Never Learn A Talk Word For Word

Some people memorize a talk word for word and rehears it for lots of time. But what happens to them when they face their audience. Their mind just go blank or even black. They can't make themselves to produce some sentences from their script. If they speak they deliver it in a mechanical way.

Here is an example:

Vance was the vice- president of one of the largest insurance companies in the world- the Equitable Life Assurance Society. He was asked to address a conference of 2000 Equitable Life representatives from all over America at a meeting in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. He was delighted to do so. He wrote out his speech and memorized it. He rehearsed it in front of a mirror. He thought it was flawless.

However, when he stood up to deliver his address, he was terrified. He said: "My part in this program is.........." His mind went blank. He took two steps backward and tried to start all over again. Again his mind went blank. Again he took two steps back and tried to start. He repeated this performance three times. The platform was four feet high; and there was a space five feet wide between the back of the platform and the wall. So the fourth time he stepped back, he toppled backwards off the platform and disappeared into space.

It was the most embarrassing moment of Vance Bushnell's life.

Vance Bushnell, in later years, became one of the most effective speakers in his organization. But he never memorize a talk again.

So, we should learn from Vance Bushnell's experience and should not learn our talk word for word.