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