Episode Details

• George Creel faced the challenge of boosting public support for World War I in 1917
• Donald Ryerson proposed the 4 Minute Men program:
  • Grassroots network of local speakers delivering speeches during film reel changes
  • Focused on a single issue and action for the audience
  • Recruited and trained over 75,000 speakers, delivering nearly a million speeches
• The program's success relied on a persuasive formula:
  • Be short (less than 4 minutes)
  • Grab the audience's attention
  • Have a single point
  • Always include an action for the audience
• Use this 4-part formula to create a short, persuasive speech:
  • 1. One Question: Pique curiosity around your main point
  • 2. One Story: Answer the question memorably
  • 3. One Point: Explicitly state the main takeaway 
  • 4. One Call-to-Action: Provide a small action or thought for the audience

Check out the accompanying one-page PDF for more tips on crafting your persuasive speech.

Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion.

For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.