Toastmasters speech no.5: Mind over moves

By Andrew | Published: January 29, 2010

I’ve just completed my fifth Toastmasters speech. It feels good to be halfway through my Competent Communicator manual. I need to keep up the momentum if I am to achieve my new year’s resolution of completing the manual. The objective of this speech project was “body language”. I chose martial arts as the topic as it provided so much scope to explore the objective in an interesting direction.

(Watch this video [6:11] on Vimeo).

The Delivery

By the time it was my turn to speak I was pumped with adrenaline. It was the first time in a while that I have felt myself shaking while onstage. During the speech I raised my arm and held it still. When I looked at my fingers I could see them quivering. I was going to keep it raised for much longer, but I was too scared the audience would see the shaking. Watching the video it really isn’t noticable. This remind’s me of Craig Valentine’s observation that any problem you have on stage is magnified ten times in your own mind, and chances are the audience won’t even notice.

I forgot a joke close to the beginning, and I had an unintentionally long pause towards the end. But overall the audience seemed to enjoy themselves and the feedback was positive. It goes to show that audiences is willing to forgive occasional errors, as long as the overall content and structure are sound.

Feedback

The most common recomendation I received was that the ending was too abrupt. I completely agree. Usually I like to end my speeches by summarising the message of the speech. Unfortunately the “message” was very weak, having been completely contrived to allow me to do the crane from the Karatie Kid. If I had to rewrite the ending I would proably try and make it more applicable to the audience by throwing in the word “you” and asking a rhetorical question. Don’t you think that would be a good idea?

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New Years Resolutions 2010

By Andrew | Published: January 14, 2010

I’ve set myself some goals for this year. And to force me to stick to them I’ve decided to publish them here for all to see.

1. Complete the Toastmasters International Competent Communicator Award

Having completed four speeches I still have six speeches to go. This means delivering a speech every two months.

2. Perform a five minute  stand up comedy set

This is blatantly stolen from Tom Elliott’s 2009 resolutions. It’s a good goal as it 1. stretches comfort zones 2. gives me an opportunity to speak outside of Toastmasters 3. Good blog fodder. I’ve already started on this resolution by signing up for a stand up comedy course.

3. Go on a proper holiday

Probably the easiest goal to achieve, but somehow failed to do it last year. I’ve got 30 days annual leave to use before September, so best get cracking on this one.

4. Make £100 outside of work

One of the biggest barriers entrepreneurship is getting started. Once you’ve figured out how to make a small amount of money, you can probably work out how to make more. In the current climate of recession and unemployment having a single source of income is an uncomfortable situation to be in. This resolution is about finding a way of diversifying my income. The £100 must come from somewhere other than my day job.

5. Start investing

Keeping all your savings in cash probably means it’s not performing as well as it could. I’m keen to start investing in some basic index funds, such as the FTSE all share fund. This resolution is about breaking through the inertia and getting something set up.

6. Read Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R Hofstadter

Last year I tried to read fifty-two books. I didn’t succeed. I managed thirty-eight. One of the side effects of trying to read a lot of books is that I avoided the thick ones. This year I’ve decided not to worry about book count, and read some larger books. GEB is an epic tome that I’ve been meaning to read for ages.

I may review these resolutions throughout the year. If I completely lose enthusiasm for something there’s no sense in carrying on.

Happy new year everyone!

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Stand up comedy course: Week 1

By Andrew | Published: January 13, 2010

I have signed up to an eight week stand up comedy course at the Mad House comedy club in San Diego. We will meet once a week for seven weeks to write and rehearse our routines, then on the eighth week we will perform at a real comedy club. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, mainly after seeing my university buddy Tom Elliott explode onto the London open-mic scene in 2009.

I intend to document my progress on this blog, and I may even post a video of my performance… if people laugh.

The first meeting was Monday night. Our instructor, Joe Charles, is working stand up comedian with ten years experience. He’s a funny guy and was nice enough to give me a lift home afterwards (not being able to drive in San Diego is a pain in the ass). Check out this clip of him:

(Click here to see this 1:02 video on YouTube)

Fear of Public Speaking

The class kicked off with introductions from the the teacher and students. Everyone in the group has some speaking/performance experience. Joe stated that this would be helpful as public speaking is a common fear, which we had all taken steps to overcome. He described how most people’s desire not to stick out from the crowd is an evolutionary trait: if you stay in the middle of the pack, you remain safe while the old and the weak get picked off by predators. Today it is those who regularly step outside their comfort zones who are successful.

No Secrets

2% of stand up comedy is about being funny. The rest is networking and taking years to hone your skills. There are no secrets, only hard work.

Your Character

You stage persona will probably be an invented character or an exaggerated version of yourself. Joe describe his persona as “me at a higher decibel” i.e. true stories, true feelings and true vulnerabilities, but exaggerated and embellished for comic effect.

