Making a Champion
Rosalyn Kahn I am a 3X TEDx Speaker and Trainer, Professor
Freelance Journalist, Photographer, and Spanish Interpreter
What it Takes to Win
Rosalyn Kahn has been on the TEDx stage several time s and coached not only a number of other TEDx speaker but thousands of students.
One of her students after winning a contest which took place when the instructor had her own limitations unable to write due to an injury. She told the students on the first day, it doesn’t matter that I have this huge cash on my arm. I am not a Math teacher. Teaching public speaking comes from the mind.
This was the advice of one or her students.
There is not secret weapon to win, but a combination of the tools and techniques you have taught in which gives us the confidence to see our success.
Step 1.
Select a topic that hold your greatest passion--If you don’t love your topic neither will your audience.
Step 2
Develop an outline
My outline changed at least 6 times. One of the signs of excellence is recognizing the first one is just a draft destined to greatness with time.
Step 3
Become your best
One of my weakness was my accent. I then took the instructor’s advice to memorize the speech. Yet it later became much more as I worked on the articulation, the voice projection, and they eye contact. Suddenly, my nervousness began to disappear. One point I felt so connected to my research it was as if I wrote the information myself and I internalized it.
Step 4
Visualization
You must see yourself in that position as the winner. See it clearly in your mind with as much sensory detail the sights, sounds, colors, smell etc. Even if you are shy, extremely nervous, have a strong accent and have never spoken in public ...you can always be whoever you want.
Step 5
Final remarks
Right before the talk terror struck and it was as if I forgot absolutely everything I learned. I tried to become someone else pretending I was an actress on stage. It worked. The moment they called my name, left my chair and gave the speech I was in character –nothing else mattered.
I did the best and fortunately this time, my best was enough.
Editor’s note: These are the same skills required to do a TED talk.