I can’t think of a better argument for brevity and quality than one that’s been around for more than a century and a half. Those of us who went to school when “civics” (or something like it) was a thing probably learned at least parts of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. Delivered in 1863, that two minute, 273 word speech still inspires thinkers and moves people to this day. But many of us forget, or never knew, that Lincoln was almost an afterthought and followed keynote speaker Edward Everett, who opened the ceremony with a two hour, 13,607 word sermon of which no one remembers a word.

I’ve worked with a number of truly wise and talented people who will often admit that their presentations and “talks” may be too long, but they just have no idea how they can possibly make them any shorter. Well then, consider these five tips.