Speech Audio

Martin Luther King Jr: I have a Dream
Lyndon Johnson on death of MLK
History of Black Civil Right Struggle
MLK: Standford U Research
More Speechs of MLK

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Contents

1 Toastmasters Manuals

Adv Proj
Speak to
2 To Entertain  3 Humorously  4 Speak to Inform
5
Inspire  6 SpecialOccasion  7 Story Telling

TableTopics

8 Impromptu Speech

Evaluation

9 Speech Eval  10 Language Eval  11 General Eval

Judging
Judge Eval  Judge Humor  Judge Interna  Judge TT
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T
op Ten Interview Questions
Nine First-Million Stories
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Contest Links


Contest Rules
International Speech (TM international)
International Speech
Table Topics

Briefing for Contestants
Judges
International Speech
Table Topics

Contest Chairman (Toastmasters)
When you are the contest toastmaster
When you are the contest chair
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Telling a Joke


How to Tell a Joke

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Tips for Public Speaking

Tips for Public Speaking
What is his name
Silence Speaks
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Champions
David Brooks
Jim Key
Craig Valentine
Mark Brown
DarrenLacroix
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Emotions

Primary emotion
Secondary emotion
Tertiary emotions

Love
Affection Adoration, affection, love, fondness, liking, attraction, caring, tenderness, compassion, sentimentality
Lust Arousal, desire, lust, passion, infatuation
Longing Longing

Joy
Cheerfulness Amusement, bliss, cheerfulness, gaiety, glee, jolliness, joviality, joy, delight, enjoyment, gladness, happiness, jubilation, elation, satisfaction, ecstasy, euphoria
Zest Enthusiasm, zeal, zest, excitement, thrill, exhilaration
Contentment Contentment, pleasure
Pride Pride, triumph
Optimism Eagerness, hope, optimism
Enthrallment Enthrallment, rapture
Relief Relief

Surprise
Surprise Amazement, surprise, astonishment

Anger
Irritation Aggravation, irritation, agitation, annoyance, grouchiness, grumpiness
Exasperation Exasperation, frustration
Rage Anger, rage, outrage, fury, wrath, hostility, ferocity, bitterness, hate, loathing, scorn, spite, vengefulness, dislike, resentment
Disgust Disgust, revulsion, contempt
Envy Envy, jealousy
Torment Torment
Sadness Suffering Agony, suffering, hurt, anguish

Sadness
Depression, despair, hopelessness, gloom, glumness, sadness, unhappiness, grief, sorrow, woe, misery, melancholy
Disappointment Dismay, disappointment, displeasure
Shame Guilt, shame, regret, remorse
Neglect Alienation, isolation, neglect, loneliness, rejection, homesickness, defeat, dejection, insecurity, embarrassment, humiliation, insult
Sympathy Pity, sympathy

Fear
Horror Alarm, shock, fear, fright, horror, terror, panic, hysteria, mortification
Nervousness Anxiety, nervousness, tenseness, uneasiness, apprehension, worry, distress, dread

So What
Learn to recognise emotions at increasing levels of detail. If you can see the emotion, then you can respond appropriately to it.

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Emotions

Abandoned
Abhor
Ablaze
Abominable
Abrasive
Absorbed
Absorbed
Absurd
Abused
Abusive
Accommodating
Acknowledged
Acquiescent
Acrimonious
Admonished
Adoration
Adored
Adventurous
Adverse
Affected
Affectionate
Afflicted
Affronted
Afraid
Aggravated
Aggressive
Agitated
Agonized
Agony
Agreeable
Airy
Awkward
Alienated
Alive
Alluring
Alone
Altruistic
Ambiguous
Ambitious
Amenable
Amorous
Amused
Anger
Angry
Anguished
Animated 
Annoyed
Anxiety
Anxious
Apathy
Appealing
Appeasing
Appetizing
Appreciation
Apprehensive
Ardent
Arduous
Argumentative 
Armored
Aroused
Arrogant
Astounded
Attentive
Avoidance
Beaten down
Bemused
Betrayed
Bewildered
Bewitched
Bitchy
Bitter
Blah
Blessed
Blissful
Blunt
Boiling
Bored
Bothered
Brave
Breathless
Breezy
Bright
Broken
Bruised
Buoyant
Burdensome
Bursting
Callous
Calm
Captivated
Captivating
Careless
Caring 
Celebrating
Chagrined
Charmed
Charming
Chastened
Cheerful
Cherishing
Clandestine
Clear
Cold
Cold-blooded
Collected
Comatose
Comfortable
Compassion
Competitive
Complacent
Composed
Concerned
Confused
Congenial
Content
Cool 
Copacetic
Coping
Cordial
Cornered
Creative
Crucified
Crushed
Cursed
Cushy
Cut down
Dainty
Defensive
Dejected
Delectable
Delicate
Delighted
Demure
Depressed
Desirable
Desired
Desolate
Despair
Despondent
Devoted
Devoured
Discomfort
Discontented
Disgust
Dismal
Dispassionate
Displeased
Disregard
Disregarding
Distracted
Distressed
Disturbed
Doldrums
Don't mind
Doomed
Droopy
Dull
Eager
Earnest
Easy
Ecstatic
Electric
Enchanted
Endearing 
Enduring
Engaging
Enjoy
Enlivened
Enraged
Enraptured
Enthused
Enthusiastic
Enticing
Even tempered
Exacerbated
Exasperated
Excited
Exciting
Exultation
Fanatical
Fascinated
Fascinating
Fear
Fearful
Fearing
Fervent
Fervor
Fiery
Flared up
Flattering
Flushed
Flustered
Fluttery 
Foaming at the mouth
Forbearance
Fortitude
Frantic
Fretful
Frigid
Frisky
Frustration
Full
Fuming
Fun
Funny
Furious
Galvanized
Gay
Genial
Giggly
Glad
Glee
Gleeful
Gloom
Gloomy
Glowing
Gnawing
Good
Goodness
Grateful
Gratified
Gratitude
Grave
Grief
Grieving
Grim
Griped
Grounded
Gushing,
Gusto
Haggard
Half-hearted
Hardened
Harsh
Having Fun
Hearty
Heavy
Hectic 
Hilarious
Hope
Hopeful
Horrific
Horrified
Horror-stricken
Humorous
Hurt
Hysterical

