I hold five earned degrees. Ive taught at 40 universities, and Im the best-selling author of 12 books and more than 700 articles.

Therefore, you can believe me when I tell you that content is important to the success of a speech, seminar, or lecture.

But it isnt supreme.

Content is almost always trumped by one thing: ENTHUSIASM.

For instance, I went to hear the chamber orchestra earlier this year. The program commemorated the 250th year since the birth of Mozart, and a professor preceded the program with a lecture.

His performance, theres no other suitable term for it, was special. He gestured dramatically, paced back and forth on the stage, and his voice was electrical.

Yet, I have it on good authority that he didnt say anything especially new or important.

Still, his presentation was a big success, judging from the laughs and oohs and ahs it evoked.

This shouldnt come as a surprise. One of my first speech teachers was part of Dale Carnegies initial cohort of instructors and he would hammer home one point:

Audiences will forgive a speaker nearly anything if hes enthusiastic, and if he isnt theyll forgive nearly nothing!

So, take a look at those credentials I cited at the top of this article. Theyre meaningless, if I dont put my teachers insight to work!