It’s your turn.

(What are you doing? I’m learning how to swim. What are you doing? I’m learning how to cook. What are you doing? I’m learning how to give a speaking.) Contest Master, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Do you think only by reading some books you can learn swimming, cooking or giving a speech? No, it’s not so easy like what you think.
　

According to a survey, people always follow the pleasure but avoid pains. How do you feel when you come to Fluency? Pleasant or painful? (Brian:pleasant)(Absolutely, great, good place, friendly people and wonderful food) and how do you feel when Cathy asks you to be the Toastmaster or the speaker at the next meeting? Is it pleasant or painful for you? Brian, Sue (…ok, I know, maybe I am making you nervous.) The most popular New Year’s Resolution in the world is losing weight, but how many people will make it in the coming year? We can not always say I want to lose weight, I want to lose weight, but we are still sitting on the chairs, eating junk food and watching TV all the time. We should do more exercise and start our diet.
　

We all understand that we should conquer our fear, speak clearly, have eye contact and use our body language when we deliver our speech. But, how? Saying is one thing, doing is another. I think public speaking skill is just like your muscle. The more you exercise, the stronger it becomes. I told you before that I stuttered when I was a little boy. Even when I went to junior high school, I needed to point at words while I was reading. I had a very serious problem with speaking. I had no friends in my childhood, because they all laughed at me when I started to talk. I would never give up even till now. I read out loud word by word from all of articles.
　

After my military service, I found my first job. I became a salesman. My parents didn’t believe it because of my poor speaking ability. They thought I was crazy. However, I didn’t care about anyone’s point of view. I tried very hard to learn how to be a successful salesman. I bought some books, listened to speeches and joined some training courses of speaking and presentation skills. Whenever visiting clients with a senior coworker, I always concentrated on what they were talking about, studied their ways of expressions and took notes. After work, I would recall the dialogue and practice it. When I visited my customer by myself, I would do the same thing. I always recorded the dialogue detail between customers and me, and then practiced the dialogue again and again. I tried to find the problems in the recorded conversation. I would correct my way to speak next time. Only by using these methods, I could improve my speaking skill day by day. I still use the same way when I come to Toastmaster. Whenever a speaker delivers his or her speech, I observe the ways of their expression and body language. When I deliver my speech, I always pay attention to my own expression and body language. After that I recall my speech, find the problems and correct them next time. Couple days ago, Cathy asked me if I would feel frustrated when I don’t get the best speaker award. I said no, I don’t care. I don’t want to compare with the others; I want to compare with myself. I am learning by listening and giving speeches in Fluency. I want to be better little by little. Learning how to swim and cook is the same. You should practice as much as possible.
　

We learn swimming by jumping into the water, we learn cooking by preparing meals, and we learn public speaking by standing on the stage in front of the audience and delivering the speech. Hi, look at me, what am I doing? I’m now delivering my speech. How about you? Contact our sweet EVP Cathy. Next meeting, it’s your turn. Contest Master.