What do you want to get out of speaking?

Why do you want it? Finally, what is standing in the way of getting it?

Five years ago Jeff wanted more and was looking for a platform to learn how to speak in public. He went to a Toastmaster meeting and participated in Table Topics. Even though he had spoken previously, he found himself nervous. He was stiff as a board and Frank Lewis told him that he had to loosen up. He joined Toastmasters. (Asked audience to hold out hands with alternating thumbs up and finger-pointing and then had them switch hand gestures repeated).

Toastmasters takes you from the Ice Breaker to more advanced speeches.

Jeff ended up joining 5 clubs. He signed up to speak at all of the clubs. He found that the more that he did it, the easier it became. If we are tough on ourselves, the tough things become easier.
There are several contests that you can participate in to advance your speaking skills. The first time he competed, he got lucky because the person that was supposed to go couldn’t go and as the second-place contestant. He took it seriously and decided to speak at every opportunity and location he could — even the Toastmasters clubs that he didn’t belong to.

He went to the area contest. He won the area contest, the division contest. When he was in high school, his nickname was “Stone Face.” When he went to District he decided to look up the people that he would be competing against. He saw that he was going to be competing against Bryant Ferguson, the third-ranked speaker in the world at that time. He was so psyched out that he thought he wouldn’t have any friends. He learned that the more he went to competitions, the more enjoyable it was.

So, ask yourself, “What do you want out of speaking?” You can have anything you want in public speaking if you want because everybody is in it for the same reason.

Have something to add? If so please provide feedback in the comment section of this blog.