The best part of college is that you could become whatever you wanted to become, but most people just do what they think they must.

I feel this way about Toastmasters.  It works really well when inexperienced speakers join a club.  They see how experienced members make eye contact, come out from behind the lecturn, and tell stories.

The problem is that experienced Toastmasters rarely push the bounds of what is possible.  Your speech can be anything.  Take a risk.  Be yourself.

Show us something special

People are drawn to existing competitions like moths to a flame.  It’s precisely the wrong way to succeed.

I have seen this on many occasions in the Toastmasters speech contest.  The allure of fame that comes from being the World Champion of Public Speaking.  I have been guilty of it myself.  If your goal is to win that contest for the recognition, then you will likely become quite disapointed.

Enter the contest.  Have a blast.  Learn something about yourself and public speaking.  Winning is purely a bonus out of your control.

The second recommendation I make is to check out Andrew Dlugan’s excellent series on speech evaluations.  He even gives pointers on winning the evaluation contest.

Now go and give the contests your best shot!

From Seth Godin:

When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it

What more could I want?  After reading the book I actually found myself wanting less.  Like a food buffet with so many competing choices, more isn’t always better when they are presented together.

Let me explain…

Before opening this book I assumed it would consist of eye opening candid stories of adventures in public speaking as a way to pass on lessons learned.  There is some of this.  But there is more other stuff.  There is a discussion of various myths (seeing people naked, fees, and scarier than death).  Many tips for public speakers throughout the book (density theory, pauses, when things go wrong).  A fascinating discussion of why evaluation forms are less than useful.  A chapter on appearing on TV which I felt was out of place.  A fantastic recommendation section listing many books.  And a section of short confessions from other public speakers.

It felt like a brain dump of everything Scott knows about public speaking.

To add insult to injury, a chapter on storytelling was not included.  I also found it interesting that Scott’s “best advice” is to recommend Toastmasters, but he didn’t include any discussion of his experiences.

Despite the inclusion of some confessions, I don’t feel I know Scott very well after reading this book.  I know he doesn’t like mornings and has appeared on TV.  I know he cares about public speaking and has done a lot of research.  I know little more.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t have to force myself to read this book.  It was interesting and I learned a few useful things from it.  The pointers to other resources are worth the price of the book in my opinion.  My only issue is its cohesiveness.  I have a hard time recommending this book to anyone unless all they want is an approachable introduction to public speaking.

Have you ever done this?

Can you recognize when another speaker is doing this?  Can you tell them?

John Kinde has an excellent newsletter where he wrote:

Too often, we’re tempted to force fit something into a talk that really doesn’t fit…the square peg in the round hole.  This applies not only to magic, but also to other things we love; stories, humor, a song.  A speaker who opens a talk with a joke, for the sake of the joke, is taking the same risks as a speaker who opens with a magic trick.  Anything we add to a professional talk needs to organically fit into the speech.  It needs to blend naturally into the content of the speech.  Adding something to a speech just because “we like it” is a critical mistake.

It really is a critical mistake.  I have seen evaluators focus on commending the square peg instead of calling it out for what it is.

Do the speaker a real favor, let them know if they are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within.”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy.”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.

The scalable, profitable strategy is to change the game, not to become the most average.

If you want to become the best speaker you can be, you need to stop doing what everyone else does.  A New Year is fast approaching.  Use 2010 as an opportunity to redefine yourself.  Here are some ideas:

1. Compete in all the Toastmasters contests.  Yes, even Table Topics.
2. Prepare.  Prepare your speech.  Prepare for the contests.  Talk to the speaker before the meeting.
3. Join an advanced club.  Start a new club that pushes the envelope.
4. Present outside your club.  At a job group, Kiwana’s, Rotary, etc.
5. Push the limits of all of the Toastmaster roles.  Act out the Quote of the Day, do a backwards meeting, etc.

You left your comfort zone when you joined Toastmasters.  You regained it by being a member for a year or two.  Now is the time to push the envelope again.  Join me, and have fun!

• Self Awareness
• Creativity
• Anxiety
• Renewal
• Shine Every Time

Check out the article here.