Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c1089IR // #c1089Synthesis

"One way to get air out of a glass is to pour in water." "fill your mind with your speech-material and, like the infilling water in the glass, it will drive out your unsubstantial fears."

— In our words · Source: The Art of Public Speaking (J. Berg Esenwein & Dale Carnegie)

[Use when]

You're backstage replaying everything that could go wrong.

[Why it matters]

A mind packed with the material has no room left for "How does my hair look?" The blacksmith's rope on the horse's nose is the same trick, distraction by something stronger.

Filed under situations:When you need a yes and they’re not there yet

More from The Art of Public Speaking

#c1088"How would you cure a horse that is afraid of cars—graze him in a back-woods lot where he would never see steam-engines or automobiles, or…You've been reading about public speaking instead of booking a talk. #c1090"Have the first few sentences worked out completely so that you may not be troubled in the beginning to find words. Know your subject…You're preparing a talk and plan to improvise the opening. #c1091"To make a word emphatic, deliver it differently from the manner in which the words surrounding it are delivered. If you have been talking…You've been raising your voice to stress points and the room has tuned out.

Same situation, different book

#c1447Demagogues Blame Absent Partners For Local DisastersWhen a partner's executive blames your absent team for a joint outage, publish the signed deployment log to…From The Hobbit #c1436Politeness Traps You Into Signing Away SafetyWhen a client or partner acts as if an unapproved scope expansion is settled, stop the meeting and state your…From The Hobbit #c1381Dress for the sixtieth rowYour work will be seen from far away and someone wants it toned down for close inspection.From Matriarch #c1368Belonging is the secret of brandingYour customers come back and are treated like strangers each time.From Matriarch