Chasing a New Trophy

After the World Championship took place, and after a 10 week hiatus from Toastmasters, I was offered, and accepted a position as a Division Governor.

The person holding that position was starting his second consecutive year, and had been unable to replace himself. I couldn't commit to it and retain my eligibility should Erick Rainey been unable to compete. In addition, I was officially on sabbatical from Toastmasters - a mistake I rectified not too long ago

So now I'm on a new quest: to earn my DTM. I'm fully eligible after this term, once I put some finishing touches on a few leadership projects. Who knows, maybe I'll consider an LGM or LGET position (both will be open). I could go after my Accredited Speaker designation.

So many new possibilities...

Wrapping Up the 2009 Contest Season

A week ago I was riding the shuttle to the Oakland Airport Hilton, and about to enjoy the Region I Conference, with hopes still high that I might return to the World Championship this year.

A week later, I am in possession of a second place trophy, my third in 8 years, to go with my pair of first place trophies, and my lone overtime disqualification in 2005 (lucky for Lance).

I ended up giving an old speech - one that won the 2007 District 9 Contest and the 2008 District 15 contest. It was slightly tweaked, but not much. I am happy with the performance, except for one misstated line, and my connection was strong. Sitting down, I had a strong feeling I would not beat the speaker immediately preceding me, and was still waiting to hear from the 3 remaining.

Some second guessing always occurs. Did I go with the right speech? What if I hadn't spoken 5th, but last, as I have EVERY OTHER YEAR I went to Region? What if.....

But really, I accomplished the goal. In fact, I accomplished my PRIMARY goal, which would not have been accomplished had I won. As bizarre as this sounds, my goal in this contest was to enjoy the process, regardless of results. To weed out my hyper-competitiveness. Had I won the World Championship, what would I have proved?

By not winning, and not letting it drop me into depression, by enjoying the process and moving on, I have proved more to myself than the championship ever would have. Winning would have made me a slave to the trophy. Losing proves I control my choices and my destination.

Will I try again to win the World Championship? Yep. Not sure when. But it no longer owns me. Last year I said it. This year I've proved it.

The Day Before

Flying out this morning - heading out to airport in a few minutes.

Planning on enjoying the conference, and giving one of my favorite speeches.

I've done what I can do to this point this year - and now its time to throw the dice.

5 days til the Region I Toastmasters Conference

Wow. Still no speech. Too busy working on 'Go Ahead and Laugh: A Serious Guide to Speaking With Humor'. should finish it tonight, though, so that's good.

OK - not NO speech, just nothing completely fleshed out. I have always done this - I've even rewritten an entire speech the DAY OF the contest.

I can do this....!

7 Days Til Region

Which is, I suppose, a great excuse to post a picture of Seven of Nine, right?

I practiced one of my two speeches this morning at Pro Talk, the advanced club I am representing in the contest. Only 5 of us showed up, and the club is teetering on either extinction or expansion - and at the close of the meeting I was proposed as President for the 2009-2010 Toastmaster year. We'll see how it goes. I don't think the club in its current form is built for long-term success, but its up to the members.

I received strong feedback on what was a sub-par effort. The speech is the first one I've worked on, not the 'brilliant idea' speech which is still being ironed out as well. After giving this morning's speech, I am pretty confident it is going back in the file cabinet for other days - perhaps as part of a keynote.

I am left with the brilliant idea, which currently has a strong open, some good humor, and but little in the way of a transitional close, and actual close.

A transitional close being what links my story to the audience, an actual close being the call to action to end the speech.

While I know 7 days from right now I will have already spoken on the Region stage, I have a project even more important that must be finished in 28 hours - my next book: "Go Ahead and Laugh - A Serious Guide to Speaking With Humor". It'll be on sale Monday, so watch for it!

Finding a proper Rich Hopkins speech for Region...

I have been racking my brains for 6 1/2 weeks (and, frankly, longer) trying to come up with the right speech for the Region Contest next Saturday. While most people would be freaking out right now, and all my competitors probably locked in at least a week ago or more, I'm only now getting the ideas I want.

Now, I could easily go into next week with 'Any Old Speech'. A typical, rah rah, change your life, music of life, focus, balance, go for the gusto type speech. The crowd would enjoy it, I wouldn't embarrass myself, BUT...I probably wouldn't win.

What I've been waiting for is a "Rich Hopkins" speech. A speech that is uniquely me, espousing my values, coming from my life, a speech that NO ONE ELSE could give. And then give it with all the skills I've learned in 20 years of drama, Toastmasters, and sales.

Today...this morning in fact...it came to me. Nothing I haven't used before as separate pieces, but a new combination of ideas and events that can be crafted into the perfect storm. I've thought this before, of course. I've written, in my head at least, 5-6 different speeches, including a completely different one just YESTERDAY.

This is the one, though. It's got me excited. The adrenalin is flowing. And I believe it will be the one to give me my best shot at making it to one more round.

Stick around true believers!

20 Days til Region

The great idea I had has been shot down by a couple of folks. Doesn't mean its not a great idea though, it just means I'm not communicating it right. The question then becomes, do I take the time to say it differently, or go with a message I can be more clear about?

A Region Speech is a speech entity. It's more than a good speech, with strong delivery. It must be unique - unique in thought, unique in ability to reach the heart of the audience, in ADDITION to being well written and strongly delivered. The concept is crucial, beyond the stories, gestures, etc.

Of course a World Championship speech must be the same way - and coming up with two of those rarely comes easy....