Impetuous
Imposing
Impressed
Impressionable
Impulsive
In a dither
In a flurry
In a pickle
In a stupor
In a trance
In purgatory
Inattentive
Indulged
Indulgent
Inept
Infelicitous
Inflexible
Infuriated
Insatiable
Insensitive
Insouciant
Inspired
Interested
Intimidated
Intrigued
Inviting
Irrepressible
Irritated
Irritation
Jaunty
Jealous
Jittery
Jolly
Jovial
Joy
Joyful
Jubilation
Languid
Languish
Laugh
Laughingly
Lethargic
Light hearted
Lively
Loathe
Lonely
Lonesome
Long-suffering
Lost
Love
Loved
Loving
Lukewarm
Luxurious
Mad
Manic
Martyr
Meddlesome
Melancholy
Melodramatic
Merry
Mindful
Mindless
Mirthful
Miserable
Moderate
Mopy
Mortified
Moved
Nervous
Nonchalant
Not caring
Numb
Optimistic
Over the edge
Overflowing
Over-wrought
Pain
Panic
Paralyzed
Passionate
Passive
Patient
Peace of mind
Perky
Perplexed
Perturbation
Perturbed
Petrified
Pine
Piquant
Pitied
Placid
Plagued
Pleasant
Pleasing
Pleasurable
Pleasured
Pressured
Prey to
Pride
Protected
Proud
Provocative
Provoked
Quarrelsome
Quenched
Quiet
Quivering
Quivery
Radiant
Rash
Raving
Ravished
Ravishing
Ready to burst
Receptive
Reckless
Reconciled
Refreshed
Rejected
Rejection
Rejoice
Relish
Repressed
Repugnant
Resentful
Resentment
Resigned
Resistant
Restrained
Restraint
Revived
Ridiculous
Romantic
Rueful
Safe
Satiated
Satisfaction
Satisfied
Scared
Secretive
Secure
Sedate
Seduced
Seductive
Seething
Selfish
Sensational
Sensual
Sentimental
Serious
Shaken
Shielded
Shocked
Shutter
Shy
Silly
Simmering
Sincere
Sinking
Smug
Snug
Sober
Sobering
Soft
Solemn
Somber
Sore
Sorrow
Sorrowful
Sour
Sparkling
Spastic
Spicy
Spirited
Spry
Stoic
Stranded
Stressed
Stricken
Stung
Stunned
Subdued
Subjugated
Suffering
Sunny
Supportive
Surrender
Susceptible
Suspended
Sweet
Sympathy
Taken advantage of
Tame
Tantalizing
Tantrumy
Temperate
Tender
The blues
Thick-skinned
Thin-skinned
Threatened
Thrilled
Tickled
Tight
Tight-lipped
Timid
Tingly
Tolerant
Tormented
Tortured
Touched
Tranquil
Transported
Trepidation
Troubled
Twitchy
Uncomfortable
Unconcerned
Unconscious
Uncontrollable
Under pressure
Undone
Unfeeling
Unhappy
Unimpressed
Unruffled
Used
Vexed
Victim
Victimized
Vivacious
Volcanic
Voluptuous
Vulnerable
Warm
Warmhearted
Weary
Welcomed
Whining
Winsome
Wistful
Woe
Woeful
Worked up
Worried
Wounded
Wretched
Yearn
Yearning
Yielding
Zeal
Zealous

