You've Got 8 Seconds: Communication Secrets for a Distracted World

by Paul Hellman

" This is a resource you'll turn to again and again for advice on the best communication techniques ! The tips are invaluable and it's a quick, fun read, with humor and personal anecdotes sprinkled throughout."
    --Stephanie Laguna, Executive Director, Strategic Market Planning, Kaiser Permanente

" After reading the first few pages, I could not put it down . A treasure trove of useful techniques with amusing real life anecdotes that keep the reader engaged until the last page. A must-read for the corporate world--and the real world!"
    --Jean Pierre Lacombe, Chief Global Markets, Head of IFC Research, The World Bank

" I loved the book and will recommend it to colleagues . Whether you're a grizzled CEO or a new associate, you'll benefit from Paul's practical ideas and strategies."
    --Bill Adams, Chief Investment Officer, Global Fixed Income, MFS Financial Management
 
" Great insight and advice to hone your communication skills for every situation . Invaluable ."
    --Steven Marshall, President, U.S. Tower Division, American Tower
 
" Do yourself a favor.  Give everyone you know a copy of this very practical (and funny) book .  I know I will."
    --Erin Deemer, Vice President, People Development, Biogen

"Filled with powerful insights and humor, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to sell their ideas or themselves .  I started using Paul's tools immediately, and urge you to do the same."
    --Jon Peters, CEO, AthenaOnline

"Superb blend of practical tips, humor and storytelling.  Paul provides real insights and memorable tactics.  All presenters (and writers) should read this book ."
     --Marissa Poole, Head of Global Scientific Communication, Sanofi Genzyme

" I loved this book!  Humorous and insightful--it's a great read and the advice is spot on .  A must-read for leaders or anyone who wishes to inspire, motivate, or persuade."
    --Kelly Courtney, Advocacy Strategy Advisor, United Nations

" For those fortunate enough to know Paul personally, his voice and years of experience echo throughout this book. The result is a practitioner's dream."
    --Michael Glass, Vice President, Talent Management and Development, Thermo Fisher Scientific

" Paul Hellman's book is packed with great advice for leaders, and it's fun to read , too ."
    --Marshall Goldsmith, executive coach and bestselling author of Triggers

" If you want to become an exceptional communicator, this is your how-to guide . It should be mandatory reading!"
    --Mark Jesty, Chairperson, IMS/Toronto

" You'll find the strategies you need--and we all need this book more than we realize! "
     --Alison Quirk, Executive Vice President, State Street (retired)

"An easy, high-impact read that provides every executive with the tips and tools to effectively communicate . With this book you'll maximize your impression on every audience. "
    --Dusty Tenney, President, Brooks Life Sciences

"Paul's witty approach and insightful tips give you the communication strategies to get heard in a world of constant distraction. This is a must-read."
    --Maureen Clang, Vice President, Leadership Development, Travelers

" You've Got 8 Seconds is a vital addition to your tool belt that I heartily recommend ."
    --Bill McGowan, author, Pitch Perfect

"You need to manage your professional brand.  Use the tactics in this book. They work ."
    --Charles Miller, Senior Vice President, Leadership Development, Citi

"Paul provides a fast, easy-to-use approach. His method helps you make your point quickly--and with greater impact ."
    -- Sandy Rezendes, Chief Learning Officer, Citizens Financial Group

"Both practical and funny, it's a great read for anyone who wants to have more impact at work. Hellman has mastered the art of communication, and he lets you in on the secrets ."
     --Tim Saeger, Senior Vice President, Engineering, iRobot

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Communication, Self Help, Personal Development, Management, Leadership

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2017

Reviews

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

People should exercise their brains. Making everything even more simple is not a way to do that.
Actually, it's ridiculous when you hear supposedly ableminded people saying that they don't understand obvious stuff. It somehow became fashionable to be a dolt.

This is overanalyzing and oversimplifying things at its peak. Or course, it's very entertaining. Then again, if people have nothing challenging all day long, their brains deteriorate. And if you are fed with stuff that is simple, you might eventually feel that even simple things are challenging. Watch people. It shows.

