Page 38 - July 2020

PERSPECTIVES

I promise not to charge you $8,500.00 like a Left nostril twitches when you speak? Control

certain international speaking guru does. And it. Conquer it. Practice with all you can give it,
here they are—the simple three p’s of powerful, the word—the powerful, all inspiring, emotion
spoken words. touching and challenging—word.
Practice—Practice—Practice. Our third and final P is for practice. Think

Oh my, I can hear the groans swelling up in of this P as being like that of a doctor who has
District 7. “It is the same three words.” “He is off a practice, a lawyer or dentist advertises the
his rocker, slipped a cog or does his elevator not same. They obviously would not be using the
go to the top floor?” No, you read it right, but second P and practicing, trying out, seeking to

use the spoken word instead. hone their skill. No, they deliver, they practice
The first P is for practice. Speechcraft is an their art with full confidence and honed skills.
art. No artist walks up to the empty canvas or They are masters of their practice. They would
block of marble and deftly paints or sculpts not or could not last long in their profession if

the greatest piece of art in the world—not even they were not the best of the best. Thus, we as
Leonardo Da Vinci or Michelangelo. (Although I Toastmasters, by our very name, declare that
have heard it said that the stone always told him we are masters of our practice.
what was hidden inside of it.) The great artists Fellow Toastmasters, fellow practitioners

always practiced before they laid a single stroke of the spoken word, we who aspire to inspire
on the canvas. They took hours looking at other and affect our listeners, I challenge you during
works, learning the techniques, the nuances the first month of the new 2020-2021 program
of color and form before their masterpiece year to employ the three P’s of practice, practice

appeared months or years later. Do not ask and practice. Promise me that you will not be
me—I belong to the Stick-Figures-R-Us school satisfied with the ho-hum, the mundane, the
of artistry. But I observe, absorb, and admire “almost affected me” mode of speaking. Raise the
what I see and hear. I practice. bar. Up your ante. Move yourself, your audience,

The second P is for practice. Once you and the world. Become that speaker that all will
have learned the art of speechcraft, then you want to emulate. Choose the words of power to
must ply your trade. Ever heard of the mirror proclaim your message of hope not fear. And
technique of speaking whereby you stand never falter, never compromise, and never

before the mirror and deliver your speech? Oh, use the power of the spoken word for naught
right, let us take advantage of the 21st Century but the affirmation of our mission, our legacy,
technology and use our phone or laptop camera and our integrity as members of Toastmasters
to record our speech. Watch your movements, International. We are a chosen few, and with that

gestures, facial expression, and other elements choice comes the privilege and responsibility
of body language. Hone your skill privately in to leave our world better than we found it with
the security and safety of your home. Practice our words.
what works for you. Try out different things.

38 ONE COMMUNITY