Chapter 88 Use your passion to ignite the atmosphere of the scene

I don’t know if you’ve noticed: In many successful speeches, it’s the speaker’s passion that makes the difference.As long as the speaker maintains a strong energy, the atmosphere of the scene will always be ignited, and it will become very attractive and appealing.Therefore, when I recruit speakers and instructors for speech classes, I first ask them to be full of energy, and other virtues such as liveliness and enthusiasm are also required.This is because people are always attracted to energetic speakers and like to gather around them, just like hungry birds always like to gather in autumn wheat fields to find food.

So, do you want to be this dynamic speaker too?Maybe you can't wait to know how to do it.Below I will tell you these three secrets to success, which will help you radiate your enthusiasm and passion, and firmly hold the attention of your audience. I have also repeatedly emphasized earlier that it is very important to have a deep feeling for the topic of your speech.If you don't have a particular preference for the topic of your talk, don't try to convince your audience.why?The reason is simple, if you have practical contact and experience with this topic, and you are full of enthusiasm for it, or if you have already thought deeply about it and have your own concerns, then you will be full of enthusiasm, and you will not worry about lack of enthusiasm in the speech up.

I still remember a speech more than 20 years ago. The persuasive force formed by the speaker's enthusiasm is still vividly presented before my eyes. I think there is no speech more exciting than it.I have heard many convincing speeches, but this one, which I have dubbed "Orchids and Hickory Ash," stands alone as an excellent example of the triumph of sheer enthusiasm over common sense. That was the case with that speech.A very good salesman of a well-known New York sales company made the counterintuitive point that he had been able to make "orchids" grow without either flower seeds or grass roots.Because he once sprinkled hickory ashes on a freshly plowed field, and orchids came up!So he was convinced that hickory ash—and only hickory ash—was the cause of the orchid grass.

In commenting, I gently pointed out to him that if his extraordinary discovery were true, he would become rich overnight, because orchid seeds are very valuable, and this discovery would make him the first in the history of mankind. A brilliant scientist.But in fact, no one has accomplished or been able to accomplish the miracle of growing life from inorganic matter. The error was so obvious that it was not worth refuting, so I calmly told him this.Other students also viewed this issue in the same way, but he was the only one who disagreed.Without even thinking about it, he stood up and told me that he was absolutely right.He was almost unbelievably enthusiastic about what he had discovered, exclaimed that he was only stating his own experience, and then he went on, expanding on what he had said, and giving us more The data provided more evidence.We see utter sincerity in his voice.

I had to tell him again that he couldn't be right, and that there was zero chance of that.But he immediately stood up again and said he would bet me $5 and put the matter to the Department of Agriculture. What do you think changed at this time?Several students actually began to believe his discovery, and many others began to be unsure of their own judgment.I believe that if there is a vote, more than half of the people may not agree with me.I asked those who had changed their minds why they had changed their original views, and they unanimously said that the speaker's enthusiasm and conviction had changed their views and made them question their common sense.

So, I had no choice but to write a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture.I told them that I was ashamed to ask them such childish questions.In the end they confirmed my answer, saying that it was impossible to grow orchids or anything else out of hickory ash without sowing seeds.They wrote back that they had received another letter of the same kind, and that the salesman had really believed in his own discovery and had written a letter to the Department of Agriculture as well. This incident gave me a very important insight: if the speaker really believes in something and talks about it with enthusiasm, he can make people believe that even if you claim that you can grow orchids from dust and ashes, you can grow orchids. It doesn't matter.In this case, if what we have summarized and sorted out is correct common sense and truth, how convincing it would be!

A speaker will almost always doubt that the topic he has chosen will hold the interest of his audience.In fact, the way to get people interested in the topic of your speech is very simple: just arouse your own enthusiasm for the topic, and you will not worry about not arousing people's interest. Percy Huating once gave a heartfelt warning to salesmen that they must understand what they are selling.He said this: "The more you know about a good product, the more enthusiastic you will be about it." In fact, this principle applies not only to sales, but also to speeches-knowledge about the topic we are going to speak The deeper you go, the more passionate you will be about them.

The more clearly you describe how you feel, the more vividly you will be able to express your inner thoughts and feelings.You can tell as a bystander, but if you have some kind of personal feeling about this matter, this feeling will make your talk more clear and expressive.However, speaking in the third person will not leave a deep impression on the audience. When speaking in public, you can show your enthusiasm and interest by the amount of enthusiasm you pour into the conversation.Never hold yourself back, and don't put a valve on your true and touching enthusiasm.Let your audience know how passionate you are about the subject you're talking about, and your attention will be drawn to you.

Making the audience feel your desire to talk about it can do wonders for you, even if it's fake.The audience is always easily infected by the enthusiasm in your heart.Realize that mobilizing the emotions of your audience is entirely up to you.So when you step up to the podium, do it with an air of hope, not like a prisoner on the gallows. Before your speech, you can take another deep breath.Instead of leaning on the desk, lift your head and jaw, and tell yourself, "I'm going to say something of value to the audience right now." At this prompt, every part of your body should clearly let them know at this point.Like Professor William James said, to act like that, you have to imagine yourself as powerful.

Dunard and Eleanor Laird describe these actions as "warm-up reactions."This principle applies in any situation that calls for telepathy.In their book, "The Technique of Effective Memory", President Roosevelt is cited as an example, saying that he "lived and lived his life happily, full of joy, vitality, collision and enthusiasm. These are his characteristics. He Always full of intense interest in everything you have to deal with, forgetting yourself, or pretending to be like this."Teddy Roosevelt also articulated William James's philosophy this way: "Be enthusiastic, and you will be enthusiastic in everything you do." In conclusion, keep this in mind: if you show enthusiasm, you will feel enthusiastic.