“Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” (Benjamin Franklin)

Say what you will about his politics, FDR has rightfully been acknowledged as one of history’s great orators. And now you know the secret to his success.

As the new election cycle gets ramped up, we should be talking about the big issues of life — at work, at home, in the public square. But perhaps all our talking would be heard more if we spoke in smaller doses. Droning on and on is a surefire way to get people to tune out. Holding your tongue and using words carefully and sparingly may increase your chances of being heard.