Customer Reviews

How to Get Your Point Across in 30 Seconds or Less

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Milo O. Frank shows step-by step how you can improve your communications skills by using a 30-second message. While we all often gab for minutes or hours, you should be able to get your point across within 30 seconds. The rest is simply preparation or follow-through. The techniques of crafting a 30-second message will help you focus your thinking, writing and speaking. Using these techniques, you can also be more effective in conducting meetings or speaking to groups. This skill will give you better all-around results in business. The technique has three main steps: identify your objective, know your listener and find the right approach. The author shows how to build the most effective message and then tells you how to present it to an audience. The last chapter shows how the 30-second message can be used in other forms of communication, from business letters to sales pitches and press conferences. We [...] recommend this clear, concise book for business people or professionals who want to get their ideas across more effectively, particularly in public speaking.

This book should be read by everyone! Whether you are a salesperson, a public speaker, or anyone that wants to communicate more effectively, this book will help you do it. Written in a breezy, interesting style, the author gives great suggestions on how to make a presentation effectively. It is a short book, by design. My only regret about this book is that I was unaware of its existence until a month ago.

Executive summary. TV commercials are 30 seconds long for a reason. If you learn to keep your message short, to the point, and interesting, people will listen to you. Milo Frank lays out the steps in this wonderful gem of a book.

Outline:

1. Keep it to 30 seconds. People have a short attention span. It works for TV commercials. Three Basic Principles: Knowing what you want, who can give it to you and how to get it.
2. The Objective. Your objective is your goal, purpose or destination. You can have only one objective. In every form of communication, your thoughts and words should introduce, reinforce, or help you achieve your adjective. You do not have to state your objective except to yourself.
3. The Audience. Go to the right person, the person who can give you what you want. Know as many facts about the person's) you'll be talking to. Identify with your listener. What does he want from you, and what one thing more than any other will get a favorable reaction from him?
4. The Right Approach. The single thought or sentence that will best lead to your objective. The right approach will also take into consideration the needs and interest of your listener. It will give you focus and keep you on track toward achieving your objective.
5. The Hook. A statement or an object used specifically to get attention. Use your hook as the first statement in your 30 second message. It should relate to your objective, your listener, and your approach. A statement, dramatic or humorous. If it's a question, it must be answered. Anecdotes or personal experiences are excellent hooks. Your entire message can be a hook. Keep a hook book.
6. Your Subject. Catch them, Keep Them, Convince Them. What, who, where, when, why and how. Know your subject and present it as concisely and forcefully as possible.
7. Ask for the order. Action close calls for specific action within a specific time frame. The reaction, reverse-psychology close is the strategy o use when your best chance is to ask indirectly. Decide your close in advance.
8. Paint a picture. Imagery, colorful pictures. Clarity: don't use technical terms just to sound knowledgeable. Personalize it with a story. Use emotional appeal - touch the heart.
9. Spotlight on you. How you say it matters as much as what you say. First impressions: pen vs. pen in a box with a ribbon tied around it. SMILE! Inspires confidence and understanding, and makes a good first impression. Eye contact establishes sincerity. Every little movement matters. Posture reveals what you think of yourself and of your listener. Self-awareness. What you wear sends powerful signals, and shows you care. Facial expression: goal is spontaneity and sincerity. Be prepared and care about what you're saying. (Passion) Body Language: stand, don't sit. Voice: animation, enthusiasm, variety, informality, sincerity, color & variety, modulate your volume. Use pauses.
10. One or a Thousand: Great communication. Establish intimacy with your audience by making them feel that you're talking directly to them. Master, not memorize. Outline your talk: objective, approach, subject, hook, 5Ws. Start and finish without 3x5 cards. Stop talking if you look at notes. Even before you start, make eye contact with audience. Variety. Write an introduction for your introducer. Always leave them wanting more.
11. Any time, any place. The question turnabout: "you're absolutely right, and one other point is.." Know your objective, listener and approach before making any business phone call. The rules of the 30 second message also apply to memos, Thank You letters, and toasts.

