Get to the Point!: Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter

In Joel's Schwartzberg's ten-plus years as a strategic communications trainer, the biggest obstacle he's come across--one that connects directly to nervousness, stammering, rambling, and epic fail - is that most speakers and writers don't have a point. They typically just have a title, a theme, a topic, an idea, an assertion, a catchphrase, or even something much less.
A point is something more. It's a contention you can propose, argue, defend, illustrate, and prove. A point offers a position of potential value. "Global warming is real" is not a point. "Scientific evidence shows that global warming is a real, human-generated problem that will have a devastating environmental and financial impact" is a point. When we have a point, our influence snaps into place. We communicate belief, conviction, and urgency. This book shows you how to identify your point, leverage it, stick to it, and sell it, and how to train others to identify and successfully make their own points.

Get to the Point
Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter
Every time you communicate, you're doing it for a reason. You want someone to understand something, do something, or change something. You're trying to make a point. But the only way to make a point is to have a point. And the surprising truth is, very few communicators know their point or even understand what a point is, rendering them pointless.
In this concise and practical book, Joel Schwartzberg draws on his decades of experience as both a strategic communication professional with organizations like the ASPCA and PBS and as a professional public presentation coach to train you how to identify your point, elevate it, stick to it, and sell it. His point-making insight applies to communications of all kinds, including speeches, emails, PowerPoint presentations, staff meetings, conference panels, and performance reviews.
So what is a point? Schwartzberg says too many people confuse it with a title, a topic, an idea, a theme, or even something much less. A point is something more. It's a contention you can propose, argue, illustrate, and prove. A real point creates a position of value. Consider the evolution of the point behind this very book:
"This book is about effective communicating." Okay, but what will it do for me?
"This book will help you become a better communicator." Fine, but why do I want to be a "better communicator"?
"This book will help you champion your most important ideas." Yes, I need to do that Tell me how
Schwartzberg's fresh approach also conquers common communication challenges like rambling, irrelevance, uptalk, slow starts, and a debilitating fear of presenting in public. He shows you how to go from simply sharing a thought to making a difference. Which would you rather do?

Champion Your Best Ideas

Every time you communicate, you're trying to do something, change something, or move someone to action. You're trying to make a point. But the only way to make a point is to have a point. And the surprising truth is, very few communicators know their points or even understand what a point is, rendering them pointless.

Communications expert Joel Schwartzberg says a point is not just a topic, an idea, or a theme. A real point is a proposition of value. It's a contention you can propose, argue, illustrate, and prove. In this concise and practical book, you'll learn to identify your point, strengthen it, stick to it, and sell it. Whether you want to improve your impact in speeches, staff meetings, pitches, emails, PowerPoint presentations, or any other communication setting, Schwartzberg's novel approach teaches you how to go from simply sharing a thought to making a difference. Which would you rather do?