For example, here a manager is suggested to simplify what 'a project gone bad' means. And this is simplified to 'a project with a missed deadline'. It's stupid, actually. Project can be fucked up in a multitude of ways: doing the wrong stuff, reasults of low quality, team gone rogue, half the team going to work for the client, all the team getting sick, expectations and delivery and perception issues, etc etc... A missed deadline isn't the worst thing to happen. There are many other ways for a project to go bad. And making a manager to oversimplify his thinking is a good way to get him to miss all the other ways things go to hell in a handbasket.

Q:
To move more, invest in a really bad chair. Unfortunately, I’ve got a really good chair, with a cushy seat you could sit on forever. This chair is all wrong.
Your ideal chair is rock-hard and extremely painful. That’s the kind you want, one you can’t sit on. (c)

Sounds like some of this advice might be very fitting for the masochistically inclined!

Q:
Identify Your “Evil Secret” ...
“The key to what you really want,” says David Maister, a consultant and former Harvard Business School professor, “lies in something that you don’t like to admit.
‘I don’t like to admit it but I need to be the center of attention.’ Ok; find a job that will let you show off. ‘I don’t like to admit it but I really want to be rich.’ Fine; go out and get rich.
“Play to your ‘evil secrets,’” advises Maister, “don’t suppress them.”
I’m sure there are exceptions, but most secrets aren’t evil, they’re energy. (c)
Q:
Notice what energizes you. Do more of that. (c)
Q:
“I’m Harriet.” But you speak softly, as if you were wanted by the FBI and you suspect that half the room is working undercover. Your volume speaks volumes. Speak up, send the message that your message is IMPORTANT. ...
“I’m Harriet???” You make routine assertions sound like questions by ending every sentence on a higher note. As if you believe that, in this universe, nothing is certain and you just discovered, much to your surprise, that you are, in fact, Harriett. Or at least you could be Harriet. The whole thing is bewildering . . .(c)
Q:
You just realized something bad, there are 79 slides left. Is it too late, you wonder, to go to clown college? (c)
Q:
He listed the Commerce Department twice, as if to say, “You can’t just get rid of the Commerce Department once. Any idiot can do that. No, I’m going to get rid of it, and then I’m going to get rid of it again . . .” (c)
Q:
As we circled the Toronto airport, the pilot made a disturbing announcement.
...
“Several other planes are about to land. Let’s see how that goes.” ... He didn’t sound confident. And “let’s see how that goes” didn’t sound like a flight plan. A good plan—correct me if I’m wrong here—probably shouldn’t hinge on whether any other planes crash and burn. ...
Stress-test a risky disclosure with two questions about your audience:
1. Upside: What does your audience gain by knowing?
2. Downside: How likely are they to want to jump off the plane? (c)
Q:
Well, that beats saying why it’s the worst, although the latter might be more interesting. “Some of our products don’t really work. A few smell bad. We think they may be carcinogenic.” (c)
Q:
“None of you will remember a single word I say today,” the governor said. That’s how he began his commencement address at my son’s college graduation.
It was a memorable line. (c)
Q:
The governor, for example, opened by thanking people. There was a list:
“Faculty, distinguished guests, undistinguished guests, the guests we really didn’t want to invite but we sort of had to, the people we never even invited—hey, who’s that funny looking guy over there? Sir, what are you doing here?”
Well, that’s not exactly what he said. Too bad. (c)
Q:
You can sequence your info in different ways, but it shouldn’t be random. (c) Golden!
Q:
For the same reason, “Sheer driving pleasure” (BMW) beats “Power, Beauty and Soul” (Aston Martin). Power, beauty, and soul add up to three abstractions—that’s a laundry list, not a car. (c)I like the list better!
Q:
AVIS: “We try harder.”
WENDY’S: “Where’s the beef?”
APPLE: “Think different.” And before Apple, the motto at IBM was simply “Think.” (c)
Q:
“Simple,” Bill said. “First, give me your conclusion. Then tell me how you got there. Then give me your conclusion again.”
The next time you’re speaking (or writing) to senior executives, begin at the end. (c)
Q:
To make your accomplishments work, tell their story. But stay focused—use the acronym SOAR. S is the Situation; here’s where you describe the context. OAR refers to that trio we discussed previously: Obstacles, Action, and Results. These three pull your accomplishment along. (c)
Q:
An acronym for the Great Lakes should be relevant, like WATER, or DROWN. Either one would work just fine, we’d simply have to rename most of the lakes to fit. (c) Gosh! This is patently stupid.
I think the author forgot that acronyms are not supposed to replace brains. -1 star!
Q:
I also have a soft spot for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac... (c) So do I! +1 star!
Q:
1. “I’ll try to rob the bank,” Henry says. From a writing standpoint, that’s ok. But when spoken, it’s weak.
Try is a tip-off that Henry will never rob the bank. He’ll probably never even go into the bank, he won’t even use the ATM. (c)
Q:
Imagine a bad day. First, your computer crashes. Then the stock market crashes. Then your airplane crashes. At some point, you might say something stronger than darn. (c)
Q:
You can overuse any word. Sometimes I overuse so. So do others. So, reports the New York Times, is the new sentence opener. ...
Eventually, you may want to go beyond filler words. The simplest solution when unsure what to say next: pause. Pausing marks you as a calm professional. (c)
Q:
“I don’t want to be clichéd, predictable, or boring,” she says. “Or too dramatic, or too rehearsed. Also, I don’t want to wear the wrong shoes.”
That’s the problem, and it’s got nothing to do with footwear. Her internal editor is out of control. (c)
Q:
Write without stopping (similar to the earlier advice about speaking nonstop). Set a time limit, say five minutes, and then keep your hands moving on the keyboard, or your pen moving across the paper...
Commit to writing badly. Make that your goal. The worse your writing is—spelling mistakes, bad grammar, incoherent thoughts—the better. (c) +4 stars! A cure for perfectionists invented finally!
Q:
Be the Lightbulb Guy
One day, I was presenting a workshop when, suddenly, a stranger walked in, unfolded a ladder, and climbed to the ceiling. He wasn’t trying to amuse us, he needed to fix a light.
Still, we couldn’t take our eyes off him. He was like a circus act.
What made him so compelling? Variety ...
Sure, we’d seen people fix lights before, but not that day. Plus, he had a ladder. Never underestimate the power of a good prop. ...
So capture attention with variety. Otherwise, your audience will climb the wall, with or without a ladder. (с)
Q:
p.s. Ever wonder where the exclamation point came from? Probably not, but just in case: The Latin word io means joy, and “the Medieval copyists used to write io at the end of a sentence . . . [over time] the i moved above the o, and the o became smaller, becoming a point.” (c)
Q:
Try this one at your next team-building retreat: “Suppose our group wanted to win an award for being completely dysfunctional. What would we do?” (c)
Q:
Customer Service: “What are the 20 best ways to completely alienate our top clients?” This question is frightening—you may already be doing a few.
Stress: “How could we make working here so anxiety-provoking that you’d need an industrial strength horse tranquilizer just to walk through the door?” (c)
Q:
Turns out, it’s easy to brainstorm worst practices. Most of us have had impressive experience. (c)\
Q:
Here’s what you’re likely (and unlikely) to hear:
➦➦ We’re innovative. (The truth is, we have no idea what we’re doing.)
➦➦ We embrace change. (Our priorities change from minute to minute.)
➦➦ Picture one big family. (Picture one big unhappy family.)
➦➦ We work hard. (We avoid frivolous activities like weekends.)
➦➦ Read our core values statement. It says it all. (Read the 207-page report the U.S. Dept. of Justice just issued. Our CEO has promised to turn things around. As he says, “Anyone can work from jail.”) (с)
Q:
When President Bill Clinton was asked in 1994 whether he wore boxers or briefs, you expected him to decline.
(Or to bridge: “I think what you’re really asking is who am I as a person, inside. Let me speak to that.”)
Unfortunately, he answered. ...
I usually advise business leaders to welcome questions, to step into them, and to stay loose and relaxed.
But when the question is inappropriate, do the opposite. Put up your hands (as if stopping traffic), possibly smile (unless the question is too offensive), and say something like, “I don’t think I’m going anywhere near that one.” Then move on.