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Proverbs

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
A change is as good as a rest
A fool and his money are soon parted
A friend in need is a friend indeed
A good beginning makes a good ending
A good man is hard to find
A house divided against itself cannot stand
A house is not a home
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
A leopard cannot change its spots
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing
A little of what you fancy does you good
A miss is as good as a mile
A new broom sweeps clean
A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse
A penny saved is a penny earned
A person is known by the company he keeps
A picture paints a thousand words
A place for everything and everything in its place
A problem shared is a problem halved
A prophet is not recognized in his own land
A rolling stone gathers no moss
A stitch in time saves nine
A thing of beauty is a joy forever
A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men
A watched pot never boils
A woman's place is in the home
A woman's work is never done
Absolute power corrupts absolutely
Actions speak louder than words
All good things come to he who waits
All that glisters is not gold
All the world loves a lover
All things must pass
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All you need is love
All's fair in love and war
An Englishman's home is his castle
An apple a day keeps the doctor away
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
April is the cruellest month
As the saying goes
As you sow so shall you reap
Ask no questions and hear no lies
Attack is the best form of defence
Barking dogs seldom bite
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Beauty is only skin deep
Beggars can't be choosers
Behind every great man there's a great woman
Better late than never
Better safe than sorry
Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't
Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool that to speak and remove all doubt
Between two stools
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts
Birds of a feather flock together
Blood is thicker than water
Boys will be boys
Charity begins at home
Cleanliness is next to godliness
Coin a phrase
Cold hands warm heart
Comparisons are odorous
Count you blessings
Cut off your nose to spite your face
Cut your coat to suit your cloth
Discretion is the better part of valour
Do as you would be done by
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Don't bite the hand that feeds you
Don't burn your bridges behind you
Don't change horses in midstream
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched
Don't cross the bridge till you come to it
Don't keep a dog and bark yourself
Don't let the bastards grind you down
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Don't put new wine into old bottles
Don't rock the boat
Don't spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tar
Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs
Don't try to walk before you can crawl
Don't upset the apple-cart
Doubt is the beginning not the end of wisdom
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise
Easy come easy go
Empty vessels make the most noise
Enough is as good as a feast
Enough is enough
Every dark cloud has a silver lining
Every dog has his day
Every man has his price
Every stick has two ends
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die
Failing to plan is planning to fail
Faint heart never won fair lady
Faith will move mountains
Familiarity breeds contempt
Finders keepers, losers weepers
First things first
Fish and guests smell after three days
Flattery will get you nowhere
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Forewarned is forearmed
Fortune favours the brave
God helps those who help themselves
Good fences make good neighbours
Good talk saves the food
Good things come to those who wait
Great minds think alike
Half a loaf is better than no bread
Handsome is as handsome does
Hard work never did anyone any harm
Haste makes waste
He who hesitates is lost
He who laughs last laughs longest
He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword
He who pays the piper calls the tune
Hindsight is always twenty-twenty
History repeats itself
Home is where the heart is
If God had meant us to fly he'd have given us wings
If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well
If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again
If ifs and ands were pots and pans there'd be no work for tinkers
If life deals you lemons made lemonade
If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain
If wishes were horses beggars would ride
If you can't be good, be careful.
If you can't beat em, join em
If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
In the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king
In the midst of life we are in death
Into every life a little rain must fall
It goes without saying
It never rains but it pours
It takes a thief to catch a thief
It takes one to know one
It's all grist to the mill
It's an ill wind that blows no one any good
It's better to give than to receive
It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness
It's better to travel hopefully than to arrive
It's never too late
It's no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted
It's not worth crying over spilt milk
It's the early bird that gets the worm
It's the empty can that makes the most noise
It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease
Jack of all trades, master of none
Keep your chin up
Keep your powder dry
Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and, you weep alone
Laughter is the best medicine
Let bygones be bygones
Let not the sun go down on your wrath
Let sleeping dogs lie
Let the punishment fit the crime
Life begins at forty
Life is what you make it
Life's not all beer and skittles
Lightening never strikes twice in the same place
Like father, like son
Little pitchers have big ears
Live for today for tomorrow never comes
Look before you leap
Love is blind
Make love not war
Man does not live by bread alone
Marry in haste, repent at leisure
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow
Misery loves company
Money doesn't grow on trees
Money makes the world go round
Money talks
More haste, less speed
Music has charms to soothe the savage breast
Nature abhors a vacuum
Necessity is the mother of invention
Never judge a book by its cover
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today
No man is an island
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent
No rest for the wicked
Nothing is certain but death and taxes
Oil and water don't mix
Old soldiers never die, they just fade away
One good turn deserves another
Only fools and horses work
Opportunity only knocks once
Out of sight, out of mind
Pearls of wisdom
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
Physician heal thyself
Possession is nine tenths of the law
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely
Practise makes perfect
Pride comes before a fall
Procrastination is the thief of time
Put your best foot forward
Red sky at night shepherds delight
Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning
Revenge is a dish best served cold
Rome wasn't built in a day
Spare the rod and spoil the child
Speak softly and carry a big stick
Still waters run deep
Stupid is as stupid does
Talk is cheap
That which does not kill us makes us stronger
The Devil finds work for idle hands to do
The best defence is a good offence
The boy is father to the man
The cobbler always wears the worst shoes
The darkest hour is just before the dawn
The early bird catches the worm
The ends justify the means
The exception which proves the rule
The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world
The longest journey starts with a single step
The more things change, the more they stay the same
The pen is mightier than sword
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach
There are none so blind as those, that will not see
There but for the grace of God go I
There's always more fish in the sea
There's many a slip twixt cup and lip
There's more than one way to skin a cat
There's no fool like an old fool
There's no place like home
There's no smoke without fire
There's no such thing as a free lunch
There's no such thing as bad publicity
There's no time like the present
There's none so deaf as they that will not hear
There's one born every minute
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it
Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas
Time and tide wait for no man
Time is a great healer
To err is human, to forgive divine
To the victor goes the spoils
To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive
Tomorrow never comes
Too many cooks spoil the broth
Truth is stranger than fiction
Turn of phrase
Two heads are better then one
Two wrongs don't make a right
Walk softly but carry a big stick
Waste not want not
We've arrived, and to prove it we're here
When the cat's away the mice will play
Where there's a will there's a way
Worrying never did anyone any good
You can't get blood out of a stone
You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
You can't make bricks without straw
You can't teach an old dog new tricks
You can't tell a book by looking at its cover
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
Youth is wasted on the young

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Speech Tips from Mark Brown.
"Power Presentation from Penpoint to Platform".


Tie your ending to your beginning.
Go full circle.

Using Penpoint:
Preparation process (Speech Organization)
Select relevant topic.
Do the research.
Decide on your main points.
Write an unforgettable opening.
Make your middle memorable.
Personalize as often as possible. (Use Story)
Tie your ending to your beginning.
Go full circle.
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Using Platform
Delivery
Rehearsal (in mirror, friendly audience) Memorise your opening.
Use of keyword notes, mindmap, 3 by 5 card, business card.

Beginning speech delivery: 8 ways to open a speech: Question, story, sing song, involve audience, all audience stand that recognise them and ask them to sit group by group. joke, dramatic re-enactment. May use in body of speech too.

Tools: Use your voice skilfully to effectively help your delivery.
Vary your pitch, your rate, your volume.
Show your emotions in your speech. Use voice for dramatic effect.
Pause and stay quiet.
Use a conversational tone. Relax them and endear them to you.

Tools: Use Body Language and gesture. Reinforce point.
Act out and show what you mean.

Tools: Use and maintain  facial expression and eye contact. Shows the emotions.

Visual aids to support the message.
Small audience: Whiteboard and flipchart (with info written before hand)
Use of Power point presentation, videos, Beware of memory, battery. Sent copy of CD well in advance. Test it before presentation. Use it in small amount of time. Don't loose your audience.

Props. Decide what is best. Use both small and large prop.

Strong Conclusion
Memorise your conclusion.

Handling Q & A session
Conduct after main speech.
Allocate enough time.
Tell audience specific number.
Repeat question.
Answer each question.
Be honest and admit if you cannot answer. Discuss later after finding out for you and email you.
Offer to answer question.
Tell audience on... time for last question and tell them answer anymore in the hall.
Deliver closing remarks at the end of meeting.
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Familiarize with the room.
Test electronics items.
Find out lights, exit, environment are.
Ensure room is condusive.
Do necessary arrangment to sit audience. Be in control of the setting.

