly relate to your core message. Example: Brené Brown often uses a single, powerful story to illustrate her point, ensuring it aligns with her overall theme. Keep It Concise: Practice telling your stories in a brief, focused way. Stick to essential details and avoid unnecessary tangents. Example: Eric Thomas (ET) delivers his stories with energy but keeps them short Use Story Transitions: Integrate stories naturally by linking them to your key points with smooth transitions. Example: Les Brown often transitions into a story by first stating a point, then saying something like, "Let me share a quick story to illustrate this…"

Cut the noise, drop the flourish and get to the real deal. What do they really need to know? What's going to change their life? What's the one nugget that you have to share and what is just "blah blah blah." Too often we think we need the fanfare but what we really need is to share the basics, share what matters vs. getting lost in polish. Remember: Every story doesn't need to be a novel, it could be less than a minute and leave the same impact (when done thoughtfully). Make it a game, try to figure out how to make the most impact with in the shortest amount of time. You'll start to see what really matters and what was unnecessary fill.

I like to tell my story in chapters/sections with a study, a finding, a learning to support every part of this story. Every aspect of the story that doesn't serve the point you're trying to get across, can go. Kill your darlings.

start by selecting stories that directly support your key message. Choose concise, impactful anecdotes that highlight the main points you want to convey. Keep each story focused and relevant, avoiding unnecessary details. Use transitions that smoothly connect the story to your broader message, ensuring it flows naturally. Practice delivering the story within a set timeframe to stay on track. Practice & persistence is key.

Practice is important. Too much practice will kill the vibe. I don't like to feel like a speaker has told this same story a thousand times. So practice and definitely time yourself. But don't learn your speech by heart.

A story always engage audiences. Starting with a story and weaving it through a speech concentrates the minds of the audience. Everyone takes something important with them. My story Panda's Song depicted the Sahara desert as a rainforest. Something must have happened for a rainforest to become a desert. Once you hold the attention of the audience, and bring in a strong minded princess who says what she means and means what she says, your topic integrity hits them. Who is willing to suffer for what they believe? Who stays close when everyone else runs away? What is the cost of true friendship? What is integrity? What is loyalty? What is trust?

Absolutely, adapting on the fly is crucial for any speaker. However, early in my speaking journey, I realized that my story wasn’t just motivational—it was truly inspirational. When I share how I was miraculously healed in an instant, it’s not just about motivating—it’s about inspiring belief in miracles. My story remains consistent, whether my audience is made up of experiencers, researchers, or skeptics. It comes straight from the heart, and its frequency has a way of resonating with those who are ready to receive it. After all, we can only truly hear a message when we are vibrationally aligned with it. I believe that if you’re listening to me speak, it’s a divine union—an exchange of energy where both of us gain something meaningful.

Adapting and changing route is a great skill. It may not be for the first time you hold a speech and that is ok. What I like to do is to ask questions. They can be rhetorical, but the can also be "raise your hand if..." questions. I find it helpful to keep people engaged and may even be used to steer to a different topic. Keep your talk a conversation, even if you are up there on your own.