Connoisseurs
IDENTIFYING AND APPRECIATING
THE SUBTLETIES OF GREAT KEYNOTES
BY GLENNA SALSBURY, CSP, CPAE
that the word “noise” (hidden in the word connoisseur) is defined as dissonant verbal clutter. In contrast, music is defined as resonant verbal harmony. It could be said that a great keynote is “music to your ears,” as opposed to noise. Late in life, Michelangelo said, “I am still learning.” In his econd book, Second Force, Dr. Gary Emery suggests, “Mastery is learning because you love to learn, not to enhance your superiority.” With that in mind, what do we know and what can we learn about masterful key- noting? How do we recognize or judge the best in the field of pro- fessional speakers? “He shouts at me. I hate that.” “She tells sob stories and manipulates emotions.” “He is so full of himself. Disgusting.” “I was mesmerized as she spoke. I felt she was speaking just to me.” “He was o knowledgeable and seemed to really want us to grasp what he was saying.” “I could listen to her all day.” You probably have said or felt responses similar to these. You have a A connoisseur is defined as a discerning judge of the best in any field.
y calling as a pro-
fessional speaker
occurred in Orange
What magic did Jim Rohn have?
A connoisseur is defined as a
discerning judge of the best in any field. Now
I had no conscious or knowledgeable
wisdom as a judge of speakers. But I
had an inner knowing that proved to
be accurate. And the longer I remain
immersed in the world of speaking, the
more I continue to become consciously
aware of the elements essential to creating great keynotes.
Sam Horn, one of the wisest wordsmiths in NSA (and the world at large),
observes, “Connoisseurship is a prerequisite to craft.” In addition, she points out
