"I concede." These were the only words I could say, when I could no longer continue my speech at a Toastmasters Division Contest. I had made this presentation dozens of times. I had won my club and area contests and now was competing at a high level. I was confident and felt good about knowing my presentation. I had drawn the sixth speaking position out of six speakers. My competition was awesome, yet I knew my speech was too.
The Toastmaster called my name. I felt a rush of excitement and shook the Toastmasters hand as I walked to the front of the room. I paused …and then began my speech. It was going well. I could see the smiles of friendly faces and felt the good vibe in the room. And then for no explainable reason, I lost my train of thought. I paused and for a second …, remembered where I was and then continued on. It was a good recovery. The pause was a bit longer than normal, yet it did not feel too unnatural. And then BAM!!!. My mind went absolutely Blank.... Frozen…. I paused again. I looked at the audience. I walked across the stage and the words I knew so well escaped me. I could not think of anything to say.
I know I was in control of all my other faculties. My breathing was good. I felt fine physically. My mind just stopped working. Wow. I was like a blank slate. A longer pause... The only thing I could do was to acknowledge and accept I could not go on any farther… today. I sat down. I was disappointed in my performance. And then, only in a Toastmasters contest , in a room full of peers, I was graciously given a round of applause.
The experience was like the scene in Forrest Gump. Forrest is running across the country with his followers, as a bumper sticker salesman runs alongside Forest and asks for some help with a saying for his bumper sticker business. Just then, the bumper sticker salesman points out that Forrest has just stepped in a pile of dog stuff. Forrest replies, "It happens", the man retorts, "What, the stuff you stepped in?” (expletive deleted), to which Forrest replies, "Sometimes". The man is inspired to create the "Common Substance Happens" bumper sticker. Sometimes it does happen, even to the most practiced and confident of speaker.
Like Forrest Gump, I felt like running, yet I could not. My run this time had ended. However, like the bumper sticker salesman, I was inspired. Inspired to come back to compete again. As tradition has it, at the end of the competition all the speakers are asked to step to the front of the room and be interviewed by the Toastmaster. This allows time for the vote counters to do their work. I was the second competitor to be interviewed. I was asked my club name and how long I have been a Toastmaster. I answered, yet before the Toastmaster could continue with her next question, I interrupted and asked the audience one question. “Do you think there is Viagra for public speaking? I sure would like to speak longer next time.” The audience laughed and I made a humorous recovery of my somewhat bruised ego.
On the drive home it was quite and I was reflective. I started to recite my speech. It came out perfectly. Darn, I wish I could have remembered it for the contest. It was a good speech. Part of my speech had a quote by Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States. He said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” As President Coolidge suggest I will press on and be more persistent and determined next time.
The Toastmaster called my name. I felt a rush of excitement and shook the Toastmasters hand as I walked to the front of the room. I paused …and then began my speech. It was going well. I could see the smiles of friendly faces and felt the good vibe in the room. And then for no explainable reason, I lost my train of thought. I paused and for a second …, remembered where I was and then continued on. It was a good recovery. The pause was a bit longer than normal, yet it did not feel too unnatural. And then BAM!!!. My mind went absolutely Blank.... Frozen…. I paused again. I looked at the audience. I walked across the stage and the words I knew so well escaped me. I could not think of anything to say.
I know I was in control of all my other faculties. My breathing was good. I felt fine physically. My mind just stopped working. Wow. I was like a blank slate. A longer pause... The only thing I could do was to acknowledge and accept I could not go on any farther… today. I sat down. I was disappointed in my performance. And then, only in a Toastmasters contest , in a room full of peers, I was graciously given a round of applause.
The experience was like the scene in Forrest Gump. Forrest is running across the country with his followers, as a bumper sticker salesman runs alongside Forest and asks for some help with a saying for his bumper sticker business. Just then, the bumper sticker salesman points out that Forrest has just stepped in a pile of dog stuff. Forrest replies, "It happens", the man retorts, "What, the stuff you stepped in?” (expletive deleted), to which Forrest replies, "Sometimes". The man is inspired to create the "Common Substance Happens" bumper sticker. Sometimes it does happen, even to the most practiced and confident of speaker.
Like Forrest Gump, I felt like running, yet I could not. My run this time had ended. However, like the bumper sticker salesman, I was inspired. Inspired to come back to compete again. As tradition has it, at the end of the competition all the speakers are asked to step to the front of the room and be interviewed by the Toastmaster. This allows time for the vote counters to do their work. I was the second competitor to be interviewed. I was asked my club name and how long I have been a Toastmaster. I answered, yet before the Toastmaster could continue with her next question, I interrupted and asked the audience one question. “Do you think there is Viagra for public speaking? I sure would like to speak longer next time.” The audience laughed and I made a humorous recovery of my somewhat bruised ego.
On the drive home it was quite and I was reflective. I started to recite my speech. It came out perfectly. Darn, I wish I could have remembered it for the contest. It was a good speech. Part of my speech had a quote by Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States. He said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” As President Coolidge suggest I will press on and be more persistent and determined next time.
1 comment:
Bummer. It happens ... sounds like the beginnings of another great inspirational speech! And what is meant to be will be. My condolences on your concession and best wishes for next time!
Karen
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