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