It was about 5am. My mom came into the room and woke me up.
“It’s time to practice,” she said.
Ugh! I threw my legs over the side of the bed and sat there for a moment gathering myself. Then I stretched, yawned and shuffled over to the closet.
“Oh yeah, forgot to pray,” I thought as I shuffled back towards the bed.
After completing morning necessities, I headed out to the living room where the piano sat. Knowing what I know now, it’s amazing that my brothers, my dad and even the upstairs neighbors weren’t upset with me for playing the piano that early in the morning. But, it was the time my mother and I had agreed on. I didn’t like it all that much. But I did it because I actually liked playing the piano.
So I practiced!
Some decades later, I was asked why I wasn’t speaking.
“What do you mean? I speak every day.”
They meant officially, as a public speaker.
The answer? Well, I hadn’t thought about it. But, now I was. So, what did I need to do? Find a way to practice. I could do it in my house…which would drive my wife crazy or I could find a more structured way.
I’d heard about Toastmasters. So, I found a club I liked and joined.
I DECIDED to become a better public speaker.
I DECIDED and I PRACTICED!
We often look for a set of concrete steps which could be applied to everyone and everything. We want the directions from the package numbered 1–5. We want a fool-proof list which, if executed, leaves no chance for error. We don’t want to fail because failure hurts.
But, achievement in any area begins with a decision.
“One day or Day One…you decide.”
Decide you want to become a better public speaker.
Decide you want to communicate more effectively.
Decide you want share ideas more confidently.
Then, decide you will do what it takes every day to make that thing happen.
Decide.
Plan.
Do it.
Evaluate it.
Do it again.
Evaluate again.
Do it again.
Keep repeating until you simply become unstoppable!
The journey is yours. Sure, someone else’s instructions exist. But, they won’t exactly fit your journey!
Decide! Push through the challenges! And “better” is yours.
Answered on Quora in response to the question, “How did you become a better public speaker?”
About The Author
My name is Robert Kennedy III. I’m a professional speaker and author. I speak and write mainly about leadership and communication. Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook.
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