Touch heart, touch heads and touch hands as you share your stories.

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"Ouch!"

by Darren LaCroix, ATM,  First Place Winner of Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking 2001


The following text is the speech Darren LaCroix prepared for delivery in the World Championship of Public Speaking Contest at Toastmasters International's annual Convention.

"Ouch!" Darren LaCroix,
Darren LaCroix, "Ouch!"
 
Can you remember a moment when a brilliant idea flashed into your head... it was perfect for you,... then all of a sudden from the depths of your brain another thought forced its way through the enthusiasm until finally it shouted, "YEAH great idea, but what if you... (fall. Ed's note: Darren falls to the floor) fall on your face?"

What do you do when you fall on your face? Do you try to jump right up and hope no one noticed? Are you more concerned with what other people will think, than what you can learn from this? Mr. Contest Chair, friends, and people way in the back!.  OUCH!

Do you feel I stayed down to long? Have YOU ever... stayed down... too long?

After 4 years of business school I went for the american dream I bought.. a subway sandwich shop... you're all impressed I can tell... I donut want to brag but I took a $60,000 debt and in six short months.... I doubled that debt... I turned my subway sandwich shop into a non-profit organization...

(Goddard. Ed's note: The (entries) are reminders to Darren of the story illustration which followed)

I financially... fell on my face...  but I realized I was not the only person from my home town of Auburn to fall on his face... 100 years ago my first hero, Dr. Robert Goddard had a ridiculous idea of building a device that could take off from the earth and reach the stars!!  His failures were the reason we landed on the moon.

(Brain Tracy)

I remember my ridiculous idea. I was listening to a tape of Brian Tracy, a great speaker. He asked the question... "What would you dare to dream if you knew you wouldn't fail? I struggled for an answer...... then... BING!! I would be a comedian! But you have to understand my background... I was not funny, I was not a class clown, in fact the first time my brother ever laughed at me, was when I told him I was going to be a comedian.  (...)ouch!

(first step)

Who do you want to be? What changes would you like to make in your life?...

SO many of us can see clearly where we want to go... and yet we go back and forth,... If I just had more time... If I just had a little more money... or If the kids were little older. But we never take... that first step.....

Dr Goddard's first flight took off in Auburn... and landed... in Auburn. It only went up 41 feet... the first step can be small..

(strangers)

Strangers will mock your first step... When the press found out about his short flight in an effort to reach the moon. The headline read: Moon rocket misses target by 238,799 1/2 miles... OUCH!!  It's part of the process...

(mom & dad)

We also have friends and family that love us and donut want to see us fall. Imagine my parents reaction after stretching their budget to help through college. Seeing me fall on my face and then I came home (hands in pocket) "mom... dad... I want to be a comedian..." I was met by silence... (mouth OUCH).  Its part of the process...

(Gestures)

After a year of trying comedy I remember a night... I'd been bombing for 20 minutes. So I went for my sure fire bit I brought a woman up from the audience.... she stood directly behind me and put her arms forward in place of mine and I would tell the story verbally as she told it in gestures. It always works best the more animated the hands are. Well this woman stood there like an ancient statue... I turned to her in desperation... please do something with your hands....  she did... she....OuuuuuuuCH!

I called my mentor Rick. I bombed!... they hated me!... Rick said... SO?? .... what do you mean so? Rick said "Darren, every comedian, every speaker, anyone who has accomplished anything, has fallen on their face."

Then... I remembered SUBWAY.... I fell on my face, but I never took the next step. The step AFTER the ouch is the most difficult. Take it. It will be hard, you'll be unsure, but when that foot lands... oh you're going like that feeling...........  We learn from the ouch.

Ever watch your own presentations on video? OUCH! Did you learn anything?

(VNI)

Dr Goddard always referred to failure as valuable negative information.Information essential for each step... towards landing on the moon.

He was an.... ouchmaster. We need to be ouchmasters. If you are willing to fail you can learn anything. I still have my day job,.. but it's because I took the step after the ouch... now my picture hangs in a comedy club in my home town.

I was not given the gift of making people laugh, I was given the opportunity to take a next step... so were you... What is your next step? Take it!

I didn't want to look back on my life and say. " I never did try stand-up, but instead I PAID ALL MY BILLS!"

(stuck)

We will find our feet get stuck... and we are so afraid of the ouch we forget when we take a risk....  & fall on our face. We still... make... progress... Fall Forward.

__________________________


"Ouch!" said the World Championship of Public Speaking winner, Darren LaCroix
by Glenn Pike, DTM

"I knew I was not the most talented; not the best speaker in the world," said Darren LaCroix when we talked by phone last week. "But, I thought, I can be the best prepared."

With the idea "No one will out prepare me," in mind, Darren began his trip to Toastmasters International's World Championship of Public Speaking. A trip which took him to 22 clubs, whose members provided him with over 140 written evaluations --- not counting the numerous round robbin/open evaluations provided at some clubs.

"I took a video camera with me to each speaking opportunity. In addition to taping my speech the camera was also trained on my evaluators and captured their evaluations. Their evaluations were not lost. They were reviewable. I have six hours, 46 minutes, and 43 seconds of video tape shot of my speeches and their evaluations."

In his speech, he decided he would fall forward (on his face, so to speak) during the opening line. This drew a wide variety of opinions from his evaluators, as well as numerous. The most common, according to Darren, was "I thought you stayed down too long."

Here is how he utilized that input. When he stood up, he included what he knew by now that most of the audience was thinking, he asked: "Did I stay down too long?" And then used that idea to start the next sentence. "Have you ever stayed down too long?"

"I had someone come up after the contest, " said Darren, "who mentioned that part of the speech. And the person said 'You said what I was thinking. I was getting uncomfortable. I wanted you to get up quicker. You stayed down too long.'"

Darren also borrowed from his district's library a 10 year set of videos taken of Toastmasters Internationals ' most recent speech contests. Each video contained the speeches of the nine contestants who completed each year. In his preparation, Darren included a study of the previous 90 speakers who have competed for the World Championship of Public Speaking.

