Zero to Keynote

Turn ideas into talks people remember

Most people think speaking starts on stage.

It doesn’t.

It starts much earlier — with why you want to speak at all, what you actually believe, and how to turn half-formed ideas into something worth listening to.

Zero to Keynote is a practical, end-to-end guide to the entire speaking journey:

from deciding why to speak

to shaping ideas

to getting selected

to crafting a strong point of view

to delivering calmly and confidently

to surviving the reality of conferences themselves.

This is not a book about hype, performance tricks, or motivational fluff.

It’s a grounded, honest guide to doing talks properly.

What this book covers (the full journey)

This book walks through the whole process, not just the moment on stage.

You’ll learn how to:

• Understand why speaking matters
• Generate strong talk ideas rooted in experience, not ego
• Develop a clear through-line and point of view
• Write submissions that actually get accepted
• Shape ideas into a talk people can follow and remember
• Apply practical communication principles to structure and delivery
• Prepare properly
• Handle logistics, nerves, and last-minute changes
• Deliver with calm, clarity, and presence
• Manage Q&A with confidence
• Navigate conferences with a little more humanity (and humour)

It’s the book I wish I’d had before my first talk — and the one I still return to now.

Who this book is for

Zero to Keynote is for you if you:

• Want to speak at conferences, meetups, or events
• Present ideas regularly at work and want to do it better
• Care about clarity more than performance
• Have something to say, but don’t want to “fake confidence”
• Want a repeatable way to prepare talks without stress

You don’t need to be a professional speaker.

You don’t need a personal brand.

You just need ideas that matter — and a desire to share them well.

What makes this book different

• It covers the entire process, not just delivery
• It’s grounded in real experience — not theory
• It treats speaking as a craft, not a personality trait
• It respects the audience’s time and intelligence
• It’s practical, calm, and human

No “power pose” nonsense.

No pretending confidence is the goal.

Clarity is the goal. Confidence follows.

Format

Print Edition (UK Only)

• High-quality physical book
• Designed to be read, annotated, and returned to
• Ideal if you prefer thinking on paper

📦 Please note: The print edition is currently available to UK customers only.

(Also available as a digital edition — sold separately)

A quiet promise

This book won’t turn you into a motivational speaker or keynote celebrity.

It will help you:

• think more clearly about your ideas
• communicate them with intent
• and stand on a stage (or in a room) feeling like yourself

That’s enough.

Buy the Print Edition (UK Only)

👉 Order Zero to Keynote (Print Book) - UK Only

A practical, honest guide to going from idea → talk → delivery.

Looking for the digital edition? You’ll find it separately in the Cultivated Shop

What Readers Say

“I'm an experienced presenter and I'm still learning so much from this little book. Practical, encouraging, and incredibly useful.”

Printing and Design

The printed book is currently only being shipped within the UK.

A digital version is also for sale in the store -- available as an immediate download globally.

The book is A5 in size and printed on delightful gloss paper. Images look stunning on the paper and high quality ink. 195 pages, original beautiful images and graphics.

The book will be wrapped with a personalised thank you note. UK only for print.

A digital copy is available globally in the store.

Manufacturer(s):

Printed by the team at mixam.uk

Designed and written by Rob Lambert at Cultivated

Refund Policy – Physical Products

We want you to be delighted with your order! If your physical product arrives damaged, defective, or you’re otherwise unhappy, please contact us within 14 days of receiving it.

We’ll either replace the item or issue a full refund — whichever works best for you.

Please note: Buyers are responsible for returning items in their original condition at their expense, unless the product was damaged during shipping.

We strive to make your experience smooth and hassle-free, so you can shop with confidence. For refund and product enquiries : products@cultivatedmanagement.com