Have you been asked to present a short motivational speech or inspirational devotional before an event? Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com offers five tips to make it memorable! Opening a conference or gathering is an honor. It can be a powerful catalyst for both the audience and your career. Get my FREE DOWNLOAD and transform your creative leadership skills when you sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/  NEW BOOK! “Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis”With the recent highly publicized stories of prominent leaders like Mike Bickel, Ravi Zacharias, and Bill Hybels, my new book Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis offers churches and nonprofits a preemptive strategy to avoid a crisis – and if one does happen, a crisis plan to respond appropriately and positively. Get your copy here: https://philcooke.com/crisis  Subscribe to my podcast for more career advice and creative leadership skills: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/phil-cooke-podcast/id1439369056 Prefer video? Subscribe to my YouTube channel to level up your creative leadership skills: https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1  ======================================== Phil Cooke – Media Producer/Writer/Speaker/CoachHelping Creative Leaders Influence the World Do you have a message or story the world needs to hear? I offer advice on creative leadership, digital media, branding, marketing, film and television production – and the faith to take you from where you are in your ministry or career to where you want to be.  As a filmmaker, media consultant and co-founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles, my client list includes Hollywood studios, major nonprofit organizations, and many of the most respected churches and ministries in the world. I’ve produced media programming in nearly 70 countries and created many of the most influential inspirational TV programs in history.  My philosophy? Get your ideas out there and change the world in the process.  ========================== Connect with me on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/ Podcast https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/philcookes-podcast/id1439369056  Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com Find out more about The Influence Lab here: https://influencelab.com ===========================  *More About This Episode* Public Speaking: Tips for Leading a Short Devotional There are many opportunities in the Christian world where you may be asked to lead a short devotion. It might be to begin a conference, open a board meeting, before introducing a main speaker, at the start of a big meeting, and more. However, so many people completely blow the point of a devotion that I wanted to share these reminders of how to make it memorable.  How to make your speech memorable: 1. Start with scripture. Focus their mind on God. 2. Don’t preach. Make it conversational. Share from your heart. 3. Open with a personal story to build a stronger connection with your audience - but keep it short. 4. This is not your chance to pitch your project or brilliant ideas! The devotional time isn’t about you, it’s about focusing the audience on God or the conference theme. 5. Respect the schedule. Keep to your given time frame. Practice with the clock! You may not be the keynote or main speaker, but being asked to give a short devotional is an honor. Do it well and people will remember you for the rest of their lives. Read more: Tips for Leading a Short Event https://www.philcooke.com/tips-for-leading-a-short-devotion-before-an-event/ Get my book “Ideas on a Deadline – How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking”  available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Lj9gNU  Find this and my other books available now for your generous donation to The Influence