In his speech, he refers to his desire to be a comedian. It was his desire to be a good comedian that lead him to Toastmasters.

"My comedy mentors said the most important thing about being a comedian, is 'stage time.' The more time you are on stage, the greater your opportunity to become better."

"Well, comedy clubs are only open at night and when I discovered Toastmasters, I learned they met during the day and there were several clubs in my area. I joined four of them."

How can you become a better comedian (or speaker) my mentors said until you are comfortable in front of a real audience. "That is why I am an avid supporter of 'expanding your speaking time.' Any role as a Toastmaster provides a speaking opportunity. Seek out opportunities to speak. Speak at every opportunity.  How can we be growing if we are not at the lectern? That is our stage time."

Darren joined Bose Speakers (yes, the stereo company), in 1994. This was his second time to complete in the speech contests. In his first contest, he made it to the division level. 

It would not be until 4 years later that he would get back up on his feet - and try again. "Ouch!"

__________________________

Proverbs

"A poor workman blames his tools."
Possible Interpretation: Good workmanship depends no more on the quality of the tools than it does on the way in which they are used, so to blame the tools for bad workmanship is to attempt to excuse one's own lack of skill.
Also, in former times, a blacksmith would have made his own tools, so the act of blaming ones tools would rebound on oneself.
This wording of this proverb also has the double meaning : " A workman without much money blames the quality of his tools".
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
Possible Interpretation: A small amount that you have is worth more than a large amount that is uncertain.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Possible Interpretation: We feel more affection for relatives and friends when we are parted from them for given amount of time or distance.
"A cat may look at a king."
Possible Interpretation: This is one of Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes. It means: "If a cat may look at a king, I have as much right to take an interest in what you are doing. Are you so important that I can't even look at you?"
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
Possible Interpretation: The strength (usually metaphorical) of a group depends on the individual strength of each of its members.
"A coward dies a thousand times before his death. The valiant never taste of death but once."
From William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
"A creaking door hangs longest." and "A creaking gate hangs long."
Possible Interpretation: Despite its defects, the quality and/or performance of a tested article is more dependable.
"Actions speak louder than words."
"Advice when most needed is least heeded."
"A fool and his money are easily parted."
"A fox smells its own lair first." and " A fox smells its own stink first."
Possible Interpretation: If you are the first person to notice a fault in someone else, might that be because you have the same fault? This proverb is sometimes also used against someone who is claiming that someone else has passed wind, meaning that if you acknowledge a smell, perhaps you are the person who created the smell and are just trying to take the suspicion off yourself.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed."
"After a storm comes a calm."
"After dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile."
"A good beginning makes a good ending."
"A good man in an evil society seems the greatest villain of all."
"A good surgeon has an eagle's eye, a lion's heart, and a lady's hand."
"A guilty conscience needs no accuser."
"A jack of all trades is master of none."
Possible Interpretation: Someone who is good at everything has no mastery over any one particular thing.
"A lie has no legs."
Possible Interpretation: You can't get away with a lie, it will always reveal the truth someday
"A lie can be halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on."
Attributed to Winston Churchill. It's easier to turn falsehood loose than correct it everywhere it runs to.
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
"A merry heart makes a long life."
"A miss is as good as a mile."
"A penny saved is a penny earned."
Attributed to Benjamin Franklin; Poor Richard's Almanac.
"A person is known by the company he keeps."
"A picture is worth a thousand words."
"A pot of milk is ruined by a drop of poison."
"A rolling stone gathers no moss."
Possible Interpretation: A person who does not stay in any one place for very long will not develop roots or meaningful connections with others.
"A sound mind in a sound body."
From the Latin, mens sana in corpore sano.
"A stitch in time saves nine." This is attributed to Benjamin Franklin under american proverbs.
Possible Interpretation: A small problem adressed in time prevents the development of a larger problem.
"All cats love fish but hate to get their paws wet."
"All flowers are not in one garland."
"All frills and no knickers."
"All good things come to an end."
"All hat and no cattle."
"All proverbs be shite."
Usage: To inappropriate usage of proverbs.
"All roads lead to Rome."
"All's fair in love and war."
"All's well that ends well."
"All that glisters is not gold."
From William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, act II, scene 7, by William Shakespeare
Possible Interpretation: Not everything is what it appears to be.
Alternative: "All that glitters is not gold."
"All things come to he who waits."
Alternative version: "Good things come to those who wait."
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
From the Code of Hammurabi and the Bible. Originally meant that punishment could be no more than an eye for an eye.
"Another man's poison is not necessarily yours."
From the Latin proverb: "One man's medicine is another man's poison."
Alternative: "One man's trash is another man's treasure."
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
"April showers bring May flowers."
"Ask and you shall receive."
From the Gospel of Matthew
"Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies."
"Ask no questions and hear no lies."
"As you make your bed, so you must lie in it."
"As you sow, so shall you reap."
Possible Interpretation: What you do now reflects upon what will happen later.
"A watched kettle never boils."
Alternative: "A watched pot never boils."
"A woman's work is never done."
From a folk rhyme - "A man may work from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done", meaning that a man's traditional role as breadwinner may keep him occupied from sunup to sundown, but the traditional roles of a woman demand even longer hours of work.
"A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle."
"A word to the wise is enough" (or "sufficient.")
Latin: Verbum sapienti saepet.
"A word spoken is past recalling."
Alternative: "What's done is done."
[edit]
B
"Barking dogs seldom bite."
"Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it."
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
"Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone."
"Beauty may open doors but only virtue enters."
"Beer before liquor, you'll never be sicker, but liquor before beer and you're in the clear."
"Beggars can't be choosers."
"Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
"Better late than never."
"Better safe than sorry."
"Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."
"Birds of a feather flock together."
"Bitter pills may have blessed effects."
"Blood is thicker than water."
"Blood will out."
This has a parallel in Chaucer, Murder will out.
"Boys will be boys."
Already a Latin proverb: Sunt pueri pueri, pueri puerilia tractant. "Boys will be boys and play boyish games."
"Brain is better than brawn."
"Bread is the staff of life."
"Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dine like a pauper."
"Butter is gold in the morning, silver at noon, lead at night."
[edit]
C
"Cast pearls before swine." To waste something of value on those who won't or can't appreciate it.
"Chance favors the prepared mind."
"Cider on beer, never fear; beer upon cider, makes a bad rider."
"Close but no cigar."
"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades."
"Clothes make(th) the man."
The opposite form also exists, "Clothes don't make the man."
"Common sense ain't common."
"Cowards die many times, but a brave man only dies once."
"Cross the stream where it is the shallowest."
"Curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction brought it back"
"Cut your coat according to your cloth."
[edit]
D
"Desperate diseases must have desperate cures."
Similar to "Desperate times call for desparate measures."
"Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Different sores must have different salves."
"Different strokes for different folks."
"Diseases come on horseback, but steal away on foot."
"Do as you would be done by."
"Do unto others as you would have done to you."
"Doctors make the worst patients."