The Rules

Joe’s three rules for stand up comedy:

  1. Don’t steal material
  2. Don’t run the light - If you go over time there’s less time for the other comics.
  3. Over tip the wait staff - Staff can influence the management of the club. If a last minute slot becomes available a waitress may be able to sway things your way, so it’s good to have them on your side.

Shopping List

  • Voice recorder - To review performances. What was that funny improvised line? Did things really go as badly as you remember?
  • Index Cards - For organising routines
  • Book: Step by Step to Stand-up comedy by Greg Dean (amazon US UK)
  • Pocket notepad and pen - Carry a notepad and pen everywhere. Jot down your ideas, otherwise they will vanish forever.

And Finally

Joe made lots of interesting points about stage use, mic technique and writing. I’m looking forward to discussing these topics in more detail as I gain more experience.

Our homework for next week’s class it to create four lists containing our top ten  loves, hates, fears and embarrassments, then explore five of these items with a detailed mind map. Tune in next week to see how I got on.

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Christmas presents for the discerning speaker

By Andrew | Published: December 17, 2009

Flip HD Ultra

I just picked one of these up for myself a couple of weeks ago. It’s awesome. I used it to record my latest Toastmasters speech. It is the most easy to use video camera I have ever seen. Turn it on, press the big red button to record, press the big red button to stop, then use the integrated usb connector to plug it into your computer and upload to YouTube.

Watching yourself on video is an extremely efficient and humbling way of getting feedback. I plan to take this with me to any future speaking engagements and find a volunteer to film me or use the integrated tripod mount.

You can’t go wrong for $149.99 in the US, or £119.10 in rip-off Britain.

Moleskine notepad

You should always have a notepad handy to jot down your ideas. Ideas spring into existence at the most inopportune times and vanish forever unless you record them. Big ideas and small refinements should all be jotted down immediately. Read about the unconventional way Roald Dhal recorded his ideas.

I carry a notepad from the stationary cupboard at my office. But if you want to look really cool you’ll get yourself a Moleskine notepad. The notepad of choice for Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde.

Teach Yourself Stand-up comedy by Logan Murray

I reviewed this book earlier in the year. It is one of the better books on comedy and public speaking that I have read. Most books on comedy seem to have been written by American comedians from the 1980s, so it’s refreshing to find one with a British perspective. Logan Murray has coached many successful comedians (including the hilarious We Are Klang) so you can be sure his techniques work.

Buy it on on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com.

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!

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Toastmasters speech no.4: We’re all going on a summer holiday

By Andrew | Published: December 14, 2009

( Click here to see the 6:30 video on Vimeo)

It feels good to get another speech out of the way. I delivered this speech at Toastmasters of the Cove in La Jolla, California, my local club while I’m working in the US.

You may have noticed that I touch elbows with the toastmaster at the beginning and end of the speech rather than shaking hands. This is the club’s cold and flu prevention strategy, not a cool east cost greeting.

The Toastmasters Competent Communicator Speech number 4 is all about “how to say it” so the objectives focus on choosing the right words, creating vivid imagery and using rhetorical devices.

I have been sitting on this speech for quite some time. I wrote it a few months ago and had my mentor at London Cardinals critique it. I made minor changes to adapt it for an American audience, which mainly involved being more precise about European locations.

Feedback

I had a good evaluation from the club’s Vice President of Education. She liked my “meticulous” delivery and use of language. She pointed out that I could have tailored it further to an American audience, perhaps by making comparisons with places in the US. This point also arose in the feedback slips with the suggestion I should have used “candy” rather than “sweet”.

After watching the video I felt that I should have been pausing longer. A few times I talk over people’s laughter which prevents it gathering  momentum. Furthermore, some of the transitions feel slightly rushed. In rehearsal I was taking almost seven minutes, but on the night I didn’t even hit the yellow light.

I was happy with this speech and I enjoyed delivering it. It was interesting to present it to a less familiar audience.

Come on speech number five!

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Settling in to the Schwarzenegger state

By Andrew | Published: November 30, 2009

I’ve been in San Diego for six weeks and I’m beginning to settle in.

I thought America would be an easy country to get used to, after all it’s English speaking (sort of) and we’re used to American quirks from films and TV. But there are plenty of things to remind me that I’m not in the UK anymore.

The most obvious difference is television. Programs are interrupted every five minutes with adverts for local car-dealerships or prescription drugs replete with side effects. They show better films, but the swearing, violence and nudity is dubbed, cut or carelessly blurred out. At the weekend I watched a clean version Goodfellas with no swearing whatsoever.

I expected better from California, the state that produces most of the world’s movies and is governed by a movie star.

But I am please to be living in Arnie’s state. I have a profound admiration for him. He has had successful careers in bodybuilding, acting, and politics. Success in one of those might be considered luck, but he got there three times. Yes, his accumulated fame and wealth will have helped his transitions. But that can only take you so far.

