I recently heard the Japanese proverb that says, "The nail that sticks out will be hammered down". It's typically interpreted as a metaphor for corporate culture: if you do anything to stand out, you will somehow be punished. Punished with criticism, shame and ostracism. This proverb didn't sit right with me. After all, my purpose is to help people stand up and give … [Read more...]
Kill Impromptu Speeches
If you've ever been to a Toastmasters meeting, you'll know what a Table Topics session is. But in case you don't, it works like this: the facilitator gives you a prompt (usually a question, but it could be a statement or even a single word) and you, without a moment's delay, have to give a 1-2 minute response. This exercise is intended to sharpen your impromptu speaking skills, … [Read more...]
Chip Away
As I've mentioned before, my New Year's Resolution is to keep a notebook of speech gold - quotes, jokes, metaphors, stories... anything that might be useful for future speeches. Here is a story I recently stumbled upon and added to my collection. --- In 1955, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok was undergoing renovation. A large clay Buddha statue was to be moved to the new Viharn … [Read more...]
1 Simple Tip to Calm Your Nerves
We all know that adrenaline is a double-edged sword. Sometimes, it's just what we need to achieve peak performance. Other times, it's simply debilitating. When you give a presentation and feel the adrenaline pumping through your body, how's it going to affect you? Will it give you a positive energy boost and help you deliver with passion and charisma? Or will it make your heart … [Read more...]