The last words of your speech are the most important words you’ll ever say—they determine whether your audience remembers you or forgets you.

In this episode, Lord Al Jensen reveals the three essential elements of a powerful closing that inspires action, leaves a lasting impression, and gets you booked again and again.

Timestamps & Key Takeaways:

0:01 – The Pain of a Weak Closing

• A personal story of how a weak closing ruined an otherwise great speech
• What happens when you fail to close with confidence (people check out, no one rushes to talk to you, no real impact is made)

1:36 – The Harsh Truth About Speech Closings

• It’s not just about how you start—it’s about how you finish
• If your closing isn’t strong, clear, and compelling, your audience forgets everything else you just said

2:29 – Why Your Closing is the Most Important Part of Your Speech

• The final impression determines whether you’re remembered or forgotten
• A weak closing = lost opportunities, but a strong closing turns a good speech into an unforgettable experience

3:41 – The 3-Step Formula for a Powerful Closing

• The exact structure for crafting a high-impact closing
• Three essential elements: The Callback, The Call-to-Action, and The Closing Power Line

4:59 – Why People Remember Feelings, Not Just Words

• Your audience won’t remember every detail of your speech, but they will remember how you made them feel
• A weak closing drains the impact of everything before it
• A powerful closing cements your message and inspires action

6:37 – The Big Mistake Most Speakers Make When Closing

• The dreaded "Well, that’s all I have for you… thanks!" ending
• Why rambling, weak closings kill momentum and make your audience disengage

7:54 – Closing Element #1: The Callback (Bringing It Full Circle)

• How to reference something from earlier in your speech for a satisfying, complete ending
• 3 ways to use a Callback:
  • If you started with a story, return to that story with a final insight
  • If you opened with a question, answer it in a way that reinforces your message
  • If you introduced a key phrase or theme, repeat it for impact

9:30 – Callback Example: Making It Personal

• Example: How to turn a personal opening story into a powerful full-circle moment
• Why this emotionally connects your audience to your message and makes it unforgettable

10:30 – Closing Element #2: The Call-to-Action (CTA)

• Where most speakers fail—they don’t tell the audience what to do next
• The difference between a weak CTA ("Let’s stay connected!") and a strong CTA ("Take out your phone right now and follow me on LinkedIn!")

11:33 – How to Create a CTA That Works

• Make it specific: Tell them exactly what to do
• Make it easy: Reduce friction so they can take action immediately
• Make it valuable: Give them a clear reason to act now

12:08 – CTA Examples for Different Speech Goals

• If you want leads: "Go to [yourwebsite.com] and grab my free resource."
• If you want engagement: "Tag me on Instagram with your biggest takeaway."
• If you’re selling something: "I have an exclusive offer for you—go to [yourwebsite.com] and grab it now."

🚀 Your message matters. Keep speaking, keep inspiring, and I’ll see you in the next episode!

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