Toastmaster Secrets…Yup…if there was something that no one told you about what they did…. well it qualifies as a Secret – Right?
So here are my so-called 20 Toastmaster Secrets on how to win the WCPS in Toastmasters.
Toastmaster Secrets #1
Hire a World Class Mentor – Even if you are a 1st time Speaker who has spoken only for 3 months, your chances of winning increase a 100 times if you have one by your side.
Toastmaster Secrets #2
Hire a World Class ‘Local’ Mentor – World Champion Winners & Mentors get inundated with over 300 requests every year. I know this because I am in touch with 7 of them. Do you think they would spend time and give you 100% when you are based in one end of the world and they in another?
Toastmaster Secrets #3
Too Many Cooks? – If One World Class Mentor is good, Many must be better right? Nope. The more mentors you have, the more confusion they will create. Stick to one.
Toastmaster Secrets #4
Long Lasting Relationship – The Reason why Pixar is the Most Successful Animation Studio in the world with an unsurpassed 50 highest-grossing animated films earning 530 nominations to date – is simply this. They stick with each other for a long time. And the more they are together, the more they learn about each other. Having a Long-Lasting Relationship with one Mentor. Avoid a One-Contract-Stand Mentor.
Toastmaster Secrets #5
Resistance Training – If you want to build Muscles, use Resistance Training. You want to become tough & strong, get a Mentor who will not only nurture you, but make you go through hell and back. That would make you tough and strong when you face the heat of competition.
Toastmaster Secrets #6
Fee not Free – Make sure you pay your mentor by the hour. When money in involved, there is the commitment from both the ends, there is pressure to perform exceptionally well from both the ends and time and most important – time, effort and experience is respected by both.
Toastmaster Secrets #7
Public Relations – Every International Author from Marketing Genius Seth Godin, Business Guru Guy Kawasaki to Psychologist Daniel Goleman all Preach and Teach the same. If you are a world-class expert but not likable, your chances of winning are virtually zero. Want further proof locally? Look at me.
Toastmaster Secrets #8
Let No One Out-Prepare You – 1990 World Champion of Public Speaking (WCPS) David Brooks said it beautifully (and I am misquoting) , “I may not be the best, but I will never let anyone out-prepare Me”
Toastmaster Secrets #9
Dare-to-Differ – In the World Championship Finals: 1998 WCPS Brett Rutledge used Mimicry. 1999 WCPS Craig Valentine used Silence. 2001 WCPS Darren Lacroix fell on the ground and stayed on the ground. 2002 WCPS Dwyane Smith used Musical Sounds. 2005 WCPS Lance Miller used a Sound as an Anchor. They did something and that gave them the edge to win. How different are you?
Toastmaster Secrets #10
Super Edit – 1990 WCPS David Brooks edited his speech 300 times to gain the perfection he wanted. 2005 WCPS Lance Miller edited his speech right until the point of walking up to the stage. If you want the world’s best speech, keep editing your speech to perfection.
Toastmaster Secrets #11
Professional Script Writer – Most of the Speakers I have known employed the services of Script Writers. A Professional one costs anything from $10 per word to $4,000 per speech. I myself have been a Professional Script writer for 37 Contestant to date. Remember – no one knows this other than the Speaker. And personally, no one cares. (Remember, Ignorance is a bliss)
Toastmaster Secrets #12
Dramatics – Want to win the audience and the judges, learn drama and acting. Almost all the World Champion Finalist are good at this.
Toastmaster Secrets #13
Judges – Yeah, yeah, I am sure you are going to lecture me on ‘Speak to the audience’, ‘Give value to the audience’ and blah blah blah. Let me ask you a simple question – If the audience loves you but the judges do not – do you think you are going to win the contest? Simple thumb rule – you want to win? Get the judges on your side
Toastmaster Secrets #14
It’s all about Luck – In the Semi-Finals – You have 81 Contestants. 9 are in the finals. And in the end only 1 makes it through. For these kinds of odds, you need the beautiful luck by your side. If lady luck is not on your side, you can be the best in the world – the chances of you winning are super slim. Want proof? Ever wonder the people who make it once to the finals, do not make it ever again?
Toastmaster Secrets #15
1st Impression is the Best Impression &Your Worst Enemy – Once you make it to the World Championship finals or have a high ranking, people will always remember you. That is your blessing and your curse. Blessing because they will remember you. Curse because they will unconsciously compare you to the previous performance. And chances are – they would not be as impressed as the 1st time.
Toastmaster Secrets #16
More the Not-Merrier – If people keep seeing you win every time, you will have a strong base of people who will not wish for you to keep winning. Envy and Jealousy are difficult emotions to eradicate.
Toastmaster Secrets #17
Judges are Human – Agreed, the judges are thought to be Objective. But do you seriously believe Judges as Human Being are Objective???
Toastmaster Secrets #18
Once for Last – The World Championship of Public Speaking is a Very Taxing Endeavor. Very Taxing, Very Difficult, Mentally, Emotionally and Financially very draining. Decide to give it 100% and 1% extra once and only once and then forget about it. However, if you have nothing else to do – go ahead. Be my guest. Your chances of winning are as good as winning the lottery.
Toastmaster Secrets #19
When in Rome – Find out what kind of Speeches work well in your region. In some regions buckets of tears, deaths in the family and sob-stories are the permanent trend. People believe these are powerful speeches. While some other regions, laughter is the best way forward. Customize & Deliver.
Toastmaster Secrets #20
Gurudakshina – When My Mentor Mohammed Murad – The Incoming International President-Elect spoke at the 2013 World Champion of Public Speaking Opening Address as the Contest Chair – He had taken my advice / suggestion before speaking. Never in a Million years did I imagine that he would give me credit for it – that too on a World Stage. I was humbled by it. He may not have taken my name – but in my heart and in his we knew the connection. Though Murad has been my mentor for 14 years now, he had the humility of giving me the respect of teacher for just one tip I gave him – Just one. Gurudakshina refers to the Indian tradition of repaying one’s teacher or guru after a period of study or the completion of formal education. I have known Murad since I joined Toastmasters and no matter how great my accomplishments, I will forever love, respect, adore, admire and venerate myself to him. In front of him, I will always be a student and a child. When you humble yourself to your teachers and mentors – you achieve greatness. The is the final and the greatest tip of all time from me.
Loy Machedo
About me: http://whoisloymachedo.com
Services: http://thinkpersonalbranding.com
