It was 9th grade at Niu Valley Intermediate School where I took a course in public speaking. Somehow even at that tender age, I had a feeling that in the future, I would have a career needing the ability to speak.
I remember this course vividly and from the first day of class, I knew that this was going to be an enjoyable experience. Most of the students in the class seemed to be like me, ambitious, anxious, and eager to learn about speaking in public. We all had a lot in common, we all enjoyed talking.
Mid-way through the course as we learned about diction, pronunciation, smiles, speaking clearly, confidence, avoiding distractions with movement while speaking, and being presentable, we were given a big assignment. Our final exam was a 2-minute presentation on a subject of our choice. I was not sure what subject would be best for me and ultimately came up with an idea that surprised many, especially my teacher. I told her I wanted to tell some jokes and create some laughter. She was pleasantly surprised and encouraged me to proceed with this idea.
I was always fascinated by anyone who could make others laugh.
However, it dawned on me that I needed a lot of material to fill two minutes. Professional comedians have writers who create jokes, but I was all alone. It was a dilemma, but I really wanted to tell jokes and needed some help. I decided to turn to television to see what I could learn from real performers. I looked for various shows on television as they had various comedic acts with known comedians. Immersing myself in the comedic world on television, I learned a few jokes from one comedian and began to mimic his delivery. With what I learned on television, I created a monologue for about two minutes. The more I practiced, the more fun I had.
On the day I was to deliver my 2 minutes, I was surprised with my composure. Although there were some jitters, I felt good and confident about presenting in front of the class. When it was my turn, I stood up and delivered my 2 minutes to an audience that was forgiving and interested. The results were positive, they laughed and at the end applauded. This experience at a tender age gave me the confidence to speak in front of a group. As I began my career in sales, I realized quickly that the ability to speak properly and persuasively was tantamount to sales. Thus, while I honed my skills in sales, I also honed my skills in public speaking. I knew that being a comedian was probably not within reach, but I could use these skills in selling. When I told my father that I may want to be a comedian, he told me not to give up my daytime job.
Successful salespeople learn to face the prospect and present their product in a convincing way.
Learning public speaking taught me how to speak, how gather my thoughts, make a proper delivery, and engage with the prospect. It is hard to imagine a salesperson who cannot be descriptive or convincing with words. I have been fortunate in my sales career and that initial public speaking course was the beginning for me.
Comments