Is Using Humor the Deciding Factor in Winning a Contest?

How do you improve a skill you wish to excel at?

I find folks who are better than me at that skill and study them. Seeking improvement in my oral communication skills, I attended the Toastmasters District 26 Conference which included a Table Topics Contest, educational sessions a business meeting and the highlight, the International Speech Contest which was held on May 20 & 21, 2011 at the Embassy Suites in Loveland, Colorado. I went in particular to learn and understand what makes a winning speech. The International Speech Contest for the District is the pinnacle of success for those contestants who win their Division Contests. After watching and listening to the contestants, I observed all of the speeches encompassed the four “H’s” of public speaking according to the 2000 World Champion of Public Speaking, Ed Tate, Head, Heart, Humor and Heavy Duty, (Its significant).

Each contestant was poised as they gave their speech. They all approached the contest professionally and with well polished presentations. Each one had personal and powerful stories to share. I also observed that International Speech Contest Speeches are strong on the Head, Heart and Heavy Duty. This can bring about a dramatic tension that in a five to seven minute speech, can be significant and overbearing. The one element I noticed and counted during the contest was the amount of laughs each speaker received in their presentation.

Here is my observation;
• In Thomas Judson’s speech, “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” he received four laughs.
• In Joan Janis’s speech, “Wings,” she received six laughs.
• In Chuck Maher’s speech, “The simple secret, we get to play,”
he received seven laughs.
• In Stephen Doherty’s speech, “Pull that ripcord,” he received ten laughs.
• In Paula Cowen’s speech, “Embrace uncertainty,” she received sixteen laughs.
• In Rich Hopkins’ speech, “Change the rules. Change the reason,” he received
eighteen laughs.

Without giving it away, who do you think won, first, second and third place in the District 26 Speech Contest? You guessed it. Rich Hopkins won first, Paula Cowen received second and Stephen Doherty came in third. I have no way of knowing if their using humor and getting more laughs had anything to do with the outcome of the winners. All I know is, from my observation, the speakers who used humor to break the tension of their speeches from Head, Heart and Heavy Duty, placed higher than the other contestants. Learning from these champions, I will work at inserting more humor, where appropriate, into my speeches.

What observations did you make while attending an International Speech Contest at a District Conference?

How is your PMA?

What, you don’t know what a PMA is? Simply this, Positive Mental Attitude. I have the opportunity to volunteer as facilitator for the Colorado, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar otherwise known as HOBY. As I prepare for three days of teaching high school sophomores, “how to think, rather than what to think,” I am reminded how important it is to always be positive. PMA applies to more than the privilege of working with youth; it is an integral part of my professional and personal life. In the world of business, attitude is everything. Give me an optimistic, positive, personable individual over a negative naysayer any day. PMA will get you through the toughest, most stressful times in business and in life. PMA will help to focus your thoughts on what’s important to you. In my personal life I recite the Optimist Creed everyday and find its positive message a reminder of what’s important as I face each day.

In the 1950’s Earl Nightingale wrote and recorded, “The Strangest Secret” http://bit.ly/krQ1AP
The premise of his recording is, we become what we think about. As Mr. Nightingale says, “Actually, it isn’t a secret at all…But very few people have learned it or understand it.” Our success in life depends on using the greatest gift we have, our mind. We can choose to be a success or failure. We have free will to do whatever we set our sights on or reach goals we choose to accomplish. Having a PMA is a choice. The question is, are your choosing wisely?

As a child I can remember reading Watty Piper’s classic, "The Little Engine That Could” Remember, “I think I can, I think I can,” as the little train chugs up the mountainside. What happens as you grow up? You forget that PMA, like, “I think I can,” does get you to where you need to be.

PMA is also a way of life for me. It is something you have to incorporate into your daily routine. I recall my running in the Boulder Bolder 10K. I had never run a race before. I trained, yet I knew if I was going to finish I would have to work on my mind more than my physical being. At the time I had just read Brian Tracy’s book, “Focal Point.” In it is a line that I committed to memory. “Yard by yard it’s hard, inch by inch it’s a cinch.” I repeated that line all the way to the finish line.

Having a PMA will help you cross your own finish line by reconnecting you with your commitment to success. When you decide for yourself to have a PMA you will be like all my HOBY Ambassadors, the one word of choice to describe all good things, OUTSTANDING.