Making it personal:

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I am a currently attending two different Toast Masters meetings. One is called Mainstreamers which I attend one evening of the week and the other called Toastmasters, which is at noon at noon, once a week. There are some very talented presenters and speakers. One man in particular, gives wonderful critiques. His name is Merrill. He’s been involved with Toastmasters for several decades from what I understand. Several times he has mentioned the importance of including a story, either personal or referencing someone else’s experiences in a speech. I can see the value for this point of advice.

As storytellers, we want to tell stories that engage your audience. We want to do the same as writers for the material that we write for our readers. If we can evoke emotion from our audience they are more inclined to want to listen to us in the future. Also, as speeches become more memorable.

Another advantage of a story or antidote, is that it can widen the perspective of your presentation. It can help break the monotony of presenting facts and figures and provides a unique variety to your subject matter. If I give a presentation that I want to persuade someone on a certain concept, then my ideas may have more worth, if I can show the results of past experience or someone else’s experiences when following that principal. An example might be the importance of locking you door when you go to bed each night. A friend of mine found out last night that a transient slept in her car last night. She normally keeps her car unlocked and the windows rolled down. The person left their coat. Just by the tone of her voice, I could see that she felt her privacy was invaded.

Another friend of mine, lives in Arizona near the Mexican border. She told me of an experience of three illegal aliens waiting in her house when she came home. She heard them as she exited her car and was unlocking the door to her house. She had the foresight to run back to her car jump in and lock the doors before they could intercept her. She then drove away before they could get her. I’m so terrifying for her that they eventually moved from Arizona. So, this might be a story that could be used in the debate of the importance of strengthening our borders.

I also find that sometimes objects being employed a presentation also better engages the listener.

Another example from recent history could be used when debating the current illegal alien bill. We’re getting promises from Congress about strengthening our borders. Yet in 2006, had been agreed to build the fence and we never did. So if we are to rely upon past history, recent as it is, upon behavior, can we trust that the border would be strengthened with this Congress compared to the Congress that agreed to last time? Especially when many of the same people were present both times.

So for given presentations, or giving a talk, or maybe giving a sermon for youth ministers, I encourage you to include personal stories. I find that when Sunday school teachers include their personal stories, or class members do about a certain principle, the gospel, it carries more weight for me. So next time when you give a presentation, please include an antidote, or a story.

If you have additional recommendations on this topic, please feel free to share your feelings in the comment section of this blog. You get extra points, if you include a story or antidote.

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