This applies to (Insert your profession/interest here.)
When targeting the room is an unforced error.
On that 1994 trip to New Orleans for the trade show, the trip that ended up getting me the job in Oregon I so desired, we got to meet over lunch in a crowded hotel conference room to hear from James and Sarah Brady.
For those for whom the name “James Brady” is not a trigger (Pun not necessarily intended, but the author is aware.), on March 30, 1981, James Brady was shot by John Hinckley, whose target was President Ronald Reagan. While Reagan recovered from his wounds, Brady lived the remainder of his life with slurred speech and partial paralysis. He and his wife, Sarah Brady, spent much of his remaining years promoting stricter handgun and assault weapon laws.
When the Bradys spoke, they talked about their issue, making no effort to apply their message to anything a room full of human resources pros were dealing with.
My friend who invited me to the convention thought that was a mistake, that every invited public speaker needs to tailor part of their presentation to their specific audience.
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