Gloria Lazar

Custom Toasts & Special Occasion Speeches

Nov 282023
 

  • You’ve been given the honor to present a wedding, retirement or birthday party toast and you want it to be memorable.

  • Rather than worrying about the project, you can work with an experienced speech writer who will craft a personalized presentation and coach you to deliver it confidently.

Many people who are asked to deliver a special event speech approach it with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. For a variety of reasons, they delay writing to the last minute — and perhaps practice out loud only once or never at all. For some people the problem is time commitment and for others, the difficult task of putting their reminiscences, wishes or emotions into words. Unless you’re a professional writer and presenter, a memorable toast or speech needs careful crafting and rehearsal.

  • Why not hire a speech writer who will work with you to write your speech and give you the tools to deliver it smoothly?

As a speech writer, Gloria Lazar has written toasts and speeches for weddings, anniversaries, person of the year honors and other special occasions for small gatherings as well as 500-person galas. As a speech coach, she has guided her clients in making their speech memorable using effective speaking techniques.

Either by telephone or virtually on Zoom, she will interview you to understand the message you want to convey, the tone and any other critical information to craft a unique presentation. Then she will write a draft and work with you on multiple edits until you’re satisfied and comfortable with your speech. And if you would like assistance in speaking like a pro, she’ll help you develop the skills to deliver a memorable presentation.

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The Importance of the Comm App Essay For “Test-Optional” Colleges

Jun 022023
 

  • What does “test-optional” mean?

  • How will admissions officers judge applicants in the coming year?

  • Does the Common Application essay really matter?

According to FAIR TEST, which tracks college testing data, 1,450 colleges have made test-free and test-optional admissions permanent. For fall 2023, 1,835 colleges are not requiring admissions tests. All of the eight ivy league schools are test-optional for 2023 and Columbia University has made this policy permanent. Students have the opportunity to apply to these schools without submitting SAT/ACT scores. So what will colleges use to evaluate students for admission? Grades, extracurricular activities and very importantly, the COMMON APPLICATION ESSAY.

When a selective college receives applications from many equally qualified students, what will tip the scale for admission?  If you come from a rural community in a less populated state, you may be more appealing to a college seeking geographical “diversity” in its student body. However, given several good students from a concentrated pool in the same geographical location, an admissions officer will try to find mature, committed students who can succeed in the college experience. 

What distinguishes one good student from another? An attention-grabbing essay can make the critical difference.

Admissions officers do read the essay on each Common Application, as well as the supplemental essays their school may require.  

How else will they be able to make a decision between the many qualified students who apply to a select number of well-rated schools? The personal “voice” in the student’s application essay can be the tipping point for admission — as well as financial aid.

I wrote an earlier article about capturing the authentic voice in a college admissions essay: Finding the”Authentic” Voice in a College Admissions Essay. In that article I quoted an external admissions reader for the University of California at Berkley who wrote about being told to find essays that “express a sense of self and character.”

For students who may not have the best grades across all subjects, the essays can become the critical factor to draw attention to their personal history, obstacles they may have faced in their lives, as well as their other talents.  Convincing an admissions reader that you can succeed at college and become an asset to their institution may hinge on the “authentic” essay you write.

Crafting a personal essay in a thoughtful, creative way takes time: time for reflection, brainstorming, writing and careful editing.  Trying to cram the Comm App essay and the supplemental essays into the fall of senior year will likely add pressure to a generally hectic time. When is the best time to write the Comm App essay? The summer before senior year!

With with so many colleges adopting test-optional and test-free admissions practices, the Common Application Essay takes on even greater importance. Writing a standout essay should be part of a rising senior’s summer activities, — even if it’s done under a beach umbrella with a cold soda.

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Check back soon for more articles about writing, communications, speech and language and executive function skills. You can access a large collection of articles I have written by using the SEARCH bar in the BLOG and PUBLICATIONS tabs.

 

 

 

If AI Can Create a Document, Do I Need To Be a Good Writer?

Apr 262023
 

  • If you’re a student, why not take a shortcut and have AI write an essay for you?

  • If you’re an executive, why not have AI write your emails and reports?

  • Isn’t time money?

