this is the shining moment the pinnacle
of success in competitive speaking in
Toastmasters the second year in a row
I'm blessed to be back for the finals
that's gonna be a lot of newcomers on
stage for the first time except for
myself which would make me the favorite
but I don't want to be the favorite I'm
still the underdog I put all 100 percent
of myself into this I think you do have
to have that just focus and that vision
to get there and that's what it took for
me to get to where I am right now my
best is winning it's not coming in
second it's not coming in third it is
blowing this thing out of the window
this speech is not just mine it is
Chelsea's we woke up at five in the
morning we traveled to 50 different
clubs all around the state I was
speaking 11 times a week before this
contest and it wasn't ever me it was
always us
she was my coach the whole way this is
an exciting event nine of our most
talented Toastmasters are here to
compete for the world championship of
public speaking the finalists are a
little scatterbrained at the moment
they're very excited most of them are
probably pretty anxious as well I was a
very shy and nervous kid I was giving my
first presentation and I just froze and
I said from that day on I'm gonna find a
way to improve myself because I'm tired
of being that little kid and doesn't
speak up I know I can speak well in
public because I've been trained those
moments where you're actually nervous
and you're fearful well that's a friend
now it's not a stranger I am so excited
honestly I know that that might sound
crazy but I know that speech I have it
memorized
I have it staged it just all comes down
to now I want to go and give that speech
to 2,000 people let the speech contest
begin
our first contestant Andrew Nebo allow
me to introduce you to Henri Kneebone he
wrote his life story down in a journal
with a twist it was a poem one long poem
from start to finish and this from a man
we never went to school I'm now so far
beyond where I actually thought I'd get
to its gravy you know but now I wanted
and I really do
son this man is you his blood is your
blood real his story and know that he
suffered and prospered and used that to
give you courage scored pink why not use
the two most important words in the
English language
without these two tiny words our world
would not exist do you want to hear what
they are what if every great question
that has advanced civilization started
with what if Ronald E Melvin
it was the 1980s I was living in
Rochester Minnesota a hundred and ten
thousand people and three of color me
myself and I
Palani Appa Subramanyam there are
millions of people out there who can't
afford a single pair of shoes and yet
many of us who have more than 20 pairs
ladies fifty pairs you are still
complaining at this level
everyone knows the judging criteria so
to me I believe that I just look for who
is able to connect with the audience and
if you're able to actually take them on
a journey with you just like in a movie
then we've sealed the deal so why not
all of you take off your shoes right now
I don't want to be alone come on take it
off and tell yourself that these shoes
are designed for me appreciate how far
these shoes have carried you in life our
seventh contestant is Kenny ray Morgan
ladies and gentlemen what are you
running from today my focus now is not
on winning but connecting with my
audience and if I could do that
successfully I think winning will take
care of itself we should all he the wise
words a-one Mark Twain when he says do
that what you fear most and the death of
fear is certain Diane Parker the
greatest tragedy in life is not death
but living your life bound by traumatic
experiences from your past I will no
longer read what my past continues to
solve Ryan Avery I was finally able to
leave small-town Texas and I went to
college in Colorado and I met the girl
tall curly hair a tattoo or two
does this speech send a message and are
you gonna remember it a week from today
if you're gonna remember it a week from
today it's a great speech that's what
the judges are looking for for the
wedding my mom reminded me that Trust is
a must if I want this marriage to last I
am at the altar sweating in my wolf suit
and Chelsea is glowing in her white
dress Chelsea I promise
that concludes our speech contest
counters please collect the ballots
I have the winner amber not with me are
you already in third place still pink
in second place piranha ban Subramanyam
and a 2012 war champion of public
speaking
crying every
I didn't want to just go up and give a
speech I promised my mentor that I would
go and send a message that matters to my
heart and when I gave that I just felt
so good Ryan speech was excellent and I
tip my hat to it I really do there's
plenty well done I'm feeling a little
sting right now but that's okay that'll
wear off and I'm already thinking about
what I need to do to improve because one
of my lifetime goals is to win this
public speaking has given me the ability
to do things that I never would have
thought of doing before at 66 people are
telling you you down hill I'm just
starting
you