The two most important parts of a speech are the beginning and the ending.

We need to engage the audience during the first few seconds with a killer opening—an amazing fact, provocative questions, or an engaging story.

And at the end, we need to leave them with a powerful message—a call to action or a phrase that pays—some catalyst for transformation.

Between the beginning and the end, you can almost get away with reading the phone book!

Don't quote me on that, and please don't try it, but when you create your presentation, be sure to pressure-test your beginning and your ending above all else.

Primacy and recency.

Beginnings and endings.

Two critical elements of your next successful presentation.