While the content of the book is excellent, the production of the audio version is annoying. The clock ticking throughout examples, cheezy music, use of various voice-overs split through left right and channels, and other unneccessary audio gimics are really distracting, and actually make it more difficult to follow the dialog. While this type of format has long been the norm in business and non fiction audio productions in the 70's and 80's, I would expect a less annoying and updated format for an item produced in 1999. Read the book. Avoid the audio version.

What sort of person do you really hate to engage in conversation? For me, it's somebody who doesn't know when to stop speaking.
Frank declares that the basic attention span is about 30 seconds, and that if you don't make your point in that amount of time, you've lost your chance to be heard.
He then goes on to tell you how to deliver an effective message in 30 seconds.
The book is very well written, and only 120 pages long. It's well worth reading.

This book is excellent. It's written for the average Joe; no technical jargon -- it can and should be used by everyone. It's a short and sweet read...brief and to the point, it can be read in approximately 1-2 hours. I'm a radio announcer, and this book is one of the top 5 that I insist other people read ... but get your own copy! In my opinion "How to get your point across in 30 seconds or less" is equal to AT THE VERY LEAST one half semester of a college course in Public Speaking 101.... and it's much cheaper! This book should be required reading for everyone who opens their mouth in public.

One of the most practical and helpful books I have read. I bought it on a whim because of the title. The author soon drew me into his topic and convinced me that if we have something worth saying, we must make sure that people hear it. Concise speach and writing helps that happen. As part of my job, I teach communication, especially public speaking and writing, to future missionaries. This book helped shape my teaching notes AND my delivery. I always recommend it to my trainees. None of them has ever been disappointed. Thank you, Milo O. Frank.

You have heard many times that you only have less than one minute to communicate your key point to your audience... and this is true. This book will guide you in how to structure your ideas in order to communicate it in a very powerful way, no matter if you are talking about businesses, family, community issues, etc.

The book is very concise and you will read it during a short flight or in a couple of nights, but you will keep it on your briefcase for future references

The book was written back in early 1990 but still the techique works. It has improved my communication with my boss. Now, I would consider my purpose and main points and hooks, before dropping into my boss' room

Basically, it's turning your message into a commerical since the average person can only hold their attention for 30 seconds thanks to (M)TV. It's useful in getting a message across to individuals who either don't want to talk to you or are too busy quicky. It can be seen as "brute honesty" if it's news the individual doen't like to hear, especially, regarding personal performance.Could be very useful in sales and retail. The book uses the 3 Ks (KKK). Unfortunately, it's not a good (PC) memory aid. I perfer the 3 Cs. "Catch Em", "Ceep Em", "Convince Em". I love the saying "Talking to many is the same as talking to one."
Worth a look at about 110 pages. You can finish it in one sitting.

Have you noticed that we as humans just love to talk? At times, it seems we have the uncanny ability to ramble on and on, often to the lofty levels of overkill and the tolerance levels of saints! Yet is there not a need for brevity and negotiating your point in quick time? How can you "sell" or express your viewpoint in a simple yet high-impacting way?

In this modern age of rapid-fire ads, pop-up screens, sound-bites and hi-speed information overload, your words are easily lost amongst the "competition". Your time and opportunity to grab someone's attention has become slimmer than the width of a bar of Hotel soap! Hence the acute need to deliver "substance in seconds".

Milo Frank has an answer. His affordable little book comes to the rescue by describing simple technqiues to say more of substance in less time. It combines the art of time management, frugality, negotiation skills, and focus - to communicate the heart of the message.

The essence of the technique spills over quite merrily into all types of communications, and if implemented wisely, can be a big time and stress saver. Delightfully easy to read, witty, and with splahes of charming anecdotes and examples, this handy book reveals the secrets of efficient and effective verbal communication.

Indeed, once you have reached the heart of the listener, what more is there to say?