Let’s start by answering the first question with a couple of questions. Why are you paying tuition for a degree if you don’t believe you’ll learn anything in college (or graduate school)? Will you be pleased  with a good grade knowing it’s not your own work? 

I know these are somewhat rhetorical questions but they’re meant to highlight the larger issue of ownership. Learning is a process of growth and development: developing skills to analyze, synthesize knowledge and express your understanding. The old adage “you don’t really know something unless you can teach it” fits in this context. The process of developing analytical skills begins at an early age and and continues after you complete formal education. If as a student you “get by” by copying information, essentially plagiarizing, hiring someone to write your paper or using Chat GPT or another AI app, how much are you learning? Will you have the skills and initiative to acquire new knowledge, as we must in an evolving world? I have deep reservations about the ultimate outcome of education when a student doesn’t go through the research, planning and creative thought that needs to happen when writing a paper. What is it worth to simply get the “A”?

Taking this to another level, what about the executive who uses AI to draft emails, research, synthesize and write reports? Yes, time is money in many cases, and there’s a place for having a research assistant, whether live or AI, so there’s undoubtedly more value for the executive than the student. But keep in mind a quote from a recent article by German Lopez in The New York Times: “current A.I. technologies frequently produce these kinds of tall tales — what experts call hallucinations — when asked about real people or events. Experts aren’t sure why. One potential explanation is that these systems are primarily programmed to put out convincing, conversational writing, not to distinguish fact from fiction.” Consider the last few words, “not to distinguish fact from fiction.” Dangerous consequences for an executive reporting data analysis, analyzing complex material, or making a sales pitch. 

For both students and professionals, writing often reflects an individual’s verbal skills in critical ways: vocabulary, sentence structure and very importantly, reasoning ability. For many people the process of  writing correlates directly with expressing oneself verbally, whether in presentations, meetings or casual conversation. True, some individuals speak better than they write, but having devoted many professional years assisting students and executives with speaking and writing skills, I have observed that they exist hand in hand. Often it’s the writing skill that drives the speaking. 

Many questions and no absolute answers right now. Clearly, AI can serve as a valuable assistive tool, but can or should it substitute for polished literacy skills? If robots do the writing, will they also serve as our speakers? And do we want a world where that is the reality?

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Check back soon for more articles on effective communications, speech pathology and executive function skills.

My Coaching Client In Top 10 Most Popular TEDx Talks in 2022

Jan 092023
 

I’m delighted to announce that my speech coaching client, Hakki Akdeniz, has been named one of The Top 10 Most Popular TED Talks in 2022.

If you haven’t seen the inspiring story of Hakki’s  journey as a 21 year old penniless, homeless, Turkish immigrant in NYC to successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate for the homeless, I urge you to do so. Hakki’s presentation has succeeded in capturing the attention and admiration of more than 2 million viewers with his heartfelt presentation. 

It was my pleasure to work with Hakki, not a native English speaker, to shape his story and give him the tools to become such a highly effective speaker. 

While some people may seem to be born as great public speakers, most work hard and make use of resources like a speaking coach to become effective communicators.

Click here to watch Hakki’s TED talk:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7GEMjXjxqc

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Check back soon for more articles on public speaking, speech writing and communication skills.

 

TED Speaker & Coaching Client Receives 2022 Carnegie Award

Sep 302022
 

My coaching client Hakki Akdeniz, whose TED talk has been viewed more than 2 million times, has received a 2022 Carnegie Foundation Award for “Great Immigrants, Great Americans.”  

Recently I had the privilege of coaching Hakki for his TED talk in which he tells the inspiring story of his journey as a 21 year old penniless, homeless, Turkish immigrant in NYC to successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate for the homeless. Twenty years ago Hakki came to the United States speaking no English, $240 in his pocket and the promise of a job that never materialized. With courage and indominable drive, he has achieved the immigrant dream yet embraces the principle of “giving back.”

Click here to watch Hakki’s TED talk:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7GEMjXjxqc

Watch the TED Talk By My Coaching Client, Hakki Akdeniz

Jul 272022
 

Recently I had the privilege of coaching Hakki Akdeniz for his TED talk in which he tells the inspiring story of his journey as a 21 year old penniless, homeless, Turkish immigrant in NYC to successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate for the homeless. Twenty years ago Hakki came to the United States speaking no English, $240 in his pocket and the promise of a job that never materialized. With courage and indominable drive, he has achieved the immigrant dream yet embraces the principle of “giving back.”