Arnie didn’t fall into any of his careers by chance. He worked hard for them. Nothing demonstrates this more than his body building training regime that was so intense it would often make him vomit.

He has overcome obvious obstacles. Consider his acting career. He can barely act and has a thick Austrian accent. Some people might consider these characteristics as unsuitable for most leading man roles. But his movies show that doesn’t matter. Most of his films simply ignore his accent. In Terminator II we see that the 800 Series Terminator can talk in any accent he wants (clip below). He chooses to conduct his mission with a thick Austrian accent.

(Click here to see this 1:35 video clip on youtube)

Arnie is one of the most recognisable people in the world. He has stayed famous for the last twenty years while countless others have risen to fame then fallen back into obscurity. He has a lot of comedy value, but beneath that I believe that Arnie’s repeated success is a result of extreme ambition and self-motivation.

In sports, you learn competition means go after it, win it. And not to let anything else interfere. It’s something you learn, and it sticks with you. I consider myself an expert in looking into a particular idea or goal and then going after it without anything else in mind… It’s always the same kind of thing. You pick a goal, and then you just go after it, accomplish it, and get satisfaction out of that. - Arnold Schwarzenegger (via WikiQuote)

Hasta la vista, baby

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Table topics about Newspapers

By Andrew | Published: November 20, 2009

I was table topics master at my new San Diego based Toastmasters club last night.

The theme of the night was newspapers. The club makes an effort to give meetings a coherent theme. The word of the day, the table topics and the toastmaster’s introductions will all be linked by a topic chosen by the toastmaster. Last night’s theme even linked in with a speech (actually a brainstorming session project). This allowed for smooth transitions throughout the meeting, but meant I didn’t have free-rein to come up with a really difficult topic.

I tried to make sure each question went in a unique direction to really force people to think on their feet. I also called on people rather than asking for a volunteers after the question has been read out. I was told I got hearts racing!

I based most of my questions on quotes found here.

  1. The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440. It had a revelotionary effect around the world, and has been described as one of the greatest inventions of all time. What invention that you think has, or will change the world?
  2. Gore Vidal said “Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half”. Why do so few people read the news?
  3. All I see on the front cover of newspapers and magazines are paparatzi pictures of Lindsay Lohan and Angelina Jolie. Do you think celebrities have a right to privacy?
  4. The New York Times Motto is All the news that’s fit to print. If you were the editor of the New York Times what kind of news would you consider unfit to print?
  5. If you read a newspaper reguarly you use three trees worth of paper a year; 30% of which ends up in landfill. What steps are you taking to be more environmentally friendly?
  6. Steven Colbert said “A newspaper is a blog that leaves ink on your hands”. Do you think newspapers have more credibility that blogs?
  7. Rupert Murdoch said “There is so much media now with the Internet and people, and so easy and so cheap to start a newspaper or start a magazine, there’s just millions of voices and people want to be heard.” If you started your own newspaper or magazine, what would you write about?
  8. A weekday newspaper costs around 75c. Is it worth paying for newspapers when you can get most things on the internet for free?
  9. Thomas Jefferson said “Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in the newspaper”. Do you think Americans are exposed to too much advertising?
  10. George Orwell said “Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper”. Tell us about an event that you thought was incorrectly reported.
  11. Richard Brinsley Sheridan said “[Newspapers are] villanous, licentious, abominable, infernal - Not that I ever read them! No, I make it a rule never to look into a newspaper”. How can we improve the reputatuion of newspapers?
  12. Mark Twain said “If you don’t read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed.” How much do you trust what journalists say?
  13. In 1948 The Chicago Tribune famously reported the wrong election winner running the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman”. Tell us about a time when you made a mistake.

Everyone who participated did very well. The best table topic ribbon was awarded to the person who talked about improving science reporting (question 7).

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Guest Post: Elevator Pitches at Cornell

By Alex | Published: November 2, 2009

Thanks to Alex Guite for this guest post. You should follow Alex on twitter here.

Air conditioning, super glue and pacemakers have at least two things in common. They were game changing, pioneering inventions. And each one of them was the idea of a Cornell University graduate. So it was with both hands that I seized the opportunity to listen as current students pitch their new business ideas at Cornell’s annual Elevator Pitch competition.

Pressing the right buttons

Bumping into a potential investor, pitching an idea and securing finance between the foyer and the fiftieth floor may or may not be a routine part of business. Still, the ability to explain an idea and why it’s exciting in under a minute is a skill which matters, whatever your job. Your workplace doesn’t even need an elevator for it to be useful. Indeed, unless you can summarise an idea you don’t really understand it.

