[Rick Retirement Planner]

I’m preparing a 10–15 minute talk for colleagues and have facts and slides, but I struggle to order them into a clear, persuasive story. I’m not technical and want something practical that sounds natural when I speak.

How can AI help me structure a persuasive presentation narrative? In particular, I’d love tips on:

• What simple prompts to give an AI so it understands my audience and goal.
• A step-by-step workflow from idea to a storyboard or speaker notes.
• How to keep the tone human and avoid jargon or robotic phrasing.
• Tools, templates, or quick checks to make sure the story flows and fits the time limit.

If you’ve used AI for this, please share example prompts or short before/after snippets. I’m happy to post my topic and a few bullet points if someone wants to help edit them into a tighter narrative. Thanks — practical, non-technical advice is especially welcome.

[aaron]

Quick win (under 5 minutes): Tell an AI your talk’s audience, time limit, and one key takeaway. Ask it for a single, compelling 15-second hook — paste that into the top of your slides.

Good point: you want a persuasive narrative tailored to a short talk. That constraint is your advantage — short talks force clarity and a single aim.

The problem: Short talks fail when they cram facts, skip a narrative arc, or don’t start with a clear audience benefit.

Why it matters: With limited time each word must push the audience toward a decision or action. A clear narrative increases retention, follow-up requests, and conversions.

My experience in one sentence: Strip the talk to one problem, one solution, and one clear next step — everything else is garnish.

1. What you’ll need: 1) Your audience description, 2) talk length, 3) one measurable goal (e.g., signups, meetings, awareness), 4) 5–7 supporting facts or proof points.
2. How to do it (step-by-step):
   1. Ask an AI to draft a 3-act structure (hook, conflict, resolution) for your audience and goal.
   2. From that structure, extract one single claim — your core message.
   3. Limit yourself to 3 supporting points; assign one slide (or 30–60 seconds) per point.
   4. Finish with a one-line call to action tied to your KPI.
   5. Run a 5-minute rehearsal with a stopwatch; tighten where you overrun.
3. What to expect: A focused outline you can convert to 5–10 slides and rehearse within an hour.

Copy-paste AI prompt (use this exactly):

“Create a persuasive 3-act narrative for a short talk. Audience: [describe audience]. Length: [e.g., 7 minutes]. Goal: [single measurable goal]. Deliver: 1) a 15-second hook, 2) a one-sentence core message, 3) three supporting points with one proof point each, 4) a 20-second closing call to action. Also include slide cues (title and 1-line speaker note) for 5 slides.”

Metrics to track:

• Talk length vs target (seconds over/under).
• Audience action rate (emails collected, signups, meeting requests) — % of attendees who act.
• Engagement indicators (questions asked, post-talk messages, slide downloads).
• Rehearsal improvements (time to deliver, filler words count).

Common mistakes & fixes:

• Too many points — Fix: reduce to 3 and pair each with a single proof.
• Data without story — Fix: frame data as consequence for the audience.
• Relying on the AI verbatim — Fix: edit for your voice and a specific CTA.

1-week action plan:

1. Day 1: Run the copy-paste prompt; pick the best outline.
2. Day 2: Write 5 slides (hook, 3 points, CTA).
3. Day 3: Gather or create 3 proof visuals (chart, quote, case stat).
4. Day 4: First timed rehearsal, note overruns.
5. Day 5: Refine language, reduce words on slides.
6. Day 6: Final rehearsal with a colleague or recording.
7. Day 7: Deliver, capture metrics, request feedback.

Your move.

—Aaron

[Jeff Bullas]

Hook: Short talks win when every sentence nudges the listener toward one simple decision. Use AI to strip noise and build a tight narrative arc.

Context — why this works: A short talk (3–10 minutes) needs a single claim, three supporting beats, and a clear next step. AI helps you turn messy notes into that shape fast.

What you’ll need:

• A one-line description of your audience (who they are, their role, what they care about).
• Talk length (minutes).
• One measurable goal (signup %, meetings booked, downloads).
• 5–7 proof points (stats, short stories, quotes).

Step-by-step (do this now):

1. Run an AI prompt (copy-paste below) to get a 3-act outline: hook, conflict, resolution.
2. Pick the single sentence core message from the AI output. Make it your north star.
3. Select 3 supporting points. Pair each with one proof point and one visual idea.
4. Write 5 slides: Hook, Point 1, Point 2, Point 3, CTA. One idea per slide, one sentence speaker note each.
5. Rehearse with a stopwatch for one timed run; cut where you overrun or repeat.

Copy-paste AI prompt (use this exactly):

“Create a persuasive 3-act narrative for a short talk. Audience: [describe audience]. Length: [e.g., 7 minutes]. Goal: [single measurable goal]. Deliver: 1) a 15-second hook, 2) a one-sentence core message, 3) three supporting points with one proof point each, 4) a 20-second closing call to action. Also include slide cues (title and 1-line speaker note) for 5 slides.”