"Don't burn your bridges before they're crossed."
"Don't burn your bridges behind you."
"Don't change horses in midstream."
"Don't count your chickens before they're hatched."
"Don't cross a bridge until you come to it."
"Don't cry over spilt milk."
"Don't cut off your nose to spite your face."
"Don't have too many irons in the fire."
"Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."
"Don't mend what ain't broken."
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket."
"Don't put the cart before the horse."
"Don't shut the barn door after the horse is gone."
"Don't shut the gate after the horse has bolted."
"Don't spit into the wind."
"Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater."
"Doubt is the beginning, not the end, of wisdom."
"Do or die."
[edit]
E
"Early bird gets the worm."
Corollary, cynical: "Early worm gets the bird."
"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
Corollary, cynical: Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy, wealthy and dead, attributed to Terry Pratchett
"Eat to live, don't live to eat."
"Eat when you're hungry, and drink when you're dry."
"East or West, home is best."
"Education is a subversive activity."
"Empty barrels make the most sound."
Similar to "Empty vessels make the most noise."
Possible interpretation: The person who has nothing to say, often speaks most.
"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while."
"Even a worm will turn."
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day."
"Every cloud has a silver lining."
"Every day is a new beginning."
"Every disease will have its course."
"Every dog has its day."
"Every man has a price."
"Every rule has its exception."
"Everything comes to him who waits."
"Everything's eventual."
"Every why has a wherefore."
"Every path has its puddle."
[edit]
F
"Faith will move mountains."
Based on a Christian New Testament passage.
"Faint heart ne'er won fair lady."
"Familiarity breeds contempt."
"Fine feathers make fine birds."
"Fine words butter no parsnips."
"First come, first served."
"First deserve then desire."
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
"Forbidden fruit is the sweetest."
Possibly based on the biblical story of Adam and Eve
"Forewarned is forearmed."
"Fresh pork and new wine kill a man before his time."
"Fretting cares make grey hairs."
"Friend to all is a friend to none."
"Friend in need is a friend indeed
[edit]
G
"Garbage in, garbage out."
"Give and take is fair play."
"Give a dog a bad name and hang him."
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
Corollary, humorous: "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day; set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life", attributed to Terry Pratchett, Jingo. Also, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day."
"Give the Devil his due."
"God blesses a drunk."
"God cures and the physician takes the fee."
"Good eating deserves good drinking."
"Good fences make good neighbors."
From the Robert Frost poem 'Mending Wall'.
"Good men are scarce."
"Good wine needs no bush."
"Great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ."
"Great oaks from little acorns grow."
[edit]
H
"Hair of the dog that bit you."
"Half a loaf is better than none."
"Handsome is as handsome does."
"Hang a thief when he's young, and he'll no' steal when he's old."
"Happy wife, happy life."
"Hard cases make bad law."
"Hard words break no bones."
"Haste makes waste."
"Hawks will not pick out hawks' eyes."
"Health is better than wealth."
"Heaven hath no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned."
From The Mourning Bride, act i, scene i, by William Congreve.
"Heaven protects children, sailors and drunken men."
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Paraphrased from The Mourning Bride, act i, scene i, by William Congreve.
"Help a lame dog over a stile."
"He that lives too fast, goes to his grave too soon."
"He that will steal an egg will steal an ox."
"He who hesitates is lost."
"He who laughs last laughs best."
"He who laughs last laughs longest."
Corollary, cynical: "He who laughs last didn't get the joke."
"He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword."
From the Christian New Testament
"He who pays the piper calls the tune."
To be able to contol the details of a situation by virtue of being the one who bears the cost or provides for others.
"He who sleeps forgets his hunger."
"He's all hat and no cattle."
Purely bluster and no substance.
"Hindsight is 20/20."
"His bark is worse than his bite."
"History repeats itself."
"Home is where the heart is."
"Home is where you hang your hat."
"Honesty is the best policy."
"Honey catches more flies than vinegar."
"Hope for the best, expect the worst."
Alternate version: "Pray for the best, prepare for the worst."
"Hunger is the best spice."
"Hunger is the best sauce."
"Hunger makes good kitchen."
[edit]
I
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then give up, it's no good being pig-headed.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
"If at first you don't succeed, redefine success"
"If at first you don't succeed, give up skydiving"
"If at first you don't succeed, well, you're about average"
"If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well."
"If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
"If the cap fits, wear it."
"If the shoe fits, wear it."
"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."
"If words could only speak, they'd mean even less."
"If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly."
"If you can't beat them, join them."
"If you can't be good, be careful."
"If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."
"If you don�t love yourself with passion, you�ll love others with it. Passion is conserved."
"If you keep your mouth shut, you won't put your foot in it."
"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself."
"If you're in a hole, stop digging."
"In for a penny, in for a pound."
Alternate version: "In for a dime, in for a dollar."
"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."
"In the end, a man's motives are second to his accomplishments."
"It's a good horse that never stumbles."
"It never rains, but it pours."
"It's a long lane that has no turning."
"It's an ill wind that blows no good."
"It's better to give than to receive."
"It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
"It's easy to be wise after the event."
"It's never too late to mend."
"It's not over till it's over."
or, "It ain't over till it's over."
"It's no use crying over spilt milk."
"It's often a person's mouth broke their nose."
"It's the early bird that gets the worm."
"It's the empty can that makes the most noise."
"It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease."
"It pays to pay attention."
"It takes all sorts to make a world."
or, "It takes all sorts to make the world go round."
also, "It takes all kinds to make the world go round."
"It takes two to make a quarrel."
"It takes two to tango."
"It takes two to lie, one to lie and one to listen."
[edit]
J
"Jack is as good as his master."
"Jack of all trades, master of none."
"Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today."
"Jove but laughs at lover's perjury."
"Judge not, that ye be not judged."
[edit]
K
"Keep a thing seven years and you will always find a use for it."
"Keep no more cats that catch mice."
"Kill two birds with one stone."
Possible Interpretation: Refers to doing two things at once, or multi-tasking.
Possible Interpretation: Accomplishing two things with a single action.
"Knock and the door will be opened unto you."
[edit]
L
"Laughter is the best medicine."
"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."
"Learn to walk before you run."
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
"Let sleeping dogs lie." (Cf. Agatha Christie's Sleeping Murder.)
"Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas."
"Like cures like."
Not necessarily true or approved by the Food and Drugs Administration.
"Like father like son."
"Like water off a duck's back."
"Little by little and bit by bit."
"Little enemies and little wounds must not be despised."
"Liquor before beer and you're in the clear. Beer before liquor and you'll never be sicker."
"Long absent, soon forgotten."
"Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves."
"Look before you leap."
"Love is blind."
[edit]
M
"Make hay while the sun shines."
"Make love not war."
"Man with four balls can't walk."
Reference to baseball and its anatomical incorrectness.
"Many hands make light work."
Many a little make a mickle
"Misery loves company."
"Money for old rope."
In the days of wooden-hulled sailing ships, ropes that were worn could be sold for use as calking (pressed between the planks and often covered with tar to prevent seepage), or as filling for fenders, and so the ship's owner was paid even for old rope. These days, we also call this a freebie.
"Money makes the mare go."
"Money makes the world go around."
"Money talks."
Possible Interpretation: Here "talks" means "carries weight," in the sense that it is influential.
"Money talks, bullshit walks."
