Metaphor—a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain it or make a comparison.

Saying ‘Time is a thief’ suggests that time, like a thief, can take away life’s moments without literally stealing.

‘All the world’s a stage,’ implies that life is like a play in which everyone has a role to perform.

Metaphors are powerful in public speaking because they simplify complex ideas and evoke emotions, making your message more compelling and relatable.

And I like to say that a good storyteller tells their story about the audience.

You can talk about your marathon run, your ocean crossing, or your accent to the summit of Mt. Everest—but the people in your audience all have Netflix. They can watch people accomplish outrageous achievements any day.

The trick is to make your story a metaphor for their story. They all have races to run, oceans to cross, and mountains to climb. If you want them to pay attention and keep paying attention tell your story about them.