Book SummaryGet to the Point!, by Joel Schwartzberg

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Get to the Point!

It’s not difficult to communicate effectively and bring about the change you want—as long as you know what point you want to make and how to convey it.

However, in Get to the Point!, Joel Schwartzberg argues that many people fail to ever make a point because they don’t know what their point is. He says that while many books explain how to be clear and focused, there’s little information available on how to identify, craft, and communicate your point so that it resonates with your audience.

Whether you’re trying to convince a friend to watch your...

Get to the Point! Summary Part 1: Identify, Craft, and Market Your Point

No matter who you are or what platform you’re using, compelling change begins with making a point. In Part 1 of this guide, we cover Schwartzberg’s advice for identifying what you want to say—your point—and then discuss what to do with it.

Principle 1: Identify and Hone Your Point

Schwartzberg defines a “point” as an assertion that you can clearly state, explain, and support. However, he says, many people have only a vague idea of what they’re trying to communicate when they start talking, which makes it impossible to convey their message powerfully enough to accomplish anything.

Avoiding this pitfall and getting your point across requires identifying and carefully crafting your point, then effectively marketing it in a way that resonates with your audience—whether that’s a handful or a roomful of people.

(Shortform note: Why is it so important to get to the point quickly? It’s been widely reported that people’s attention spans are shorter than that of a goldfish, having declined from 12 seconds to eight between the years 2000 (the start of the “mobile revolution”) and 2015. But [some contend that the goldfish...

Get to the Point! Summary Part 2: Tips for Making Your Point in Different Scenarios

In the first part of this guide, you learned how to identify, craft, and pitch your point powerfully. Now we’ll examine Schwartzberg’s tips for maximizing your impact in various scenarios in public presentations and the workplace.

Public Presentations

Whether you’re delivering a speech, sitting on a conference panel, or presenting a PowerPoint, here is how Schwartzberg recommends you make your point.

Scenario 1: Speeches

1. Prepare for your speech by practicing it in your full voice.
2. When possible, refer to bullet point notes rather than reading a full speech (the more scripted you are, the less focused you’ll be on your audience).
3. State your point at the top of your speech.
4. Make sure your stories illustrate your point (irrelevant stories distract your audience by creating mental work for them).

(Shortform note: In Talk Like Ted, Carmine Gallo offers additional strategies to grab your audience’s attention and make your point: [Repackage well-worn ideas so they feel fresh, incorporate shocking moments, and build mystery and suspense into the stories you...

Shortform Exercise: Make a Strong Point

Schwartzberg argues that to make a point that compels people to action, you have to first identify what your point is, then craft, hone, and market it effectively.

Reflect on Schwartzberg’s three-pronged approach to identifying, strengthening, and honing your point by using the “I believe” statement, and asking “So what?” and “Why?” Write down a point you’d like to make, then strengthen and hone it.