Are you tired of delivering speeches that put your audience to sleep? Or an article very few read? Do you want to make an impact on your listeners or readers that will leave them with their mouths agape and their minds blown? Here's one piece of advice that will change the way you communicate with the world forever:

Cut out everything that's not surprising.

That's right. If you want to keep your listeners on the edge of their seats, you must give them something unexpected. Something that will make them say, "oh wow", and leave them with a new perspective.

Think about it. When was the last time you learned something new by hearing the same old thing? If you're not surprised, then you're not really learning. And if you're not learning, what's the point?

Let me give you an example. Imagine you're at a conference about leadership, and the keynote speaker is talking about the importance of communication. They go on and on about the same old tips: active listening, clear messaging, blah blah blah. You start to tune out. But then, out of nowhere, they tell a story about a CEO who turned around a failing company by simply listening to his employees. Your ears perk up. You lean in. That's surprising. That's something you didn't expect to hear. And now, you'll remember it.

If you want to make a lasting impression, if you want to change minds, if you want to be remembered, cut out everything that's not surprising. Don't waste your audience's time. Give them something they'll always remember. And who knows? You might just surprise yourself in the process.