You certainly recognize how important the event is to you, your business or your community, but your busy schedule makes it hard to find the time to compose an appropriate address. Your speech needs to resonate in a special way with the folks in the room, so updating one of your old ones just won’t do.  This one needs to be both motivational and memorable with varying amounts of humor and homage directed to an individual or organization.

If you happen to be the recipient of an award or special recognition, you may need to decide which of the countless anecdotes you could share are likely to be received best by your audience.

Once you stand up, you want to stand out, and the content of your speech is the biggest key to accomplishing your objective.

AWARD ACCEPTANCE

“Whether I deserve this honor is debatable; my appreciation for it is not.”

MOTIVATIONAL

“Now is the time for each of us to consider what more we can do to chart our corporate course and assist our fellow passengers for what promises to be a bumpy, but ultimately successful journey.”

KEYNOTE SPEECH

“I am delighted to address such a prestigious and highly-respected organization, and want to thank your first couple of choices to be keynote speaker for not being available tonight.”

AWARD PRESENTATION

“I’ve known our award recipient for much of my professional life.  I’m here to tell you there is no one more deserving of this recognition. And if you don’t believe me, just ask her and she’ll tell you.”

CELEBRATION

“We have persevered and prospered; everything this company has accomplished is a result of hard work and a commitment to a common goal. Congrats on reaching the peak of our profession.”

ANNUAL MEETING

“I’m thrilled to speak to you again this year.  If you take one thing away from my remarks, let it be that we are stronger than ever and positioned to accomplish great things in the year ahead.”