Get their attention

There were about 20 contestants last Wednesday. Like any public speaking event with so many speakers, the ones which stick in my mind grabbed my attention early. Usually, it was a joke or turn of phrase. If they were funny or interesting it gave me a reason to listen: even if the idea didn’t turn out to be so hot, at least it was entertaining*.

Admittedly, it’s unlikely that the typical CEO receives 20 pitches each time they get into an elevator. Great, so it doesn’t really mater if my pitch doesn’t stand out because I’m the only one pitching? Right? Clearly not: your pitch is competing with every other event and piece of information your target will hear that day.

A logical lift

A lot of thought goes into designing the algorithms which despatch a choice of elevators to passengers on different floors, all with their own destination floor in mind, in the shortest possible time. Yet, as far as any one passenger is concerned, their elevator journey is a simple affair.

So it was with the best elevator pitches: they were simple and just made sense. That’s not to say the ideas weren’t complicated. Clearly, a lot of preparation had gone into the simplest pitches, even if the conversational and informal tone of some speakers successfully concealed it.

The most popular structure, with varying degrees of emphasis on each section, was to outline a problem, introduce their solution and close by explaining how they planned to build a profitable business around their idea. It might not be the most imaginative structure, but it makes sense in 60 seconds.

Easy on the drama

One presenter got my attention from the moment he got to the stage. “Are you feeling what I’m feeling?” he roared. “Are you seeking what I’m seeking?” he bellowed. There was not let up: it was the most passionate and dramatic pitch of the night. To finish it off, he threw his wallet to the floor and urged that today he wasn’t pitching for our cash, he was pitching for our participation. It was brilliant stuff. Except, I have no idea what the pitch was about. Passion in a pitch is clearly a good thing, until it completely eclipses the content.

Be brave

The speaker who made the biggest impression on me might not think he had such a great night. He started strong, but soon got his lines so muddled he decided to start again. This time he barely got past his opening. He tried again. He blanked almost immediately. There was nothing for it: he left the stage and walked straight out the auditorium.

Less than an hour later he was back on stage. Opening with a joke about getting in the wrong elevator last time, he went on to make a confident and fluent pitch. I thought coming back took real guts. He got the biggest round of applause of the night and well deserved it was too.

I have no doubt that whether it’s to angel investors in their office or a busy executive in a crowded elevator, delivering a great pitch would take similar guts in real life (and doubly so if you’re claustrophobic).

* For the record, there were no dud ideas last night. I had many “damn, I wish I’d thought of that” moments.

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New Naked Speaker headquarters: San Diego

By Andrew | Published: October 30, 2009

I’ve moved. From London to California. The Golden State. Specifically San Diego, famous for..um? For the last two weeks I’ve been occupying myself with my new job and whistling the theme from the O.C.

I’ve been struck by the numerous differences between the US and the UK. Especially the food. All the bread is sweet and chewy and it is impossible to find cereal without added sugar. My trips to the supermarket last well over an hour as I study the ingredients searching for products without “high fructose corn syrup” or chemicals I can’t pronounce. Even milk has extra ingredients. Soy protein, condensed Milk, vitamin D. Don’t we get Vitamin D from sunshine? Surely Californians getting enough of that already!

I went to a local Toastmasters club last week. The grammarian let on that the presence of a “master of the English language” was intimidating, but I was still greeted with the outpouring of friendship I have grown to expect from Toastmasters.

I’m going back tonight for a Halloween themed meeting. Members have been told to dress up, with special instructions for the girls: “this is the one time of year when you’re allowed to be slutty!”. Hopefully this US/UK difference will be slightly easier to swallow.

Now that I am settled I hope to start regularly posting again. Watch this space!

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How to hand over your slides

By Andrew | Published: October 1, 2009

Two weeks ago my parents hosted a reunion for their medical school class. In addition to the usual black-tie meal (read “piss-up”), members of the class of ‘79 were invited to deliver short talks. Twenty volunteers were given ten minutes each to speak about whatever they wanted.

I was recruited as tech-support which involved collecting PowerPoint slides, establishing Skype video calls with absent alumni, and a generally helping-out behind the scenes.

Overall things went smoothly. But I have a new appreciation for people who perform similar roles at conferences. Collecting and queuing up a few slides was surprisingly time consuming.

Here are my top tips to make the tech-support’s life (and your life) easier:

Use an old version of PowerPoint

Or have a backup plan if the presentation computer doesn’t have the most up-to-date software.

Expect your USB stick to get lost

Clearly label it. Delete your banking information and other confidential data. Don’t use an expensive stick or external hard drive. It WILL get misplaced.

Expect problems with embedded videos

Embedded video always leads to problems. Your video might require extra software to play or it might not have been properly embedded. Play it safe and bring along a copy of the original video. I had to use Any Video Converter make a video Mac-friendly.

E-mail the slides in advance

I know, I know. This last one is wishful thinking. But it will get you in the organiser’s good books.

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