What was your first public speech?
Sometimes we have no idea which was our very first public speech we gave in life.
During our Writers is Athens weekly meetup last Tuesday, I talked about this diary and got several great ideas on how I could continue with it. I was vulnerable enough to admit that my initial idea of daily documentation was not working. Jonas suggested that I should at least commit to doing it once a week, religiously. We’ll see about that.
At some point, Dimitri suggested that I should not only focus on sharing about the wins but that I should share even my failures and how I overcame them, in order to inspire others. He mentioned for example that I could share a story of my first time to give a public speech. The challenge and how I later became good at it.
It is at this point I came to the realisation that almost all of us have given many public speeches before what we call our first public speech.
If you ever did a presentation in a classroom, that was a public speech.
If you ever introdcuced yourself in a family gathering, that was a public speech, and many others.
In those speeches, we may have not freaked out because we were on familiar grounds. It is all a different thing standing infront of strangers to say something.
In my book, “Be Good For Good” I give an account where I had to speak in a room full of strangers in a foreign land. It may appear as if it was my first ever speech but it wasn’t.
Here is chapter one of the book where I tell that story.
1
Yes you can
It was around midday during the Spring of 2011 on a Thursday.
I found myself walking through the doors of the prestigious Athens Hilton hotel and into Olympia hall. One of their conference rooms. I had been invited to attend a book launch by a prominent public figure. Frankly speaking, it had never occurred to me before that I, a humble African village boy, would one day go places. Prestigious places like the Hilton. Nevertheless, here I was in Europe, and doing just that. Going places.
As I walked through those doors, I couldn’t help imagining what a big difference exists among people around the world. The haves and have nots. The highly privileged and the expansive disadvantaged population. The big gap that many have to work across between their big dreams and their initial situation or position. I have to admit that I felt a little uneasy walking amidst some hundreds of people being the only dark skinned person around. You can never go unnoticed. At times you’ll come across some unsettling stare. I ignored this though. However, from the main entrance, through the lobby and into the big room, it felt like eternity. It wasn’t an easy walk for me.
Walking cautiously with calculated steps, I went to about the centre of the room. I moved my eyes back and forth looking for a place to sit in that densely packed place. I surely was a few minutes late. Luckily, I identified an empty chair between a middle aged man and a young lady. I paved my way through, avoiding the legs of those who were already seated until I came to where the seat was. After asking the man whether the seat was reserved for anyone, he answered in the negative. I thanked him and comfortably sat down without saying anything more. As the Greeks would say, sitting at the center of that big crowd, I looked like a fly in a bowl of milk.
It took a few minutes before the program of the day kicked off. It did not start with what I had witnessed in several other events before. Events where we’d have some entertainment like a band playing or some dancing groups who warm up the event. In this instance, the master of ceremony just stood up and introduced the first speaker, who was given the microphone to say a few words. Several guests had been invited to give speeches along with the author. About five of them. They rose one by one and said whatever they'd prepared to say. Some talked about the author, others about current affairs or themselves but they would also mention the book that we had all come to launch.
After the guest speakers had spoken, the author rose and gave a lengthy speech, accompanied by a presentation and some videos. The book had something to do with the growth of the developing and underdeveloped countries. After the author was through with the presentation, it was now the time for the audience to make comments or even ask questions.
One after the other, members of the audience raised their hands and once given permission, rose up and spoke. And just like the invited speakers, cameras kept flashing and rolling for them.
I still do not know what crossed my mind at this point. I somehow found myself raising my hand up to speak. Within a minute of raising my hand, the microphone was brought to me. I took it and was ready to speak. I believed I could.
You see, I grew up hearing encouraging words from others. Telling me of the potential I have and that I should live up to it. Words are important. Choose them wisely and especially as you speak to people who look up to you in any way. They may change a life positively if they are positive.
I also have often read books and articles throughout my life that focus on you as an individual playing a significant part in this creation. Encouraging one to do great things in life because you can. Going out of your comfort zone because that’s where success awaits. One of the poems that greatly influenced me earlier on in life is called “The Equipment” by Edgar Guest. The first stanza goes like this:
Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You've all that the greatest of men have had,
Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,
And a brain to use if you would be wise.
With this equipment they all began,
So start for the top and say "I can."
So, as I took that microphone, I believed that I could. And I did it.
I stood up and spoke for about two minutes. I congratulated the author on the achievement, thanked her for initiatives she had taken in helping people in some of the developing countries and also wished her well in all her future endeavours. Then I handed back the microphone and slowly sat down.
Upon my body getting into sitting position, suddenly, I felt some very deep pain in my chest. For a minute, I thought I was dying. I didn’t move an inch for another five minutes. I think someone behind me tapped my shoulder twice, to congratulate me. The man sitting beside me said bravo. No one noted that inside me I was in pain. I didn’t show it. The pain of tension on my chest from an inward fear of speaking in public.
The session ended a few minutes later. The pain had gone as quickly as it had come. I walked out as cautiously as I had walked in and went back home.
That experience was life changing. It was scary and yet very inspiring. Going out of that place, one of the things that it did to me is, it stirred in me a desire to learn more about public speaking. How to speak with confidence and effectively. How to deal with stage fright. I took a course and joined a public speaking club to learn, practice and perfect the art. Am glad I did.
In the club, I met with other speakers that were walking the same path as me. We would encourage each other and also correct one another. Learning and practice are important.
It is highly recommended that in every area of life you want to achieve something, find a way to bond with people who have already achieved it or at the very least with those who are making a constant determined effort to achieve it. That’s what I did.
As I shared my personal stories and experiences in life, people would really like them and want to hear more. From just a speech, some told me that I had changed their perspective on life, inspired them to live right and achieve more. By and by, I started being invited to places for my motivational speeches. Company events, schools, colleges and even churches.
After almost every speech, the audience would always want to have a chat with me. Apart from congratulating me, I would also receive several questions which I would answer back according to my knowledge or experience.
One of the questions that has been common in those instances is this;
“Anthony, how can I be an overall good person?”
Good question.
The answer could be a simple one,
“By committing to thinking only good thoughts, speaking good words and dedicated to good actions every single day.”
Sometimes that could just be enough. At other times, someone could ask for clarification.
Stressing on goodness in different areas of life, If a person would be specific on issues that prompted him to ask the above question, I would further share a story that would demonstrate or teach him a principle on goodness. Stories that I would have heard and some of the experiences that I personally have had throughout my life.
For sure, I’ve heard and experienced quite many of them. It is some of these that I now share.
Let me tell you where it all began.
Remember;
Commit to thinking only good thoughts, speaking good words and be dedicated to good actions every single day. Yes you can.
