| Have you ever watched a speaker and said, "Wow, I | | | | entertaining them, warning them, encouraging them, or |
| wish I could speak like that"? or "That person was just | | | | giving them direction or information. |
| so wonderful. I could never do that." Well, I've got some | | | | The great thing is - you all do have something to say |
| good news for you. You too can be a public speaker. | | | | that people would be interested in hearing. Each of you |
| Public speaking is a learned skill, so anyone can do it. | | | | has come through life in a different way. You may |
| You just need to follow some simple steps and | | | | have encountered difficult circumstances and survived. |
| practice, practice, practice. If you know how to talk, | | | | Your experience could help someone else in the same |
| you can become a public speaker. | | | | situation. |
| Becoming really good at public speaking requires some | | | | If you remember jokes or enjoy telling stories to your |
| risk, but you have been taking risks all your life. When | | | | friends, practice a little more and soon you can be |
| you were a toddler, you risked falling down when you | | | | telling your jokes and stories to large audiences. If you |
| took your first steps. You risk scraping your knees or | | | | are really good at something, consider sharing the |
| falling when you start roller blading. You risk falling off | | | | steps of how you got there. |
| when you start bike riding. You risk being rejected | | | | By following the steps outlined in the Toastmasters' |
| when you ask someone out on a date, and you risk | | | | manuals, and with the encouragement of fellow |
| getting into an accident every time you drive your car. | | | | Toastmasters, you can learn how to craft a speech |
| If you gave up after your first fall, you'd still be crawling. | | | | and how to deliver it. You can learn how to use props, |
| If you were afraid to fall off your bike, you'd still be | | | | how to modulate your voice, and how to use words |
| riding with training wheels. If you were afraid of getting | | | | that your audience will understand. |
| into an accident, you'd never get behind the wheel of a | | | | You will often hear the words "stage time" used by |
| car. And guess what, you're still here - you've survived | | | | Toastmasters. That is the only way to get better. In |
| all of that. You're risk takers!! You've proved that by | | | | order to be good at anything, you have to practice. |
| coming to Toastmasters. The greatest fear is that of | | | | Winston Churchill overcame a speech impediment to |
| public speaking and here you are - wanting to learn | | | | become a master orator. He had to practice for hours |
| how to do it. | | | | to deliver a speech. |
| How many of you enjoy watching figure skating? | | | | You can get very discouraged if you expect to be as |
| Now, you wouldn't expect to be a world class figure | | | | good as Zig Ziglar right away. But if you listen to his |
| skater the minute you put on a pair of skates, would | | | | story, you will find that it took a very long time before |
| you? No, you'd expect to have to practice for years | | | | he was able to do what he does so well. |
| before becoming that good. Nor would you expect to | | | | The thing to remember is that the only person you |
| make the NHL without years and years of winter and | | | | need to compare yourself to is you. You are working |
| summer hockey. | | | | for your personal best, so when you are preparing |
| How many of you enjoy watching racing? Would you | | | | your speech and practicing, all you need to ask |
| expect to be another Mario Andretti the minute you | | | | yourself is - is your second speech better in some |
| get behind the wheel? Now, I will admit that there | | | | way than your first? Did you learn something new as |
| seem to be a few drivers out there who think they | | | | you prepared for your speech? Did you learn |
| are Mario, but most people would expect to have to | | | | something from the evaluative comments of others |
| practice for years before reaching his status. | | | | after you gave your speech? Then, that's all you need |
| Now, I think everyone here knows how to walk. When | | | | to do. You can use what you've learned to make the |
| you think of walking 25 miles, it seems like a long | | | | next speech your best to date and then use the same |
| distance, but it is actually only putting one foot in front | | | | process for each speech you give. Just take one step |
| of the other a number of times and you know how to | | | | at a time. |
| do that. It just takes practice to go the distance. It's the | | | | Remember, public speaking is a skill, so anyone can |
| same thing with public speaking. It just takes putting | | | | learn to do it. You just need to be taught how and then |
| one word after another. | | | | practice, practice, practice. Then one day someone |
| The key to getting up in front of an audience is | | | | may watch you and say, "Wow, I wish I could speak |
| believing that you have something to share with them | | | | like that. |
| that may make a difference in their lives - by | | | | |