TOASTMASTERS: Speech #4

Today, I gave my fourth speech from the Toastmasters Competent Communicator manual. The speech was mapped to Project #2 Organize Your Speech.

A couple weeks ago, I was optimistic and giddy about having reserved my speaking spot but for the last 5 days I've been very anxious, changing my topic every 15 minutes, second-guessing, and avoiding.

On Monday, I was trying to weasel my way out of speaking but my mentors kept on me. I sort-of had a topic but hadn't fleshed it out, and last night last night, I was going apply some synergy and create my first draft on my blog -- since I spend a lot of time writing my blog anyways. But I ended up reverting to my "last-resort" procrastinating tactic: I went to bed early.

That night I had a nightmare about Toastmasters. I dreamt that I froze and just had to sit back down. I just had too much time to think about my speech and just needed to relax.

Now, this morning, I knew that there was not turning back... I was going to give a speech. When asked by the TMOD for the title of the speech, I told her "Speech #4" - I chose it in case I wanted to change topics at the last moment, but I didn't say that.

Anyways, so I spoke. I had planned to sacrifice eye-contact if it meant that I'd stick to "my plan of speech", but ended up giving good eye-contact and speaking faster, going in order but out of order, la la la. Anyways, I pushed through.

I was glad that it was over and honestly think that it was the best that I could've done at the time. It's another speech under my belt.

My evaluator was pretty easy on me. He mentioned my nervousness and reassured me that I can relax -- I'm with friends and people who are there to be supportive. He mentioned how he enjoyed how the speech helped them learn more about me (oh, I spoke about why I decided not to renew my Disney Annual Pass) and that people do want to hear what I have to say.

Anyways, I shouldn't wait too long before my next speech but also not give myself too much warning, otherwise I'd procrastinate and stress out like with this one. I need to solidify my topic earlier on, produce a few drafts, then practice practice.

That's it. Woo.