Zero to Keynote: Turn Your Ideas Into Talks That Inspire Action

Zero to Keynote

Every great talk starts with an idea — and the work happens long before the stage

Every talk I’ve ever given — from small rooms to large conference stages — started the same way:

Not with slides.
Not with confidence.
But with a fragile, half-formed idea and the question: what am I really trying to say?

Zero to Keynote is a practical guide to turning ideas into talks that land — shaping the message, structuring the story, rehearsing with intent, and delivering with clarity and confidence.

It’s written for people who don’t want presentation tricks or performance theatre — but who care deeply about communicating something that matters.

Why I Wrote This Book

Before leadership and technology, I trained as a media communication scientist and journalist.

I learned early how messages really land — why some ideas spread, why others stall, and how meaning gets lost between intention and delivery.

Later, working inside organisations across engineering, HR, and leadership roles, I saw the same thing happen on stages, in meetings, and in boardrooms:

Good ideas often don’t fail because people can’t present well.
They fail because the thinking hasn’t been shaped yet.

Zero to Keynote exists to fix that — by helping you do the real work before you step on stage.

What This Book Actually Helps You Do

This isn’t a book about “being a natural speaker”.

It’s a step-by-step guide to thinking clearly about your idea, your audience, and your intent — so your talk earns attention and leads to action.

Inside the book, you’ll learn how to:

• Generate strong talk ideas (without staring at a blank page)
• Shape a message that’s worth listening to
• Structure a talk that holds attention from start to finish
• Apply evidence-based communication principles at every stage
• Rehearse in a way that builds confidence, not anxiety
• Manage nerves without pretending they don’t exist
• Handle logistics, tech, and delivery calmly and professionally
• Respond to questions with clarity and authority

No winging it.
No hacks.
Just deliberate preparation that makes the applause feel earned.

How This Is Different

Zero to Keynote isn’t theory.

It’s a proven system built from:

• my long-running Zero to Keynote workshop
• years of conference speaking
• and decades studying how communication actually works

There’s no focus on tricks or surface polish.

Instead, the book centres on:

• purpose
• audience
• context
• story
• preparation
• and enthusiasm rooted in clarity

If you get those right, every talk you give becomes stronger — regardless of experience level.

Who This Book Is For

This book is for you if you:

• have ideas you care about and want them to land
• want to speak with clarity rather than bravado
• are new to conference speaking and want a reliable path
• already present regularly but want your talks to matter more
• dislike generic presentation advice but value good thinking

Whether you’re preparing your first talk or refining a keynote, Zero to Keynote helps you move ideas from concept → structure → stage → impact.

What Readers Say

“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 strong starting point, immediately.

Speaker’s Checklist

A high-resolution, practical checklist to support preparation, rehearsal, and delivery — included with the digital edition and available to newsletter subscribers.

Formats

Digital Edition (Global)

• Downloadable PDF, identical to the print edition.
• Comes bundled with the high-resolution Speaker’s Checklist to streamline your preparation and deliver talks with confidence.
  • Also available by subscribing to the Meeting Notes newsletter.

Print Edition (UK Only)

• Beautiful, easy-to-read guide to mastering conference speaking.
• Perfect for those who prefer a physical book to reference while planning and rehearsing talks.

Final Thought

Speaking well isn’t about confidence.

It’s about clarity.

When the thinking is clear, the delivery follows.
When the idea is solid, the stage becomes just another place to work it through.

That’s what Zero to Keynote is here to help with.

Buy Digital and Print