Or even simpler: “Thanks. Next question.” (с)
Q:
After Janet Yellen became chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, she appeared before Congress to present the Fed’s semi-annual Monetary Policy Report.
...
“I am a sensible central banker,” she said, responding to the question,
“Are you a sensible central banker?”
What kind of question, by the way, is that? Well, for one thing, it’s closed, with either a yes or no answer. “No” would be intriguing:
“No, Congressman, I’m not a sensible banker. I’m not even, really, a banker.” Then, laugh hysterically. “I’m a wild and crazy person, pretending to be a banker.” More laughing. “Just ask my colleagues, they’ll tell you—I’m completely insane. And I control the money supply. All of it, every last penny!”...
She thanked lawmakers twice that day for calling her unexciting.
But here’s what was unexpected: she offered to stay the entire day.
The head of the congressional committee thanked her for the offer. “Madam Chair,” he said, “you’re in luck. We’re not staying all day.”
But they stayed almost six hours. That’s a long time for Q & A.
And her endurance sent an important message too.
Ms. Yellen’s audience that day was not regular people like you and me. It was the global financial markets, running trillions of dollars, euros, yen, and yuan—an audience desperately hoping for dull (be the audience). (с)
Q:
Guy Kawasaki, former chief evangelist of Apple (and now of Canva) suggests the 10-20-30 rule: don’t use more than 10 slides, don’t talk more than 20 minutes, and, my favorite, don’t use less than 30-point font. (c)
Q:
Act as if. You can act confident, for example, without feeling confident... (c)
Q:
“If you want a quality, act as if you already had it.” —WILLIAM JAMES, psychologist (c)
Q:
What’s the opposite of executive presence?
Executive absence. (c)
Q:
Pilot to passengers: “Gosh, this is the first time I’ve ever flown such a big plane. Our flight today may be a little jumpy. God knows, I am.”
Doctor to patient: “Cover your mouth, and stop coughing so much. I’m just getting over a horrible stomach virus. I really feel gross—much worse than this stupid thing you’ve got.”
U.S. President to country:“I’ve never given a State of the Union address before, and my schedule has been crazy busy, no rest at all, not even for a second. This is, by far, the worst job I’ve ever had. So please don’t ask, ‘How are things going in the USA?’ I really have no idea.” (c)
Q:
“Honey, I forgot to duck,” (c)
Q:
Confidence: Avoid These Three Mistakes
Mistake #1: Assuming you know what’s going on inside others.
Suppose at the next leadership offsite, your CEO stands up and then, in a commanding voice, sings out the quarterly financials.
You’re impressed. And yet, you know nothing about the CEO’s inner experience. He could be extremely confident, or extremely nervous, or extremely insane.
Mistake #2: Assuming others know what’s going on inside you.
Let’s say you’re at a meeting, feeling stressed. But if your heart is pounding, others can’t hear it. And if you’ve got butterflies in your belly, others can’t see them.
Often, the only reason others know you’re nervous is because you feel compelled to tell everyone.
Don’t.
Mistake #3: Assuming you should feel as confident inside as others appear outside.
“Stop comparing your insides to others’ outsides.” (c)
Q:
Watch Your Eye Contact
Bad eye contact almost killed me. I was in a NYC subway. A big muscular guy, seated opposite me, had a baseball bat that he kept tapping into his left palm. ...
If this guy were giving a presentation, let’s say on “How to Resolve 10 Everyday Problems with a Baseball Bat,” he’d be making a classic mistake: looking at just one person in the audience (me!) at the expense of everyone else. (c) Barmy much?
Q:
Good eye contact is not continuous. I’ve interviewed job candidates who thought it was continuous—they never take their eyes off you. Please don’t do that. It’s scary. (c)
Q:
Even if no one can see you, body language still matters. Stand up (you’ll project better), move around (you’ll sound more dynamic), and smile (you’ll sound more friendly). (c)
Q:
Nonverbal signals. We watch them because they often “tell” the truth, unless you’re dealing with a sharp poker player, a trained actor, or a very experienced sociopath. (c)
Q:
Start with tight. Put in the time, effort, and practice to accelerate your
performance.
Then, get some marbles. (c)

