Zero to Keynote

A practical guide to developing and delivering talks that matter

Most people think speaking starts on stage.
It doesn’t.
It starts much earlier
— with a fragile, half-formed idea and a simple question:

What am I really trying to say?

Zero to Keynote is a practical, end-to-end guide to the real work of speaking: shaping ideas, preparing deliberately, and communicating with clarity so your talk lands and leads to action.

This is not a book about presentation tricks or animated stage theatrics.
It is for people who care about ideas
—and want to do them justice.

Why This Book Matters

Good talks often fail to land not because of confidence, but because the thinking has not yet been shaped for an audience.

Ideas stall when:

• the point of view is unclear
• the structure does not carry meaning
• preparation focuses on slides rather than sense
• confidence is mistaken for clarity

Zero to Keynote helps you do the thinking work first
—so delivery feels calm, grounded, and earned.

What This Book Helps You Do

This is not about being a “natural speaker.”
It is a practical guide to thinking clearly about your idea, your audience, and your intent — before you ever step on stage.

Inside, you will learn how to:

• generate strong talk ideas
• shape a clear point of view and through-line
• write submissions that get accepted
• structure talks people can follow and remember
• apply evidence-based communication principles
• rehearse in a way that builds confidence, not anxiety
• prepare for logistics, nerves, and last-minute changes
• deliver with clarity and presence
• handle Q&A thoughtfully
• navigate conferences with a little more humanity (and humour)

No hacks.
No winging it.
Just deliberate preparation that respects the audience.

How This Book Is Different

Zero to Keynote treats speaking as a craft, not a personality trait.

It is grounded in:

• real conference speaking
• years of teaching communication
• practical workshop experience
• how ideas actually travel between people

There is no lingering focus on surface polish.
Instead, the book centres on:

• purpose
• audience
• context
• structure
• preparation
• value
• enthusiasm rooted in clarity

Get these right, and every talk improves
—regardless of experience.

Who This Book Is For

This book is for you if you:

• have ideas you care about and want them to land
• value clarity over bravado
• are preparing your first conference talk
• present regularly and want talks to matter more
• care about thinking well, not just performing well

You do not need to be a professional speaker.
You do not need a personal brand.
You only need something worth saying
—and the willingness to prepare properly.

Reader Reflection

“I’m an experienced presenter and I’m still learning so much from this little book.
Some great tips—and incredibly encouraging and practical for someone new to presenting too.”

Bonus Tools

Free Chapter — Generating Talk Ideas
A downloadable chapter to help you move from blank page to a strong starting point.

Speaker’s Checklist
A practical, high-resolution checklist for preparation, rehearsal, and delivery.
Included with the digital edition and available to newsletter subscribers.

Formats

Digital Edition (Global)

• Downloadable PDF (identical content to print)
• Includes the Speaker’s Checklist
• Ideal for searching, annotating, and revisiting
• Buy the Digital Edition

Print Edition (UK Only)

• High-quality physical book
• Designed to be read, annotated, and returned to
• Ideal if you prefer thinking on paper

Final Thought

Speaking well is not about confidence.
It is about clarity.

When ideas are clear, they travel further—on stage, in meetings, and beyond.
That is what Zero to Keynote is here to support.

Cultivated Classification: Core Framework
Domains: Communication, Learning, Idea → Value