This speech was a competition speech for 2007 International Speech Contest in March. It got me 1st runner-up for District 80 Division Z Area Z2. I received comments that my speech was inspiring, however, there were too many examples given. I should elaborate more on 2-3 examples and bring out my own story.

What do you think about my speech? I would like to listen to your sincere comment. Thank you!
** I would suggest you to leave one praise (so that I can be highly motivated! If you can’t find one point to praise, please try hard! I need motivation to drive me along my journey……) and one recommendation (for me to make a better speech in the future)

Speech Transcript
I wonder how many of you here have ever experienced these situations. When you saw someone speaking out confidently on a stage, you dreamed you were him. When you saw someone dancing gracefully on a dance floor, you dreamed you were him. When you saw someone singing beautifully in an auditorium, you dreamed you were him.

Good evening contest chair, ladies and gentlemen, if there’s an opportunity for you to fulfill your dream, are you going to GRAB IT?

One day, there’s an announcement from my company….. “Speak up!” Join Toastmasters Club to improve your communication skills. First year subscription fees will be fully sponsored by the company. Suddenly, I became the CEO of the company, talking to my employees during an annual meeting. I’m glad to announce to all of you, our total sales for year 2006 was $500 million dollars and, I can assure you all, the average bonus payout for this year is at least 6 months. ……I dreamed again… Indeed, it’s a very good opportunity to improve my communication skills, and I GRAB IT.

When this good opportunity appeared in front of us, I saw 4 types of reactions.
1st type – It’s a good opportunity indeed. But, I’m afraid I can’t make it. I was born as an introvert, I just can’t speak well. I think I would like to let go this opportunity. This type of people has no confident on himself. He always finds excuses to avoid facing new challenges. Before I joined toastmasters club, who knows that I will speak in front of you all, who knows that I’m now participating in International Speech Contest? Who knows? Never try, never know…… If you see a good opportunity, just GRAB IT!

2nd type – I have a friend called John who has joined Toastmasters Club for 3 months. He had given 2 speeches and yet he still speaks like an ordinary man without confident. And now, he has quitted the Toastmasters Club. I think the Toastmasters programme doesn’t suit everybody. Hey, wake up your mind. Flip through the Toastsmaters magazine, you will find so many DTMs are produced monthly because of this simple programme. Listen to the successful ones instead of the quitters. I admit that somebody may take longer time, somebody may take shorter time. But, as long as you don’t quit, you will be thoroughly benefited by the programme. You yourself have to try it whole-heartedly. What are you waiting for? GRAB IT!!

3rd type – I’m a busy man. I have no time at all. Come on, it’s only 3-4 hours per month. You have time to go shopping with your girl friend, you have time to go drinking with your friends, and you have no time to improve yourself? Throw away all the excuses and…. GRAB IT!!!

4th type — This programme is not bad. No harm trying and I have nothing to lose. I will try my best to follow the programme and I want to be a good speaker. I will grab any single opportunity to speak up!

See the differences?
Which type are you belonged to? I’m pretty sure that most of you here are belonged to the 4th type. If not, you won’t be sitting here. But how long do the drive, the motivation last in your mind? Can you still persist all the way after getting competent communicator award up to Distinguished Toastmasters award?

In real life, we tend to think too much before making a decision. A lot of time, a lot of things are very straight forward but we just like to complicate them. Think about the past, how many good opportunities that you’d missed out because of thinking too much, and now, you are regretting. Do you want to wait until one day that you tell your son. Son, this is my boss, a distinguished toastmaster. Last time we joined the company together as an engineer, and he took up an opportunity to join toastmasters club. Because of his fantastic communication and management skills, he was promoted to be my section manager. If….IF I joined toastmasters club during that time, I think now I’m his manager.

Here I would like to share with you all a true story. I work as an engineer under a senior engineer. He is a person who likes to make complaints. Complaining that the salary is very low, the boss is no good, the company is no good, this and that….. One day, I asked, since you have so much complaint, why are you still staying in this company? You are so experienced; you should be able to find a better opportunity. He kept quite for a minute and looked at me. I could see from his eyes, he’s full of regret. Who says I have no opportunity. You see this guy, our supplier. Last time he was an engineer too. After a few years, he went to start up his own company and invited me to join him. But, I rejected him. Now, he is driving a big car, staying in a condominium and living happily with his family. Me, every month I’m suffering in short of money. See that guy, we joined company almost the same period of time. After 3 years he left and joined another company. Now, he is the manager of that company and I’m still an engineer in this company. That company did offer me a job last time but I rejected. Now, I’m already 45 years old with 4 kids. What can I do? I can’t start up my own business, I have no capital at all. I can’t change a new job, as I totally not dare to try new challenge. How if I fail, who’s going to feed my kids? I think I rather stay in the current job forever…..It’s a safe and stable job. How come this kind of thing will happen to an experienced and aggressive engineer? It’s all because of he didn’t treasure the opportunities in front of him.

Friends, do you want this kind of life? At the end of the day, sitting down at a corner and think of how many opportunities that you’ve missed out and filled your heart with all the regrets? I don’t want this kind of life. Come on everybody, please treasure all the good opportunities that come to you and GRAB IT!!