This week’s prompt is killer. It blew me away and I’m excited to share it with you.
It’s a detailed maga-prompt that will take your public speaking up a level. I tested it with a real example: Preparing for an upcoming keynote talk I’m presenting in a few months.
If you follow me on LinkedIn, you’ll know that I mostly write about the intersection of business and politics. I’ve been asked to expand on my theory that every business is in the business of politics for a small business audience.
While I normally write my presentations from scratch, I wanted to get out of my own head for this one, and see if AI could help me. But, with my own reputation on the line, I also wanted to keep a tight leash on the AI.
Below, you’ll see how I did this.
My goal with this prompt was simple: Get an interesting speech outline with a great hook, compelling storytelling, and a strong finish, in the style of a Ted Talk.
I intend to write the speech myself and will certainly adapt what I got from ChatGPT, but as a thought starter, and to give me a clear outline to work from, this prompt doubled as a time saver and ideas generator.
Here it is for paid subscribers. If you want to bypass the paywall, try the 7-day free trial.
Prompt:
You are an accomplished speechwriter and public speaking coach with over 20 years of experience. You are a master TED Talk writer and use the book "Talk like TED" as a guide.
You specialize in writing captivating TED-style presentations.
Your clients include executives and thought leaders who seek to inspire and engage their audiences on global platforms.
I am your client and need your help. First, here is the context you need to start:
CONTEXT:
[provide context]
YOUR OBJECTIVE:
Help me create a public speaking script in the style and essence of a TED Talk. The script should be thought provoking, inspiring, and geared towards a global audience.
It should be structured to hold and retain the audience's attention from start to finish with compelling storytelling, clear messaging, and a powerful call to action.
Step 1: Begin by outlining the key theme and idea of the speech. It's important to me that this idea is fresh, innovative, engaging, and relevant to a broad audience.
Create a title made for YouTube SEO. Make it as catchy and viral as possible. No jargon or fancy words, please.
Step 2: Develop a captivating opening that immediately grabs the audience's attention. This could be a surprising fact or a provocative question.
Brainstorm five completely different openings. Be creative.
Step 3: Structure the body of the speech. Make it flow logically, with each point building on the last, and include real-life examples and research findings to bring key points to life.
Step 4: Integrate rhetorical devices and storytelling techniques to make the speech memorable and impactful.
Use metaphors, analogies, and vivid imagery to ensure I create a strong connection with the audience.
Don't tell me how to do it. Write me a draft
Step 5: Conclude with a powerful ending.
I would like it to be a thought-provoking question.
Your end result is not the full speech, it is the full structure of the speech to help me write it on my own.
Use everyday English.
No jargon and fancy words.
Be specific, using real numbers and real quotes when necessary.
Take a deep breath and work on this problem step-by-step.
And here is the context I provided:
I would like to share my theory that every business is in the business of politics. I hold this view because every business faces increased regulation. In fact, deregulation is an anomaly. If we look at startup industries, they always face increased regulation with time. Highly regulated industries face constant regulatory change and hurdles. And the mistake too many business leaders make is to treat regulatory and political affairs as an after-thought. Politics can single-handedly disrupt your business. If you want to be successful, you have to win at the game of politics.
I have these core recommendations for business leaders who want to get ahead in politics:
Principles:
Politics is about values
Politics is about choice
Politics is about people.
You serve citizens, not customers.
Mindset:
Never under-estimate your ability to move a politician
You need to become an advocate
You need to become a campaigner
Playbook:
Always be planning
Understand the electoral map
Understand voters
Pick your frame
Pick the ballot question
Pick your enemies
Avoid issue delusion
Demonstrate voter demand
Be prepared to lose
Never stop campaigning
I was blown away by the quality of the result. I’ll break it down do you can see the entire response:
Step 1: Key Theme and Idea
Title: "Why Every Business is in the Business of Politics"
Key Theme: Every business, whether a startup or an established corporation, is deeply intertwined with politics. Regulatory landscapes are constantly evolving, and businesses that fail to engage with political dynamics risk being disrupted. The idea is fresh, innovative, and relevant because it highlights a critical but often overlooked aspect of business strategy: the necessity of mastering political engagement to ensure long-term success.
Step 2: Captivating Opening
Opening 1: The Anomaly of Deregulation "Imagine a world where rules never change. Where the government doesn't intervene, and businesses are left to thrive—or fail—on their own. Sounds like a dream, right? But here’s the truth: deregulation is the anomaly, not the norm. In reality, regulation is always increasing. So why are so many business leaders still treating politics as an afterthought?"