[Jerecho · Rating 3 out of 5]

8 seconds to catch an attention??? In some ways - yeah or maybe...?

In a world full of techies, critics and nonsense we don't need 8 seconds, your presence should be enough to get the attention... I'm just babbling 😊

PH book seems messy. I don't know if it is for public speaking, or for job interviewees, or for sales. But nevertheless, its a good reference book for something that involves talking to people. I just don't like the style but authors may have different approach in writing their book. Ano ba pakialam ko, style niya yun eh. (What do I care, it's his style). 😊😀😂

You know what?

WHAT???

Smile 😊😀😄😂😉

[Kirby Ingles · Rating 1 out of 5]

8 terrible seconds

Just didn't keep my attention. Seemed unorganized and I could hear the author rambling in my head as I read. I really felt like the advice was just a table discussion and really had zero depth. Seemed like a lot of cliche advice that was acquired over the years. I think it could be much better and would be willing to read updated version.

[Asheesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the greatest book i have ever read. Very well written , nicely structured with great examples. Right from the first line it captures your attention, written with FOCUS, VARIETY and lot of PRESENCE of examples.
Must read for some one who really want to improve on communication skills or add a icing on his/her communication skills

[Marcey Rader · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many notes. I made so many Kindle highlights I may as well have just copied and pasted the entire book. Anyone can benefit from this to learn what works better in meetings, onstage, and at home. I'll be implementing these tactics and tips in 2020. It's a super easy read with a lot of aha's.

Get it.

[Christina Bohdanovych · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is concise and full of clear practical advice. I definitely recommend it to everyone starting out in the business, and for people with experience to sharpen the skills in today's world of short attention spans.

[Allisonperkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent quick read on the value of bring succinct. Some strong advice and an ok, quirky, writing style.

[VampireNovelFan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not 8 seconds, but a quick read

Insightful and concise. Not a total life changer, but it has a couple of interesting nuggets to think about when dealing with the workplace and everyday life. The audio was nice to listen to because it felt like a speech. I could read it again.

[Nancy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book about communication

[Chad King · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you do public speaking in any form -- presentations, speeches, teaching, conducting meetings, etc. -- you'll find this book to be a great little resource. Although there's not a lot of new information in its pages, it provides time-tested techniques in a quick, easy-to-remember format. As a bonus, Hellman's wit and humor make it a pleasure to read.

I speak in public frequently, and over the years I've read a couple dozen books, and many dozens of articles, that provide coaching and tips for better public speaking. This book ranks among my top three books on the topic. Whether you are just starting to speak in public or you've been speaking for decades, this book will help you fine tune your skills and make you a better communicator.

I'll continue to use it as a reference, and I liked it enough that I bought copies for my college kids. Highly recommended.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, Goodreads, and all who were involved in making this book available through Goodreads Giveaways. Honestly, I picked up this book believing that there could possibly be some good information but expecting it to be a fairly boring read; I mean, come on, a book on communication...Wow, was I in for a surprise. I am highly impressed with Hellman's ability to share information in a way that is easy to absorb, understand, and keep it interesting by adding some humor. Recommend this book for not only business execs, but everyone. Communication is vital for all types of relationships. Spent a number of years giving what we referred to as "death by PowerPoint" presentations; if only I had this book back then.

[Joseph Manfredonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

You'll find nice chunks of meat inside.

