Attention Getters How to start your speech with a Personal or Timely Reference
Grabs the attention of the participants with something they can identify as “right-now-relevant.”

 Rather than a canned attention getter, you draw on the moment.
 You talk about something that happened in the world, your town, the company that day, and relate it to your topic.
 It makes you look like a real pro.
• You can refer to the sports news and make an analogy to someone going the extra mile.
• You can refer to the convention party the night before, and the two people found in the fountain who can identify with your talk today on water conservation.
• You can refer to the morning trainer, who mentioned the importance of motivating employees and your talk this afternoon on using praise as a great way to motivate.
• When your share an "in the moment" experience with your audiance they feel more connected to you. And because it takes talent and courage to be in the present moment to use this kind of attention getter you gain immediate respect and admiration from your audiance. When my speaking coach cleints have use this method they have shared with me how wonderfully exciting it felt. I also know that when I’ve told what happened “on the way to the speech,” story or a "I heard or read this in the news this morning story? I’ve won some of the highest praise from my audiences.

Full Example #1:
“One morning, on my way to a breakfast speech for 200 realtors, I was partially dressed, driving my four-week old car, with hot rollers in my hair with metal prongs sticking out everywhere, putting on my blush and eyeliner, slurping Dannon coffee yogurt. As I was driving down the far left lane of a six-lane highway in 8 o’clock Atlanta rush-hour traffic, my tire blew. I saw my life flash before me. I managed to cross over five lanes of traffic to the easement, without hitting anyone or killing myself. I got out of the car in my hot rollers with prongs sticking out everywhere, partially dressed, holding my Dannon coffee yogurt to look at my rubberless rear tire. I needed help.

I stood watching cars zip by, curlers with the prongs sticking out all over, partially dressed, holding my Dannon coffee yogurt. I flagged at passing traffic. No one stopped. I had to get to those 200 waiting realtors. I hiked up my skirt, smiled, and waved politely at the oncoming traffic. The next truck stopped. Two bubbas got out and said ‘Can we help ya, little lady?’ I said I needed a ride and they said, “Hop on in the truck.” (They missed their appointment, drove 30 miles out of their way), Bubba #1 let me use his car phone, while Bubba #2 held my makeup mirror so I could finish my makeup in the car. All this help so I could make it here today. They rescued me, at a high cost to their business, when they could have just passed me by. (Holding up their business card) Mike and Tim were ‘shining stars,’ and that’s what we’re here to talk about today. How you can be a shining star in your city by volunteering for community service.”

Full Example #2:
“After the first day of a three-day workshop for the Florida Department of Labor in Tampa, Florida, I was dropped off at my sister’s house for dinner. My niece asked if she could play with my workshop magic markers, which were in my equipment case along with the high heels I’d worn that day (I’d changed into sneakers). The next morning I was back in my hotel room, reached into my case to pull out my high heels, and they weren’t there! My niece hadn’t put them back!

“That morning, I walked out in front of my audience, wearing a blue blazer, cream skirt, pantyhose, and large, white Reebok sneakers and said, ‘Today, we are going to learn about making a good first impression.’ The audience howled! I told them the story of my niece—they loved it—they loosened up and I was comfy-footed all day”

ay I will be giving three speeches on speaking and training.