Opening 2: The Silent Disruptor "What’s the one thing that can bring your business to its knees overnight, without warning, and without a chance to fight back? It’s not your competitors. It’s not even the market. It’s politics. Yet, so many leaders are blind to this silent disruptor."
Opening 3: The Startup Trap "Every startup begins with a vision of changing the world. But how many of them think about the inevitable? The moment when their groundbreaking idea catches the eye of regulators? It’s not a matter of 'if,' but 'when.' And if you’re not ready, you won’t survive."
Opening 4: The Political Game "Business is a game of strategy. But here’s the twist: if you’re not playing the political game, you’re not really playing at all. What if I told you that every decision you make is, at its core, a political decision?"
Opening 5: The Real Bottom Line "Every CEO talks about the bottom line. But what if I told you there’s another bottom line that’s just as important—if not more? The political bottom line. And if you’re ignoring it, you’re putting your entire business at risk."
Step 3: Structure the Body of the Speech
Here is what ChatGPT offered:
Introduction:
Expand on the chosen opening to set the stage for the central argument: every business is inherently political.
Briefly introduce the three sections of the speech: Principles, Mindset, and Playbook.
Part 1: Principles
Politics is about values: Explain how political decisions reflect societal values and why businesses need to align with or at least understand these values.
Example: Patagonia’s environmental advocacy aligns with a growing societal value of sustainability.
Politics is about choice: Discuss how politics forces decisions, and inaction is a choice with consequences.
Example: Companies that didn’t adapt to new privacy laws suffered massive fines.
Politics is about people: Highlight that behind every regulation are people—voters, politicians, and citizens who businesses must consider.
Example: How Uber’s rapid global expansion hit roadblocks due to protests from traditional taxi drivers.
Part 2: Mindset
Never under-estimate your ability to move a politician: Encourage business leaders to see themselves as influencers, capable of shaping policy.
Example: How lobbyists successfully pushed for changes in financial regulations post-2008.
You need to become an advocate: Explain the need for businesses to advocate for themselves and their industries proactively.
Example: The tech industry’s advocacy for innovation-friendly regulations.
You need to become a campaigner: Frame political engagement as an ongoing campaign, not a one-time effort.
Example: The long-term strategy of pharmaceutical companies in shaping healthcare policy.
Part 3: Playbook
Always be planning: Stress the importance of a proactive strategy in political engagement.
Example: How businesses plan for changes in tax laws years in advance.
Understand the electoral map: Emphasize the importance of knowing the political landscape and key players.
Example: Amazon’s decision to split its second headquarters between two politically strategic locations.
Understand voters: Argue that businesses need to understand public opinion, as it shapes policy.
Example: How consumer demand for clean energy has influenced corporate investments.
Pick your frame, ballot question, and enemies: Discuss framing issues in a way that aligns with business interests and understanding potential opposition.
Example: How framing net neutrality as a free speech issue gained public support.
Avoid issue delusion: Warn against getting distracted by too many issues and losing focus.
Example: Companies that focus on too many regulatory fronts often fail to influence any effectively.
Demonstrate voter demand: Highlight the importance of showing policymakers that there’s public support for your position.
Example: Grassroots campaigns that show strong voter backing for a particular policy.
Be prepared to lose: Acknowledge that not every political battle will be won, but each loss is a lesson.
Example: How businesses pivoted after losing the fight against certain environmental regulations.
Never stop campaigning: Encourage continuous engagement with politics as an integral part of business strategy.
Example: How corporations like Google and Facebook continually engage with regulators worldwide.
Step 4 Rhetorical Devices and Storytelling Techniques
Metaphor: Use the metaphor of a chess game to describe political engagement: "Just as in chess, you have to anticipate your opponent's moves. The political landscape is your chessboard."
Analogy: Compare the regulatory environment to the weather: "Regulation is like the weather. You can’t control it, but you can prepare for it."
Vivid Imagery: Describe the potential downfall of ignoring politics: "Imagine waking up one morning to find your business shut down by a new regulation, your headquarters padlocked, your employees out of work. That’s the power of politics."
Storytelling: Share a story of a well-known business that thrived or failed because of political engagement, making it personal and relatable to the audience.
Step 5: Powerful Ending
Conclusion:
Summarize the key points: Businesses are inherently political, and mastering this reality is essential for success.
Thought-Provoking Question:
"So, the next time you’re planning your business strategy, ask yourself this: Are you prepared to play the political game, or are you just hoping the rules don’t change?"
I won’t use all of these examples. And some of the language isn’t perfect, but to help me organize my thoughts, surface possible stories and examples, and opening/closing hooks, I feel like I’ve got something real to work with.
If you found this helpful, can you spread the word?