We have a lot of 8 second moments in life, the better prepared you are in seeing & reacting to them, the better you're gonna be. This book will throw you a few bones. Enjoy!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This popped up on in an Amazon daily suggestion and I thought "why not?"

The concept behind this book is this: People have a hard time paying attention so it is important to capture a person's attention in the first 8 seconds or you will lose them to their grocery list, planning their weekend or in any other way just not listening to you. The next time you speak, others will either tune in or tune out. You've got 8 seconds--make them count!

What I liked about the book is it was entertaining. Paul follows his own advice when he delivers the content - he keeps it quick and interesting. I read a few other reviews about how it seems "messy" and I didn't find it disorganized. I liked how each chapter gave a quick synopsis - here is what we are going to talk about next. His writing style is such that I could truly hear his voice and it was as if I were listening to him instead of reading the words on the page. His self-deprecating and sometimes off the wall humor is what kept me engaged and I will admit to a few audible chuckles.

Instead of teaching a formal "method", my takeaway is that it is a bit of a reference book chock full of ideas for how to improve what you write and how you present.

[Mad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book promotes thinking of the receiver of the message and making the key points very clear and simple for them.

It is helpful to remember that just because we write a message or tell someone something does not mean that they will recall this information. This book suggests making our messages very simple and repeat a key word/point to engage the listener and improve their retention of the message.

This book suggests acting confident even when you don't feel it - it suggests that this will improve your feeling of confidence eventually.

The book conveys that people should build on their strengths and presence. E.g., non-verbal confidence expression, drive/focus, be fully present, project energy, sustain energy, shows initiative, is accountable, learns from mistakes, listens respectfully to others, is optimistic or solution-focused, is composed and calm under stressful conditions (e.g., consider word choices to ensure emotions conveyed are composed or professional).

[Susanna L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Hellman’s You've Got 8 Seconds: Communication Secrets for a Distracted World is an engaging and highly practical guide for anyone looking to capture attention quickly and communicate with impact in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled environment. Hellman expertly breaks down the challenge of the modern 8-second attention span and offers clear, actionable strategies centered around focus, variety, and presence to help messages stand out and stick. His fast-focus method and tips on executive presence are especially valuable for presentations, pitches, and everyday communications, making this book a must-have for professionals seeking to get heard and remembered. The blend of humor, real-world examples, and practical exercises keeps the reading lively and immediately applicable. This book is a powerful tool to master the art of concise, confident communication—definitely deserving of five stars.

[Mike Mirzamani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Different tactic

This is a great book for those who are in any kind of sales activity. This would be for someone like a Car Salesperson who has to use a special tactic to make a sale TODAY. It's a guy thing. A take it to the chin and move on thing (with fun facts related to prison or being arrested). There is a great emphasize in short cuts for a life that is short, perhaps?

It is also helpful if you are looking for a job and are going for an interview. This book helps a lot to keep pressing on what you want and to sell with immediate results. It can motivate you.

This is a book that brings you down to earth and helps you be more realistic, self-serving, and goal-oriented at work.

[Samarth Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful Nuggets

The book has some useful nuggets spread across. I come from the world where we deal more with written documents instead of PowerPoint presentations. while the book alludes to PowerPoint presentation throughout, I found it worth reading none the less, because the core mental models, discipline, and preparation required to communicate effectively applies regardless of the medium of communication; and this books had some good advice regarding that.
I also appreciate that the author was to-the-point and did not fluff up the content to increase the page count (an epidemic in nonfiction genre)

[Анастасия · Rating 5 out of 5]

Отличная книга. Я бы советовала прочитать ее всем - школьникам, обучающимся делать доклады и презентации, студентам перед защитой курсовых и дипломов, рабочим - перед выступлениями с докладами и презентациями уже на работе.

Советы отличные, и их можно применять не только для выступлений на публике, но и в обычной жизни. Если бы все могли общаться и думать в большинстве случаев так, как предлагается в книге :)

Особенно понравилась рекомендация про 10-20-30, забрала себе на будущее.