Click here to watch Hakki’s TED talk:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7GEMjXjxqc

Write a Standout Common Application Essay This Summer

May 312022
 

Why write my essay now?  It’s summer!

What rising high school senior hasn’t asked this question at the end of the highly pressured junior year?  Completing high level courses, perhaps AP or honors, taking ACT or SAT tests, visiting colleges… add in a sport or school play, community service:  this has been a busy year.

Can’t I take a break?

Of course, a breather is important and should be part of a college-bound student’s summer.  Spending some time with friends and enjoying a break from schoolwork are necessary to recharge a student’s batteries.

But targeting the brainstorming, organization and writing of the Comm App essay and the supplemental essays should be part of a rising senior’s summer activities, — even if it’s done under a beach umbrella with a cold soda.

As I mentioned in two previous articles (see below) the essay on the Common Application can make a critical difference in a student being admitted to college:  college admissions officers do read these essays.  This is an opportunity to stand out and become a singular individual, much more than grades, standardized test scores and extracurricular activities.  A student who reveals his/her thoughts, beliefs or personal history in an essay becomes more than the numbers on a transcript.

Crafting a personal essay in a thoughtful, creative way takes time:  time for reflection, brainstorming, writing and careful editing.  Trying to cram the Comm App essay and the supplemental essays into the fall of senior year will likely add pressure to a generally hectic time.

The age-old adage “the early bird gets the worm” really applies in this situation.  Completing the major essay and supplements during the summer frees up the fall for college visits, early admissions or rolling admissions — and can make the critical difference for a student finding a place in a college of his/her choice.

Write the essays this summer and increase your odds — maybe even win the jackpot!

Do College Admissions Officers Really Read the Common Application Essay?

Finding the “Authentic” Voice in a College Admissions Essay

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Check back soon for new articles on writing, speech coaching, executive function skills and speech pathology.

Broadway’s Cort Theater Will Be Renamed for James Earl Jones, a Stutterer

Mar 232022
 

  • James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars stutters?

Yes, you’re reading this correctly! This 91 year old award-winning actor is a lifelong stutterer.

According to The New York Times, the Shubert Organization will name the Cort Theater, a landmark 110-year-old house located on West 48th Street, after Jones, a two-time competitive Tony Award winner who, over six decades, has appeared in 21 Broadway shows. Jones received a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.

  • How can an actor who stutters perform on Broadway?

According to Jones, early in his career when he appeared in Sunrise at Campobello he had a line — ‘Mrs. Roosevelt, supper is served” — that he struggled to deliver because of a speech disorder. “I almost didn’t make it through because I’m a stutterer. But it became a lot of fun eventually.”

James Earl Jones joins a series of successful actors who have stuttered, including the glamorous icon, Marilyn Monroe, and recently Emily Blunt, who in an interview with Sandy Kenyon, the entertainment reporter on WABC-TV NY, Channel 7’s Eyewitness News, explained that she was advised to pursue drama as a way to treat her childhood stuttering disorder. At the time she was publicizing her movie A Quiet Place, (which has been followed by “A Quiet Place II”). Her performances in both films garnered her major awards nominations.

You can learn more about why acting helps stutterers speak fluently by watching my interview with Sandy Kenyon on Eyewitness News on my homepage http://lazarspeech.com/2018/06/08/interview/

You can read about stuttering and fluent speech in the articles on my website, including https://lazarspeech.com/2013/05/08/the-kings-speech/, https://lazarspeech.com/2015/08/24/are-ums-and-ahs-a-form-of-stuttering/, and numerous others I’ve written. Just click the category on the Blog or Publications headers on my website homepage 

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Check back soon for more articles on stuttering, public speaking, executive function skills and speech-language pathology.

 

The Comm App Essay May Be Your Ticket to College Admission These Days

Aug 112021
 

  • Isn’t the essay on the Common Application just a formality?

  • Admissions officers can’t possibly read the essay on every application, can they?

The new “Test Optional” criteria recently enacted by many colleges, even the most selective, changes the factors in college admissions and places much greater emphasis on the Comm App Essay.

