Are You in Love With Your Speech?

It wasย Monday morning, June 9th, 2008 at 3:45 AM. ย That’s when it hit me. I was driving home from Ottawa, Canada. I was feeling the letdownย of not placing in the top 3 of a high-levelย Toastmasters speech contest. Just south of Cleveland, the thought struck me…

I wasn’t in love with this speech.” ย I liked it. At one point, itย had an impact on my life. But, I had labored over the last two weeks to put the finishing touches on it. When a speech becomes laborious, your passion can disappear.

BINGO! ย I knew why I didnโ€™t deserve to win.

I wasnโ€™t in love!

Think About Speeches You’ve Given

It's important to be in love with your stories and speeches.Have you ever presented a speech that didnโ€™t excite you?

How did you feel about it?

Was it was a task, a job, just another thing you hadย to get done?

Now, think about a speech youโ€™ve given that was fun.

Didnโ€™t it seem to โ€˜flowโ€™ out of you?

Didnโ€™t you LOVE that presentation?

One goal I have for everyย speech I give is toย ย love that speech. [This wonโ€™t happen every time, but as a friend once askedย me โ€œWhy not aim high? It isnโ€™t any harder on the gun!”]

If you’re a new speaker, donโ€™t fretย about your vocal variety, gestures, or body language. Talk about subjectsย that you care about.

This advice can carry over to the rest of your life. I’ve often told my sons,โ€œI donโ€™t care what you do with your life, as long as you love what you do [and itโ€™s legal!]โ€

What If You’re Giving a Speech You Don’t Love?

Sometimes you have to present information youโ€™re not crazy about. If youโ€™re faced with that situation, pick one part of that subject you DO like. ย Focus on that.

For example, imagine you’re preparing a talk about fund-raising activities at church. Donโ€™t focusย on the numbers and details.

Highlight howย that fund raising is providingย for the community. Share stories of specific families who have benefitted from the fund. ย Ultimately, donโ€™t those stories give you the most satisfaction?

Whether youโ€™re in a speech contest, giving a work presentation, or preparing a speech for a local charity, learn from my experience. Give your speech a boost before you ever get on stage by making sure that…

You are in love!

 

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How to Fall in Love With Your Speech ultima modifica: 2008-06-11T16:50:26-04:00 da Michael Davis