Книга идёт легко, и я бы время от времени основные моменты бы пересматривала в ней, так как много глубоких мыслей.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5 stars. The title sets a high expectation, which leaves the reader constantly disappointed as chapter after chapter covers basic communication/presentation techniques. The premise is that a presentation should cover these 3 things:
1. Why is the content important to the audience?
2. What is the content (agenda)?
3. How can the audience put the information into action?

For example, explaining to a group of salespeople that leadership training is valuable because it will help them develop and lead a team is the "why." The leadership skills is the "what." Giving specific actions for the audience to do is the "how".

[lisamarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelling in a fast-paced world

Ideal read for anyone. I listened to the audio version, narrated by the author. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I can’t wait to go back and read it slowly. Hellman’s writing is pleasant and funny. He makes good use of carefully selected quotes. The book seems simple on the surface, but it makes profound points that I want to remember and transmit while training public speakers. I highly recommend the book for anyone who thinks they know how to communicate. You still have something to learn! (We all do...)

[Chris Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Communication text

I got this as a Prime book, I always struggle to communicate well and the summary of the text sounded interesting, I'm here to tell you it was likely the best book I've read on improving Communication and interaction with people. The flow is sensible, with a good mix of humor, but nice summaries of the ideas presented. I made multiple highlights and notes in the kindle version to follow up with later.

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good approach on presenting oneself and/or his job in our modern world that lacks attention span because of the overwhelming information around us. I strongly believe that if you have nothing to say that is substantial, better not to. My take away are those very good questions that can be applied regardless the audience type and the message you deliver:
1. Why should I listen (or read this)?
2. What exactly are you saying?
3. What should I do with this info?

[Enz816 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertainingly insightful

Mr. Hellman provides an entertaining narrative on communication. Whether you are a leader, parent, educator, or clergy, his insights are useful. To know your audience, your subject, and your message may sound easy, but to truly know each and ENGAGE your audience requires mastery of each. His book may not help each of us achieve mastery, but it will certainly help us take a step (or two) in the right direction. Thank you, Mr. Hellman.

[Gabre Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to Paperback

The information in this book is useful. Wish there was a cheat sheet I could take with me every day to ensure I practice.

The one challenge I have with the Kindle version of this book is that the "Intro/About the Book" section comes at the end. Wished it came earlier as it would help to frame the concepts outlined in the book better.

[James Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot of good and useful information, here. But there was also just a LOT. Some of it was presented with humor. Some of it seemed to be presented kind of stream of consciousness. I am glad that I read it, but I am not sure how much of it will stick with me beyond the main premise - that you have eight seconds to get your point across before someone's attention starts to wander.

[Glenn Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Tips; Very Digestible

This book had great tips that Hellman presented with humor and authority. The readable style will make it easy to recall anecdotes and lessons from the book. The content will help me as a professional who needs to communicate quickly and pointedly. I expect to review the text occasionally so that I can reuse anecdotes and key points.

[Audette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books was succinct (it would be ironic if it wasn't given the topic) but useful for communicators.
It is an easy read because the author has a humorous conversational style that carries you along & keeps you amused.

Not an advanced text but a great beginners primer to being more succinct & having more presence & leadership.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, and it will be a keeper to re-read as needed. It is written in such a way individual chapters can be taken and used as needed... soon, they will be needed.

Great for those needing the confidence, structure, or continued foundational skills of becoming business savvy with presentations (both informational and that of self).

[Harris Bolus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. It’s super short and felt like it could have been even shorter. The author has a good sense of humor, and I found some parts of the book hilarious. Nothing revelatory, and not much that will be truly new advice to most people. I appreciated having a lot of basic, good advice compiled together and elaborated on.

[Ed Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Advice

There’s a ton to learn and improve on in our communication, and the author writes an engaging and exceptional guide to getting better. Whether is is conversation, presentation or writing, everyone will learn something valuable in reading this book. Add it to your personal development library.