Two Big 8s

The 8-second rule will ensure that you always get off to a good start. Mastering the 8-second drill can help make you a player in no time.

The 8-Second Rule

Keeping the important 18-minute wall in mind, we now have to consider the fast start 8-second rule. The 8-second rule recognizes a law of human nature that suggests that most people decide within eight seconds whether a particular speaker is worth listening to in the first place. In other words, don’t piddle away your moment of greatest impact on opening amenities. Opening amenities are opening inanities.

So begin with a bang. Avoid anemic cliché starts such as, “Thank you. Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here today.... Today I would like to talk about....” As we have been ...

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