The Brain Dump: First Step for Writing Killer Keynote

I work with many individuals who want to create killer keynotes or presentations. The first step, before we discuss their message, structure, and content, is to have them do what I call a "brain dump.”

The brain dump is a crucial first step in crafting a powerful keynote. It helps you capture the breadth of your thoughts and ideas without the pressure of organization or perfection. Here are the steps I suggest to help get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper:

1. Gather Materials: Prepare a notebook, sticky notes, and pens, or just blast away on your computer.

2. Get Comfortable: Find a workplace free from distractions. Take some deep breaths and clear your mind. Then, set a time limit and stick to it. If you set it for 60 minutes, use all that time—don’t stop until you have used up all 60 minutes of the clock.

3. Focus on Your Purpose: Remind yourself of the goal of your keynote. What do you want the audience to do when your talk is over? What is the main message or theme? Make sure all of your stories, examples, and content fall in line with your message.

4.? Start Writing Everything Down: Write down every thought, idea, or piece of information that comes to mind related to your keynote topic. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or coherence.

• Use Bullet Points or Freewriting: Choose a method that works best for you. Bullet points can help organize thoughts, while freewriting allows for a continuous flow of ideas.
• No Censorship: Write down every thought, idea, or piece of information that comes to mind related to your keynote topic. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or coherence.
• Incorporate Research: Include any relevant research, statistics, quotes, or references you’ve gathered.
• Don't forget to add your stories! Create a story page that follows your message line, and write the titles and brief descriptions for later. (You might want to save the actual story writing for another session)

4. Ask Yourself Questions:

• What is the problem or challenge my audience faces that I will help solve?
• How can my message help or inspire them?
• What does the audience need from my program?
• What do they want from this presentation?
• What will it look like if the audience takes my advice.
• What will it look like if they don’t??

5. Review and Reflect

• Take a Break: Step away from your notes for a while. This break can give you fresh insights when you return.
• Read Through Your Notes: Go through your notes to identify recurring themes, important points, and any gaps in your ideas.?

6. Organize and Prioritize

• Highlight Key Ideas: Use highlighters or digital tools to mark the most important ideas.
• Group Similar Ideas: Categorize your thoughts into themes or sections.
• Think About Structure: Even though you’re not organized, consider different sections, such as the introduction, main points, and conclusion.
• Create an Outline: Based on the sections and priorities you’ve identified, start forming a rough outline of your keynote.

8.? Seek Feedback

• Share with a Trusted Person: Discuss your brain dump with a colleague, mentor, or coach to get feedback and additional ideas.

The key is to get all your thoughts, research, and ideas out of your head before trying to polish and organize them into a cohesive keynote. This "brain dump" provides a comprehensive pool to pull from.