Chapter 94 Focused speech material

It's easy to get bored in a speech if you're always talking about abstract ideas or things.But if you talk about something human, it tends to keep the audience engrossed.Similarly, among the discussions in the streets and alleys and after dinner, it is human nature that attracts the most attention. I have given many presentations to school children in the United States and Canada.In practice, I quickly realized that if I was going to keep children engaged with what I was giving, I had to tell some character stories.As soon as I touched on some abstract idea or talked in general terms, the small audience chattered, scratched their heads, and fidgeted.

Once in Paris, I had a group of American businessmen give a talk on "How to Succeed".Most of them sang the praises of family virtues, much to the impatience of the audience.Recently, I overheard a lecture on the same topic by one of the nation's most eminent businessmen, who unfortunately made the same mistake.So are many club or traveling speakers. So, in classes like this, I tend to break off my speech and say something along the lines of: "We don't want to be in a position of being told, no one enjoys that. You should remember to make your speech arouse the audience's interest." Interest, otherwise, people will never care about what you say. At the same time, you should also keep in mind that the most interesting things in the world are rumors or stories that have been processed and beautified. So, you might as well tell us a story that you I know a story about two people—how one succeeded and the other failed. Such stories people are very happy to hear, and they are easy to remember and benefit from. Moreover, such stories Much simpler than those dry, abstract lectures."

It is gratifying that there is a student who speaks in this way.At the beginning, he also felt that the topic of "How to Succeed" was quite difficult, because he himself was not very interested in it, and he also thought it was difficult to arouse other people's excitement.But in the end, he came up with the idea of ​​telling the story of the characters, and brought the audience a story of two college classmates: One of the students is very frugal. Even if he buys a T-shirt, he has to choose it repeatedly in the shops in the town, comparing its price, laundering effect and durability, so as to guarantee every penny he spends. Most valuable spent.After graduating from engineering, he had a high position on himself, and he was unwilling to start from a low position. In the third year after leaving school, when his old classmates got together, he still maintained the habit of buying clothes , Moreover, always looking forward to the god of luck coming to him.Twenty-nine years later, the never-satisfied, always-mooded man was still accomplishing nothing.

And another student, whose achievements exceeded all expectations.This unusual young man was one of those mixed characters who endeared himself to all around him.Although he has great ambitions, he is down-to-earth and willing to start from small things. When he first entered the society, he would rather be a draftsman.However, in this ordinary position, he is actively looking for valuable opportunities.Finally, the opportunity arose: the National Fair was held in Buffalo.He knew his engineering knowledge would be useful there.So, he immediately quit his job in Philadelphia and came to Buffalo.With his likable personality, he soon befriended a politically influential figure in the area.The two then formed a partnership, entering into a commercial contract to jointly provide a variety of services to the telecommunications company.In the end, with his excellent working ability, he received a high salary and became a rich man and the main person in charge of the Western Union.

Here, we just choose the outline of this student's speech, but at the speech site, his language is full of wit and inspiration.Normally, this student would even frown when looking for materials for a three-minute speech, but this speech, before he knew it, more than half an hour had passed.And because it is so wonderful, to the audience, it seems like a moment.This speech was the cadet's first real victory. From this incident, each of us should benefit a lot.In fact, no matter how ordinary a speech is, if it is good at using interesting stories, it is also very attractive.In the speech, we should not demand to be comprehensive, but use specific examples to explain the issues to be explained in depth.This approach, in terms of engaging, will always be tried and tested.

It can be said that almost all magazine stories follow such a formula: let us like the hero or heroine in the story, clarify the strong desire of the hero and heroine, exaggerate the incomparable difficulty of realizing the wish, and show people The heroine struggles bravely for the realization of her wishes until their ideals are realized. Therefore, when we tell the audience how a person struggles in his work life, how he overcomes hardships and hardships, and finally succeeds, it will always make people happy and excited.A magazine editor once told me: People always like to hear the true story of someone's life.

If a man is constantly fighting and striving, as I am afraid most of the world is, then there is no doubt that the story about him, if properly told, must be extremely attractive.