Those are the same guard rails that should rein in our written content too, by the way.

It’s just that the consequences are more visible when we are talking. Eyes glaze over and heads start nodding to urge you to get to the point. The podcast gets clicked off, the audience retreats to their phone screens, the Zoom audience looks pretty sleepy.

So I challenge you to get in front of a real, live (or “computer live”) audience. Watch them take in you what you say and see if you aren’t picking up some editing and sharpening input along the way.