An important lesson from how great authors draw their readers in right from the beginning … 

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Think of a great book you enjoyed lately.

How did it begin?

Mine started with a burning house.

I was immediately drawn into the story, although I knew nothing

about what was going to happen.

Great authors know that once the reader is drawn into the story, there will be plenty

of time to introduce all the details.

Great authors also know that when they fail to draw a reader into the

story quickly, they will just put the book aside after a few pages.

Now think about the last presentation you listened to.

How did it begin?

Mine started with a presenter introducing his CV.

And it continued with milestones of his company's history.

Not only didn't he draw me into the story right from the beginning, he just

never bothered to draw me in at all.

He delivered all the details but never provided me with a single reason to care.

He told me everything but failed to make me curious for anything.

Great stories.

Draw me in because they make me care.

They make me curious.

They give me a reason to want to know what's next, right

from the very first sentence.

Once the audience is drawn into the story, they will want to know more.

They will want to know all the details.

Regular speeches just dump all the info.

Great speeches, however, make me care for the info just as great books do.

While regular speeches start somewhere, great speeches start by making me curious.

How is your next speech going to begin?