Your First 90-Second Claim: Quick Start Guide

Category: Short
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Tags: Voice Practice, Structured Claims, Getting Started, Executive Presence

What Is a 90-Second Claim?

A structured claim is a clear, concise statement that makes a point and supports it—all in 90 seconds.

Format:

Claim (15 seconds): Your main point
Evidence (45 seconds): Support for your point
Conclusion (15 seconds): What it means and why it matters

Example:
"A structured claim is the foundation of clear communication under pressure. [Evidence: Why structure matters, how it helps, examples] [Conclusion: Practice this daily to build executive presence.]"

90 seconds. Measured. Refined.

Why 90 Seconds?

The Time Pressure Test

90 seconds is challenging but achievable:

Long enough to make a substantive point
Short enough to force clarity and economy
Replicates real-world time constraints

Real-world parallels:

Elevator pitch (30-60 seconds)
Meeting contributions (60-90 seconds)
Quick answers to tough questions (60-120 seconds)

Training at 90 seconds prepares you for all of these.

The Forced Clarity Effect

Time pressure forces you to:

Get to the point quickly
Cut unnecessary words
Structure your thoughts
Speak with precision

No rambling. No filler. Just clear communication.

How to Build Your First Claim

Step 1: Choose a Topic

Pick something you know:

A work project you're leading
A framework or mental model you use
An opinion on a professional topic
A problem and proposed solution

Don't overthink it. Pick something you can speak about for 90 seconds.

Step 2: Structure It

Claim (15 seconds):

State your main point clearly
One sentence if possible

Evidence (45 seconds):

2-3 supporting points
Examples or data
Logical flow

Conclusion (15 seconds):

Restate why it matters
Call to action or implication

Example:
"I believe performance wellness is the next category in professional development. [Evidence: Why current approaches fail, what performance wellness offers, examples of measurable improvement] [Conclusion: Leaders who train this way will have a competitive advantage.]"

Step 3: Practice Out Loud

Don't write it. Speak it.

Recording:

Set a 90-second timer
Start recording (audio or video)
Speak your structured claim
Stop when time is up

If you finish early, add more evidence. If you run over, cut content.

Step 4: Review and Refine

Listen back:

Did you make your point clearly?
Was the evidence strong?
Did you conclude effectively?
How did you sound? (pace, tone, fillers)

Score yourself:

Filler density (<5% target)
Hesitation rate (<2/min target)
Clarity (clear structure?)

Refine: Practice again with improvements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Rambling Without Structure

Don't: Start talking and hope you make a point
Do: Follow the Claim-Evidence-Conclusion structure

Structure forces clarity.

Mistake 2: Too Much Content

Don't: Try to cover everything in 90 seconds
Do: Focus on one clear point with strong support

Depth over breadth.

Mistake 3: Reading from Notes

Don't: Write it out and read it
Do: Speak from an outline or memory

Speaking practice requires speaking.

Mistake 4: Avoiding Practice

Don't: Think about it but never practice
Do: Record yourself regularly

Practice is the only way to improve.

The 30-Day Challenge

Daily practice (10 minutes):

Choose a topic (rotate daily)
Speak a 90-second structured claim
Review recording and score yourself
Set one improvement target

After 30 days:

You'll have 30 claims practiced
You'll see measurable improvement
Speaking under time pressure will feel natural

Progress tracking:

Week 1: Baseline awareness of fillers, pacing, structure
Week 2-3: Measurable improvement in clarity and composure
Week 4: Consistent delivery under time pressure

Using Oracle for Measurement

Oracle tracks:

Filler density (target: <5%)
Hesitation rate (target: <2/min)
Pacing consistency
Structural clarity

Weekly progress:

Set baseline in Week 1
Track improvement weekly
Aim for 10% composite improvement in 30 days

Data-driven improvement, not guesswork.

Integration with Daily Ritual

The Voice Stage (10 minutes of 30-minute Daily Ritual):

Prime (2 min): Centering and intention
Practice (6 min): Record 90-second claim, review, refine
Review (2 min): Check Oracle scores, set targets

Daily consistency drives improvement.

The Bottom Line

A 90-second structured claim is:

Clear and concise
Supported with evidence
Concluded effectively
Spoken under time pressure

Practice daily for 30 days. Track improvement with Oracle. See measurable gains in executive presence.

Start today: Record your first claim. Set your baseline. Practice.

Take Action

Choose a topic for your first claim
Structure it (Claim-Evidence-Conclusion)
Record yourself speaking for 90 seconds
Review and refine based on feedback
Practice daily for 30 days

Start Recording →