"More haste, less speed."
[edit]
N
"Nature abhors a vacuum."
"Nature, time, and patience are three great physicians."
"Necessity is the mother of all invention."
"Ne'er cast a clout till May be out."
"Never, Never... allow anyone to persuade you to suspend your common sense."
"Never put off till (until) tomorrow what you can do today."
"Never do today what you can put off till (until) tomorrow ."
"It was probably a waste of time anyway."
"Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you."
"New brooms sweep clear."
"New broom sweeps clean."
"Noblesse oblige."
French expression: To be a member of the nobility carries obligations to care for the lower classes.
"No cows, no cares."
"No gain without pain."
"No man can serve two masters."
Christian New Testament
"No man is content with his lot."
"No news is good news."
"No pain, no gain."
"No pain, no injury."
"No time to waste like the present."
"Nor pot to piss in." (variant of "neither a pot to piss in nor a window to throw it out.")
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
"Nothing succeeds like success."
[edit]
O
"Once bitten, twice shy."
"One doctor makes work for another."
"One good turn deserves another."
"One man's trash is another man's treasure."
"Out of sight, out of mind."
[edit]
P
"Paddle your own canoe."
"Pain is only weakness leaving the body."
"Patience is a virtue."
"Penny wise, pound foolish."
"People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
"Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."
"Practice makes perfect."
"Pray to God, but row towards the shore."
"Prevention is better than cure."
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
Proverbs 16:17-19
"Penny saved is a penny earned."
"Pudding before praise."
"Procrastination is the thief of time."
"Put your faith in God, but keep your powder dry."
Refers to gunpowder; in the early days of firearms, powder was loaded into the gun before each shot. Wet powder won't fire.
[edit]
R
"Rats desert a sinking ship."
"Red sky at night: shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning: shepherd's warning."
Alternative: "Red sky at night: sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning: sailor take warning."
"Rolling stone gathers no moss."
"Rome wasn't built in a day."
"Rules are made to be broken."
[edit]
S
"Say it ain't so."
"Seek and ye shall find."
Christian New Testament
"Sex is like war, both are exciting but neither informative."
"Smile, and the world smiles with you. Cry, and you cry alone."
"Starve a fever, feed a cold."
"Still waters are the deepest."
Possible Interpretation: Quiet people are often thoughtful.
"Still waters run deep."
"Strike while the iron is hot."
Seize the moment. Take the opportunity now; don't waste it.
[edit]
T
"Talk is cheap."
"Talk of the devil - and the devil appears."
"The best things in life are free."
"The coat makes the man."
"The cure is worse than the disease."
"The early bird gets the worm."
"The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
"The end justifies the means."
This may be attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli.
"The first step to health is to know that we are sick."
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."
Possible Interpretation: One is never content with what one has. When one satisfies a want, it merely makes one aware of another. And so it goes on.
"The head and feet keep warm, the rest will take no harm."
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
"The only stupid question is the one that is not asked."
"The opera ain't over until the fat lady sings."
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
"The pitcher goes so often to the well that it comes home broken at last."
"The proof of the pudding is in the eating."
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Earlier variants of this proverb are recorded as "Hell is paved with good intentions." recorded as early as 1670, and an even earlier variant by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_of_Clairvaux) "Hell is full of good intentions or desires."
"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
Gospel of Matthew 26:41
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
"The start of a journey should never be mistaken for success."
"The third time someone tries to put a saddle on you, you should admit you're a horse."
"The value of ANYTHING is determined by the agreement of only two people.
"The wish is father to the thought."
"There are no small parts, only small actors."
"There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians."
"There's always a calm before a storm."
"There's always a deep breath before a plunge."
"There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip."
"There's more than one way to skin a cat."
"There's no accounting for taste."
From the Latin, de gustibus non est disputandum.
"There's no arguing with the barrel of a gun."
"There's no time like the present."
"Think before you speak."
"Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
"Time flies when you're having a good time."
"Time is money."
This may be attributed to Franklin.
"This too, shall pass."
"To each his own."
"To err is human; to forgive is divine."
"To kill two birds with one stone."
"Tomorrow is another day."
"Too many cooks spoil the broth."
"Trouble shared is trouble halved."
"Truth is stranger than fiction."
"Two's company, three's a crowd."
"Two heads are better than one."
"Two in the pink, One in the stink."
"Two things prolong your life: A quiet heart and a loving wife."
"Two wrongs don't make a right."
"Treat them mean, keep them keen."
[edit]
U
"Up a creek without a paddle."
Alternative version: "Up shit creek without a paddle."
[edit]
V
"Variety is the spice of life."
[edit]
W
"When the cat's away, does your pussy play?"
"Waste not, want not."
"We all make mistakes."
"We are all in this together."
"We must take the bad with the good."
"What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."
"What goes around comes around."
You will eventually have to face the consequences of your actions towards others as people tend to behave toward you as you have behaved toward others.
"What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander."
Possible Interpretation: If something is good for one person, it is good for everyone;
Alternative: "What's good for the goose is good for the gander."
"When in Rome do as the Romans do."
"When the cat's away, the mice will play."
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
"When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras."
"Where one door shuts, another opens."
"Where there's a will there's a way."
"While the cat is away, the mice will play."
"While there's life, there's hope."
"Whiskey on beer, never fear. Beer on whiskey, mighty risky."
"Who keeps company with the wolves, will learn to howl."
"Whom we love best, to them we can say the least."
"Why have a dog and bark yourself?"
Asked of a leader who performs the work himself instead of distributing equally amongst his workers or subordinates.
"Why pay for the cow when the milk is free?"
Why make a commitment when the benefits are available without the obligation? Commonly applied to sexual favors where "paying for the cow" refers to (a promise of) marriage.
"Wide ears and short tongue are the best."
"Winners never cheat and cheaters never win."
"Without sleep, no health."
"Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere"
[edit]
Y
"You are responsible for you."
"You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
"You can lead (take) a horse to water but you can't make it drink."
See also Dorothy_Parker: "You can lead a horticulture, but you cannot make her think."
"You can't have it both ways."
"You can't have your cake and eat it too."
Possible Interpretation: You cannot enjoy two mutually-exclusive benefits of the same situation.
"You can't judge a book by its cover."
"You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."
"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
"You can't milk a cow with your hands in your pants."
"You can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds."
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
"You can't teach grandma to suck eggs."
"You can't teach grandpa to suck eggs." What does it mean?
"You can't tell a book by its cover."
"You have to crawl before you can walk."
"You'll always miss 100% of the [basketball] shots you don't take."
"You need to bait the hook to catch the fish."
"You never know what you've got till it's gone."
"You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."
"You will not rise to the occasion, you will default to the level of your training"
"You lose some... and you win some... and some you don't even bother to play".
"You can't grease a "pig" so many times that he can't be greased one more time."
Basic Manual
1 The Ice Breaker | 2 Speak With Sincerity | 3 OrganizeYourSpeech  | 4 Show What You Mean  | 5 Vocal Variety | 6 Work With Words | 7 Apply Your Skills | 8 Add Impact to Your Speech | 9 Persuade With Power | 10 Inspire Your Audience |
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Finding a Speech Topic