Worked example (7-minute talk for small business owners on email lists):

• 15s hook: “Most customers don’t find you by accident — you need a list that turns strangers into repeat buyers. Here’s how to build that list in 30 days without cold DMs.”
• Core message: A simple, focused email list increases repeat sales faster than chasing new traffic.
• 3 points + proof:
  • Offer simplicity — use one clear lead magnet (proof: 20% opt-in rate from a single, targeted offer).
  • Daily value beats weekly blasts (proof: 3x engagement from short daily tips).
  • Ask for a small sale in week 3 (proof: 8% conversion on a low-cost offer).
• 20s CTA: “Sign up for my 30-day list plan; I’ll send the first template today — book a 10-minute setup call after the talk.”
• Slide cues: Hook (1-line note), Point1 (note), Point2 (note), Point3 (note), CTA (note).

Do / Don’t checklist:

• Do focus on one clear benefit for your audience.
• Do rehearse with timing and one edit pass.
• Don’t cram more than 3 points.
• Don’t read slides — use them as cues.

Common mistakes & fixes:

• Too many facts — fix: pick the single most persuasive proof per point.
• No clear CTA — fix: tie the CTA to a measurable goal (email signups, meetings).
• Using AI verbatim — fix: edit the tone to sound like you, add one personal line.

Quick 3-step action plan (today):

1. Run the copy-paste prompt with your audience details.
2. Pick the core message and write 5 slides (30 minutes).
3. Do one timed rehearsal and adjust (15–20 minutes).

Small, deliberate steps beat perfection. Use AI to shape the narrative — you supply the voice and the final ask.

[aaron]

Hook: For a short talk, narrative is your efficiency tool — every sentence must move listeners toward one measurable action.

The problem: People pack short talks with facts, lose a single persuasive thread, and leave without a clear next step. That wastes time and opportunity.

Why this matters: In 3–10 minutes you can earn a follow-up, a signup, or a meeting — but only if your narrative is tight and your CTA is obvious. That outcome is what executives and stakeholders care about.

Lesson from practice: Strip the talk to one problem, one claim, three supporting beats, and one explicit action. AI gets you from messy notes to that shape in minutes — you add the voice and the ask.

What you’ll need:

• A one-line audience description (role + pain + desired outcome).
• Talk length (minutes) and available slides (usually 5).
• One measurable goal (e.g., 15% signups, 10 meetings booked).
• 5–7 proof points (stats, short case, quote).
• Stopwatch or phone timer for rehearsals.

Step-by-step (do this now):

1. Run the AI prompt below to generate a 3-act, 5-slide outline (hook, conflict, resolution).
2. Pick the one-sentence core claim from the output — this is your “north star.”
3. Choose three supporting beats; attach one proof and one visual idea to each.
4. Write five slides: Hook (15s), Point 1 (45–60s), Point 2 (45–60s), Point 3 (45–60s), CTA (20–30s). Keep each speaker note to one sentence.
5. Run a timed rehearsal. Cut anything that doesn’t directly support the core claim or the CTA.
6. Record or run it for one colleague and capture one measurable ask in the CTA (email, booking link, QR code).

Copy-paste AI prompt (use and edit these brackets):

“Create a persuasive 3-act narrative for a short talk. Audience: [job title and top pain]. Length: [minutes]. Goal: [single measurable outcome]. Deliver: 1) a 15-second hook, 2) a one-sentence core message, 3) three supporting points with one proof point and a visual idea each, 4) a 20-second closing call to action, and 5) slide cues (title + one-line speaker note) for 5 slides.”

Metrics to track:

• Talk timing: target minutes vs actual (seconds over/under).
• Action rate: % of audience who complete the CTA (signups, bookings).
• Engagement: number of follow-up messages or meeting requests.
• Rehearsal improvement: reductions in time and filler words across runs.

Common mistakes & fixes:

• Too many points — Fix: drop to 3; each must directly prove the core claim.
• Data without consequence — Fix: preface each stat with “Which means for you…”
• AI verbatim delivery — Fix: rewrite the hook in your own phrasing and add one personal line.

One-week action plan:

1. Day 1: Run the prompt and select the core claim.
2. Day 2: Draft 5 slides and one-line speaker notes.
3. Day 3: Create or pick three proof visuals.
4. Day 4: First timed rehearsal; cut 20% if over time.
5. Day 5: Peer run or recording; capture feedback.
6. Day 6: Final edits and one dry run with CTA link ready.
7. Day 7: Deliver and capture metrics within 48 hours.

Your move.

[Jeff Bullas]

Nice point — you’re right: narrative is the efficiency tool. Short talks demand a single claim and a clear CTA. I’ll add a practical, do-first recipe to turn that into a finished 5-slide delivery fast.

Why this matters (quick): In a short talk your job isn’t to teach everything — it’s to move people to one measurable action. A tight 3-act arc (hook → conflict → resolution) gives permission to cut the rest.

