Formulate a Speech
“Your success in life will be determined largely by your ability to speak, your ability to write, and the quality of your ideas, in that order” – Patrick Winston
The equation above is the mathematical formal for successful public speaking and presented by Patrick Winston in his class “How to Speak” at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
One of the things expressed by members of Toastmasters is that the Pathways format isn’t for them because it seems to focus on “business” skills or that it lacks creativity. Having a roadmap for giving speeches is beneficial for those starting out, yet for the more experienced speaker it can seem unimaginative and limiting. The required speeches can appear to be blinders to focus ahead, while cutting off the peripheral vision and not allowing one to see all the opportunities available.
But know that those opportunities are there; they exist! How can that be? Because, as the speaker, one is in control of the content, the organization, and the delivery.
So, lets apply this formula in order to enhance the public speaking opportunities in Toastmasters, regardless of what Pathways does or doesn’t provide.
K = Knowledge, as we all know, is power! This is the one true power we all have and can use to our best advantage. The best source for inspiration is what you know, your experiences, your history, and your expertise.
P = Practice and is what we do best at Toastmasters. We practice over and over and over again. Start practicing with your reflection in the mirror. Practice can also be with a mentor or with another member of the club. Note that it is best to practice in front of those that do not have deep knowledge your topic. They will provide better unbiased and unfiltered feedback.
t = Talent, which is the last formula ingredient and the smallest letter of the bunch. An abundant amount of talent doesn’t impact quality as much as the multiplication of knowledge and practice.
The speeches written and executed at all clubs don’t need to fully rely on the Path one has chosen, but on the way one uses the knowledge one has, the love for the practice as well as crafting of the talent. All this work results in high quality speeches.
Reference: “How to Speak” MIT Course by Patrick Winston
Rockridge-iversaries!
Mark Twain said “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech,” and many of our members have been preparing their impromptu speeches with our club for a few years. We are so grateful and happy they are part of our clan.
Eric Zan, our VP of Pathways, has been a member of our club since January 2019. We were lucky to have had Eric be Toastmaster last month, for a meeting where he presented his views on aging and how very lucky we are to be able to live so many years.
Kristen Clopton re-joined the club a year ago in January 2021, after taking a break for a little while. She first joined the club in 2012. Now that she's back, Kristen has started new adventures, including diving into the planner world and taking up the violin again, inspired by the Netflix series Bridgerton.
Krista Gettle, our VP of Education, has been with our club since January 2021. She had been a vital factor in developing our website and has introduced our members to the NFTs (non-fungible tokens) game.
Katie Gibbons has been with our club since January 2020. Her speeches have given us insights into her work as an educator and her storytelling has allowed us to get to know her and her family.
Megan Pratt, our Sergeant at Arms, began back in February 2020. She is an essential part of the leadership team and has led a wonderful open house for the club. She has introduced us to how artificial intelligence works, and let us know that she isn't one for jewelry, though she cherishes a piece given to her by her grandmother.
Patricia deSa has been a member since 2004. She took a leave for a few years and came back in January 2011. Pat has given entertaining and endearing speeches on a variety of topics. Pat was awarded her DTM in spring 2020. She loves crossword puzzles and baking. We were lucky to have her lead the officers induction ceremony this year.
A Message from Our VP of Pathways
Pathways is just the marketing name for the toastmasters curriculum. It is located in your "Base Camp" on the Toastmasters International website. There you will be able to choose a Path that reflects your goals for Toastmasters where you will then be provided with 5 levels to complete that contain various speech and project prompts.
If you are new to Pathways, once you are registered with Toastmasters International, Krista (VP of Education) will let you know when registration is complete and you can then sign up for a Path.
Here is the best place to start that provides info about Pathways. Then peruse the FAQ.
This is a walkthrough of the Pathways platform you may find helpful.
Please let me know if you have any questions or issues!
Eric Zan
VP of Pathways