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Speech-Time Exclusive --, Pick up some public speaking social skills! April 28, 2009 |
Hey,Anytime is Speech-TimeWelcome to Speech-Time exclusive. Building public speaking skills is more than a one-time thing, and that's why we're writing this e-zine! Every other week, we'll give you the opportunity to take your public speaking to the next level. --- If you like this e-zine, please do a friend and me a big favor and "pay it forward." If a friend DID forward this to you and if you like what you read, please subscribe by visiting Speech-Time.com. --- Thank you so much for your patience while we get ourselves straightened out. Except for a few glitches, we are up and running. For those who have submitted questions, speeches, and suggestions, thank you for your patience, and they will be promptly attended to. Welcome to all the new subscribers. Our membership is growing rapidly as the word gets out about our community. This week, we'll be talking about... KnowledgeTable of Contents1. Your contributions, buying speeches. 2. "Quotes To Speak By" 3. How much should you know? 1. Your Contributions I'd like to remind you that you can contribute content to the site in a number of ways and on a variety of topics. If you have something to share about public speaking, href="/public-speaking-stories.html">share it! Professional Speeches You Can Buy While Speech-Time.com is all about writing speeches, we know that sometimes everyone gets short on time - at least, I do! So I reviewed a couple of websites where you can buy professionally-written speeches for those times when you just can't get your ready. Check them out at What to Do When You Need A Speech FAST. Adlai E. Stevenson Jr. (1900-1965), politician and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, sums up the the importance of knowledge and the pursuit thereof. If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us. The free mind is not a barking dog, to be tethered on a ten-foot chain. A common question I have been asked lately is where to come up with speech topics, and how to develop preassigned topics. Just as a building needs a wide base for stability, so does a speaker need a wide base of knowledge to draw from. 3. The great importance of knowledge. A successful speaker must have a wide base of information to draw from. Why is this so important? Many think that just a thorough knowledge of your topic is enough. That would be fine if you want to put your audience to sleep with a recitation of facts and figures. One of the hallmarks of an effective speaker is flexibility. How better to keep interest than with a bevy of anecdotes, examples, and quotes at the ready to help you illustrate your points. Of course, this is where reading your audience again comes into play. Will they relate better to personal stories, or examples from history or literature? The more information you have on a wide variety of topics, the better you can adjust your presentation to fit the audience. In speaking, as in many areas of life, knowledge is power. Perhaps Bertrand Russell (British author) said it best, "There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." (But then it really isn't useless, now is it?) Happy speaking! |
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