What is the central idea of “the last lecture”? dreams distract you from dealing with the real parts of life. fight for your dreams, no matter the cost. it is important to achieve your dreams and to others achieve theirs. facing a terminal illness makes you reconsider your life choices.

your company is bidding on a project for the entertainment industry. you know that you need new ideas on and how to put together the proposal as well as communicate your approach in a way that will impress the customer.

each year on this day, i make it a point to listen to dr. martin luther king jr.’s great “i have a dream” speech. it’s electrifying every single time.

the content of dr. king’s speech, his inspiring presence, and the moment in history all came together to make the iconic “i have a dream” speech the defining moment of the american civil rights movement. but there are several other reasons why this speech, delivered over 50 years ago, remains an example of one of the best speeches in american history.

since part of my job is to people become better presenters, i’ve noticed several techniques that we can all learn from and be inspired by in this magnificent speech.

it’s anchored in a powerful related location

in most cases, you can’t handpick the spot to give a presentation, as mlk did for supreme symbolic effect when he stood on the steps of the lincoln memorial and echoed the opening words of the gettysburg address (“five score years ago . . ). but you absolutely can amplify your message by adapting it to your setting and location.

a. both connotative and denotative.