Public Speaking Workshop 2010 - The Star, HSBC and English Speaking Union

http://the star.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/3/29/Sarawak/5950680&sec=Sarawak

This is my third year workshop with the Star, HSBC and English Speaking Union. Its organised as an annual event. SEGI College was the venue this year. Last three years it was at INTI. I was told that Star owns SEGI Group.

The format was different, more like reality show such as, 'so you think you can dance'  (now on TV) and 'the American Idol'.

1st day was the audition and the second day was the workshop. The audition was over a bit earlier than planned and I managed to go the International Education Fair to support our booth, though my schedule was over the previous day.

with the two other judges, me the chief..KIV (wait and see ..perhaps the sad thing to do..)

a small section of audience......our booth at the Educational Fair...Kevin is so busy .... 

Bits:
* Ist day I was very early and Second day I was bit late. I only blame the taxi driver.
* Impromtu topics were good.(true love, floods, Choices, Bollywood and more..) We were surprised with the way Joel spoke on flood..he related flood to anything that is overflowing in matter...so debating..he is a debater in school. Bollywood caught everyone's attention- a Chinese speaking on Bollywood with the facts and statistics..it was fun..
* The F & B was good especially the coffee....mhumm....
* The Hall was very small compared to ours.
* The staff at the canteen were friendly (customers service)
* A special vegetarian chicken (sweet and savor) was decorating my table..(so nice of the person)
* Umah, as usual planned everything very well..
* More yellow board - too many KIVs...
* Two of the contestants got red color..sad thing to do..But what to do lah...

Oh..I am done with the workshops one after another and few other events in one month...now shifting my mode...

Motivation without Motivation - A paradox..

Have you ever tried to motivate people when you yourself need motivation? It happened to me yesterday.

When Sunday and I planned for this week's toastmasters meeting, I decided to give a speech, last project in the manual. The objective is to motivate and inspire my audience. Well...Did I motivate?

There is too much pressure in the air. One after another.  Amidst of this, my routine. To add, I was wondering a topic for my 'Motivational Speech'. I summoned my front seat colleague and Mo for ideas. Mr Tay was more into philosophical mode and we couldn't help but ended up discussing about self and the other, known and the unknown. Mo was on Discipline. He insisted, discipline and values are lacking in today's world.  I liked both, but my mind refused to buy those. Meantime, I worked on few topics. Everything was vague. "The power of Self" my original plan, but was countered by Mr Tay, so I dropped. "Value of values" dropped again. Though the concept of both was fine, I couldn't rest on a single theme. It was time for the meeting.

The guests cum evaluators arrived the conference room.  Mr Dunstan was my speech evaluator. I was thinking (superb was I) of a topic until 5 minutes before the meeting. He looked at me with a smile. I got it, of course.

'Life is worth living', the debater in me asked, "why is it not worth living?" (later Mr Chan mentioned the same in his evaluation) but still, that's what popped up my mind when I wrote down the title.

Nothing much about the speech- it was ordinary than usual. I just had two points for 15 minutes(are you kidding?), and unusually  I took the stopwatch with me. It was 9 minutes when I exhausted my two points.Fast enough, I sensed, my subconscious mind was busy formulating ideas while the conscious mind was speaking.  I managed, and I knew I would. I reached 18 minutes.

Mr Dunstan Chan was very soft in his evaluation, as far as I could see. I know, he had a lot to say...  :)

• I have all the technicalities for a speaker but ........ I know, the fire, the punch was missing. 
• Public speaking is an extended conversation. I liked it, but I felt mine was an extended table topic. 
• It was more of a philosophical discourse - agreed. What to do sir, when everything fails, philosophize..(from a novel I read)  
• Vagueness...yeah..its reflection of the current state of mind. Sorry about it.

Mr Leslie commented that I have simplified my usage of English - localized. I realize. Lately, my thinking is impaired....

This evening, before I left, I received an honest feedback in the form of question- Sentha, you were not prepared yesterday, were you? I smiled. Yeah, I understand, its OK, it happens,  and a smile back .  

Should we motivate others when we ourselves need motivation? Yes and No. And I should use the tips that I mentioned in my speech- goals, choices and associating with the right people. 

I am resilient, by nature. I know I will get up. I just hope I don't take too long, else, it will be too late,(to some extend, its already) as I mentioned. There is something else I may need, which I left unsaid - Change.