Many students and their parents believe the most important criteria for admission to college are grades and SAT or ACT test scores.  But with the “test optional” change instituted by many colleges as a result of the pandemic, the Comm App essay and supplemental essays, if any, carry even more importance than previously. 

The essay a student writes can grab the attention of a college admissions officer and make the critical difference in this new admissions environment.

I wrote an earlier article about capturing the authentic voice in a college admissions essay: Finding the”Authentic” Voice in a College Admissions Essay. In that article I quoted an external admissions reader for the University of California at Berkley who wrote about being told to find essays that “express a sense of self and character.”

When a selective college receives applications from many equally qualified students, what will tip the scale for admission?  If you come from a rural community in a less populated state, you may be more appealing to a college seeking geographical “diversity” in its student body. However, given several good students from a concentrated pool in the same geographical location, an admissions officer will try to find mature, committed students who can succeed in the college experience. 

Admissions officers do read the essay on each Common Application, as well as the supplemental essays their school may require, especially when a student has good grades.  

How else will they be able to make a decision between the many qualified students who apply to a select number of well-rated schools? The personal “voice” in the student’s application essay can be the tipping point for admission — as well as financial aid.  

The more similar a student’s profile as compared to others in the same geographical area, the more important the Common Application essay and supplements become in the selection process.

For students who may not have the best grades across all subjects or who choose not to submit SAT or ACT scores, the essays can become the critical factor to draw attention to their personal history, obstacles they may have faced in their lives, as well as their other talents.  

Convincing an admissions reader you can succeed at college and become an asset to their institution may hinge on the “authentic” essay you write.

Far from being a mere formality, a well-crafted, authentic essay can become the key to admission.

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Check back soon for more articles on writing, executive function skills, effective speaking and speech pathology.

 

How to Make a Great Presentation on Zoom

Mar 262021
 

  • How important are presentation skills if I’m working on a remote platform like Zoom?

  • Other participants don’t expect a polished presentation on Zoom — or do they?

  • Can’t I just read my script on Zoom as if I were presenting in person?

Some of the concerns my clients have raised over the years have changed somewhat now that they’re using Zoom, but not as much as you might expect. For some individuals the discomfort — let’s be honest, the fear of public speaking — has lessened since they don’t have to present in front of a group gathered in a room. But for others, the computer screen has proven just as intimidating. In fact, the idea of many more attendees on a remote platform has become an even greater worry for some speakers.

Have the best practices for public speaking changed now that we are not physically present for presentations? Not at all. If anything, the stakes have been raised. The need to speak clearly, at a rate that allows for others to absorb the speaker’s message — simply translated, to speak slowly— using rhythm and melody for a natural voice and maintain eye contact are still critical elements for a great presentation.

How do you maintain eye contact if you’re looking into a computer screen? Quite simply by keeping your eyes focused on the computer’s camera: not off to the side or down at your notes. You still want to maintain “dialogue” even if you can’t see people in person — or you’re seeing little squares on the computer screen. In fact, there’s even more competition for your audience’s attention when they’re on Zoom —  dogs barking, children wandering into the room, phones ringing — all the distractions that wouldn’t exist in a conference room. So you have to be a polished speaker to keep their attention and deliver your message.

What about speaking from notes or reading a script? The same principles work: if you prefer speaking spontaneously — which doesn’t mean you make a presentation “without rehearsing” — you can certainly use your notes and look down or off to the side briefly to cue yourself. If a prepared text works better for you, it’s even more important on Zoom that you don’t keep your eyes glued to the paper.

My recommendation about reading from text is to minimize Zoom, center it at the top of your computer screen and open your document so your eyes are always facing forward. You can also download a teleprompter app and set the speed for a comfortable rate so you can read from the text. But this all takes practice. Finally, if you prefer to read from printed text, look up frequently and speak to your audience — just as you would if you were standing in front of them — or sitting at a conference table.

You’ll find many more helpful tips in past articles I’ve written: Capture Your Audience By Creating a Dialogue, The Two “P’s” for Effective Speaking, Capturing the Authentic Voice, and many others you can find on my Blog under the “Public Speaking” category.

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Check back soon for more articles on public speaking, communication, writing, speech pathology and  executive function skills.

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