What do you want to talk about? What experience and expertise have you? What are your personal concerns and convictions?

After brainstorming topics for which you have interest and experience, begin to talk with colleagues to clarify your position.

What has your audience asked you to address? According to Raymie McKerrow, Bruce Gronbeck, Douglas Ehninger and Alan Monroe, a topic may interest an audience for several reasons:

   1. It concerns their health, happiness or security;
   2. It offers a solution to a recognized problem;
   3. It is surrounded by controversy or conflict of opinion; and/or
   4. It provides information on a misunderstood or little understood issue.

Once you have a sense of your subject, it's time to limit the scope of it. Research will assist you in this effort.


Beebe and Beebe recommend that you

* Brainstorm topics and develop a long list of possibilities; and
* Listen to the media and read; keep up with current news.


Clarifying the Goal

When asked to speak, there are three major purposes to consider:

   1. Talking to inform
   2. Speaking to entertain
   3. Talking to persuade

For an informative speech, your goal is to present new information for the enlightenment of your audience. Informative talks may include speeches to demonstrate how something works or how to do something. We expect these talks to be balanced and objective. Many university lectures are informative briefings.


Developing Your Thesis


Your thesis is your central idea for the talk. Generally this is a one-sentence assertive statement. Communication experts Beebe and Beebe recommend that your thesis meet these criteria:

1. Central ideas use specific language;
2. Central ideas must express only a single idea; and
3. Central ideas should be audience-centered.

Generally, identifying your central idea comes after you have explored and researched your topic. As communication expert Grice and Skinner assert, "A thesis statement is one sentence that summarizes the main points you are trying to communicate or prove." This is your argument, from which your main points will stem. While developing your talk, refer back to your thesis statement often and ask yourself, "Does this prove my thesis to be true?"


Here is an example:

Thesis: The New York Yankees will likely win the next World Series Championship.

Can you imagine what three main points that might support this thesis?

Main point #1: The Yankees have excellent pitching.
Main point #2: The Yankees have excellent fielding.
Main point #3: The Yankees have excellent hitting.

Your audience will question whether your main points "prove" your thesis to be true. Furthermore, they will question whether your argument is accurate, comprehensive, and clear. Can you think of other points that might be needed to further support this thesis?


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Get a notebook

and write down everything you experience
that strikes you as funny either things that happen to you or things you see or hear on television or in the pub etc.or even jokes you get told during the next week. Things that make other people laugh in overheard conversations are also worth noting. Keep it handy at all times even next to the bed as we are often most creative when asleep, dreaming or at least daydreaming. All your little comedy can flourish into full length comedies is they are properly tended and nourished.
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