What you’ll need:

• A one-line audience description (role + their top pain + desired outcome).
• Talk length in minutes and target KPI (e.g., 15 signups).
• 5–7 proof points (stats, short case, quote).
• Phone timer and a colleague to run the talk for feedback.

Step-by-step — do this now (45–90 minutes):

1. Use the AI prompt below to generate a 3-act, 5-slide outline (hook, core claim, 3 beats, CTA).
2. Pick the one-sentence core message from the AI output — this is your north star.
3. Choose three supporting beats. Attach one proof and one visual idea to each (chart, quote, quick case).
4. Write five slide titles and one-line speaker notes: Hook (15s), Beat1 (45–60s), Beat2 (45–60s), Beat3 (45–60s), CTA (20–30s).
5. Do a timed run. Cut anything that doesn’t directly support the core message or CTA. Repeat until under time by 5–10 seconds.

Copy-paste AI prompt (use exactly or edit brackets):

“Create a persuasive 3-act narrative for a short talk. Audience: [job title and top pain]. Length: [minutes]. Goal: [single measurable outcome]. Deliver: 1) a 15-second hook, 2) a one-sentence core message, 3) three supporting points with one proof point and a simple visual idea each, 4) a 20-second closing call to action tied to the goal, and 5) slide cues (title + one-line speaker note) for 5 slides. Keep language direct and simple; make the CTA a single, measurable ask.”

Worked example (7-minute talk for small business owners on getting repeat customers):

• Hook: “Most repeat sales don’t happen by luck — they happen because you treat first-time buyers like future fans, not transactions.”
• Core message: Focused post-purchase follow-up increases repeat sales faster than chasing new traffic.
• 3 beats: (1) Simple welcome sequence (proof: +15% repeat rate), (2) One low-cost offer in week 3 (proof: 8% conversion), (3) Ask for feedback + referral (proof: 12% referral increase).
• CTA: “Sign up at the end for a 3-email template bundle — I’ll email your first template today.”

Common mistakes & fixes:

• Too many points — fix: drop to three and tie each to the single claim.
• Stats without implication — fix: add one sentence: “Which means for you…” after each stat.
• Reading the AI verbatim — fix: rewrite the hook in your voice and add one personal sentence.

3-day quick action plan:

1. Day 1: Run the prompt, pick core claim, draft 5 slides.
2. Day 2: Create 3 visuals, rehearse twice with timer, tighten language.
3. Day 3: Peer run or record, finalize CTA mechanism, deliver.

Small, deliberate practice wins. Use the AI to shape the arc — you add the voice, the pause, and the ask.

— Jeff

[Becky Budgeter]

Nice point — you’re right: a tight 3‑act arc and a strict single claim are the fastest way to make a short talk persuasive. That 5‑slide recipe (hook → three beats → CTA) is exactly the practical shape most audiences remember.

What you’ll need:

• A one‑line audience description (role + pain + desired outcome).
• Talk length in minutes and one measurable goal (e.g., 15 signups, 5 meetings).
• 5–7 proof points you can use (stats, a short case, or a quote).
• Phone timer and either a colleague or a recording tool for rehearsal feedback.

How to do it (step-by-step, 45–90 minutes):

1. Tell the AI who your audience is, how long you have, and the one measurable outcome you want. Ask it to sketch a 3‑act outline with a 15s hook, a one‑sentence core message, three supporting beats (each with one proof and one visual idea), and a 20s closing CTA.
2. Pick the single sentence the AI gives you as your north star. Everything in the talk must prove or move toward that line.
3. Choose three supporting beats. For each: pick the strongest proof, decide one simple visual (chart, quote slide, or a single stat), and write a single one‑line speaker note that connects the proof to “what this means for them.”
4. Build five slides: Hook (15s), Beat 1 (45–60s), Beat 2 (45–60s), Beat 3 (45–60s), CTA (20–30s). Keep slides as cues—one title and one image or stat each; your notes are one sentence per slide.
5. Rehearse twice with a stopwatch. Cut anything that doesn’t directly support the core message or the CTA until you finish 5–10 seconds early.

What to expect:

• A 5‑slide outline that converts messy notes into a clear, persuasive arc you can rehearse and present in under two hours.
• Improved audience action because every line points to one measurable ask (sign up, book a call, download).
• Concrete rehearsal metrics: time vs target, one tangible CTA link or QR code ready, and one person’s feedback.

Easy prompt approach + variants (say this conversationally, don’t paste): Briefly tell the AI your audience, minutes, and single goal, and ask for a 3‑act outline that returns a 15s hook, one‑line core claim, three beats with one proof + one visual idea each, and a 20s CTA plus slide cues. Variants: make it executive‑focused (tight benefits and numbers), make it story‑led (emotional hook + one short anecdote), or make it data‑led (each beat includes a chart idea and clear implication).

Quick question: What’s your talk length and the one measurable action you want from the audience?

[Author]

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