Photo by Miguel Henriques on Unsplash

Research shows people form an impression of you in just seven seconds. Worse,  some research suggests it only takes a tenth of a second to start determining traits like trustworthiness.

As if presenting to an audience didn’t have enough pressure! At least now you know that what you say or do in your first few moments really matters.

Maybe that’s why pro speakers who command upwards of $10k per gig practise their opening 50 to 100 times.

Here’s a head start – five ways to open:

1. Present a startling fact.
2. Show an interesting picture.
3. Tell a funny or serious story.
4. Do or say something unexpected, or in an unexpected way. Will Ferrell nailed it here.
5. Quote someone famous.

Along those lines, below are some great opening lines you could riff off or weave into your opener:

After such an introduction, I can hardly wait to hear what I’m going to say.
– Evelyn Anderson

How many people have never raised their hand before?
– Steve Martin

I’d like to introduce a man with a lot of charm, talent, and wit. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be here tonight, so instead …
– Melvin Helitzer

Some people might say I think too highly of you just because I worship the water you walk on.
– Anonymous

Optimist: Person who travels on nothing from nowhere to happiness.
– Mark Twain

Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.
– Oscar Wilde

With the shape I’m in you could donate my body to science fiction.
– Rodney Dangerfield

My job is to talk to you, and your job is to listen. If you finish first, please let me know.
– Harry Hershfield

The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he’s an optimist after that he knows too little.
– Mark Twain

Speeches are like steer horns – a point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between.
– Evelyn Anderson

I have noticed that people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.
– E. V. Lucas

It takes two to lie, Marge. One to lie and one to listen.
– Homer Simpson

I don’t want to be patronising … that means ‘talking down.’
– Wendy Morgan

You know you’ve reached middle age when you’re told to slow down by your doctor instead of the police.
– Joan Rivers

I am a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.
– Abraham Lincoln

I was chosen to speak due to my warm personality … Look up ‘warm’ and it means ‘not so hot.’
– Anonymous

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