A Single Tip From Oxford

This morning, en route to the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, I strolled past The Jericho Cheese Company. Quite a display, as you can see...

It struck me that there's way more cheese available than any one person could possibly eat. Even to attempt such a feat would be a literal recipe for disaster - and sickness! Rather you'd take delight in selecting the small number of specific cheeses you think will prove most suitable (and delicious) for your guests.

With ... public speaking, I suggest the same principle applies! Tempting though it may be as the speaker to try to ram every conceivable piece of information down the throat of your audience members, you'll only give them indigestion. The speaker's challenge is to select the small number of specific points, details and insights they think most suitable (even delicious) for their audience members.

Because, as any self-respecting, powerful cheese will affirm, even the smallest (and shortest) of samplings can prove sufficient to be of lasting value...