Bryan Cranston was at his best accepting an Emmy for Best Actor at this week’s award ceremony. He crafted a perfect acceptance speech that included gratitude, appreciation, humor and heartfelt emotion. He utilized “circular construction” to highlight his most important message at the beginning and the end.
I always encourage my speech coaching clients to utilize this technique in speeches and important presentations to capitalize on the fact that audiences remember best what we say first and last. Bryan Cranston provided a shining example of it.
He started with:
“I don’t know why I’ve been blessed with such abundance and good fortune in my life (Humble). I was a kid who always looked for the short cut. I was a schemer. (Self-deprecating) My own family called me “Sneaky Pete.” (Humor) I happened to stumble upon finding a passion that created a seed that blossomed into something. I love to act. It is a passion I will do until I take my last breath. (Passion)
He went on to thank the cast and crew and expressed gratitude for all. He then came full circle and ended with:
“I’d like to dedicate this award to all the Sneaky Petes of the world who thought settling for mediocrity was a good idea because it was safe. Don’t do it. Take a chance. Take a risk, find out that passion and rekindle it. Fall in love all over again. It’s worth it.” (Inspiring)
Cranston opened and closed with “Sneaky Pete”. He created a compelling bookend for his acceptance speech that started with humility and honesty and ended with an inspiring and aspirational message for all.
Thanks Bryan, we will follow your lead!
