Speech Writing – Foundational Phrase
In my mind, the term Foundational Phrase comes from the Toastmasters 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking, Craig Valentine. I discovered Craig’s wealth of wisdom as I entered the Toastmasters 2013 International Speech Contest and competed at the Semi-finals level.
Now, in 2019, I’m revisiting how to craft a Foundational Phrase. Here are the resources I’ve found.
One of Craig Valentine’s famous Foundational Phrases is “Your dream is not for sale.” In his speech, Craig has his wife make this statement via dialog. Importantly, this also makes her the hero – not him.
In Darren LaCroix’s article How Sticky Are Your Stories? he says, “One huge mistake I see in the speaking world is the lack of an original Foundational Phrase. This is a big mistake. If you care about your message and your audience, make the time.”
“Don’t just take the time; make the time!”
In Henk van den Bergen’s article, Foundational Phrase, he asks, “Does your Foundational Phrase clearly promote your point or message”?
Aside: Story Structure by Henk van den Bergen
- 40 Phrases to Guide You to Greatness in Speaking by Craig Valentine
- The Key to Making Your Speech Memorable by Craig Valentine
- How Sticky Are Your Stories? by Darren LaCroix
- Foundational Phrase by Henk van den Bergen
- Foundational Phrases: Are They All They’re Cracked Up To Be? by Rich Hopkins
