Republished from Brand Maker News —
“We all fall down. That’s the bad news. No matter how far you fall, love will lift you up.” With these words, David Henderson, an attorney from San Antonio, Texas, rose above the final nine contestants to win the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking on Saturday, Aug. 14.
Henderson presented his winning speech, titled “The Aviators” to a crowd of more than 1,600 fellow Toastmasters from 113 countries. In his acceptance speech, Henderson shared with the audience his winning strategy. When it comes to connecting with an audience, he said, “Don’t tell people, just show them.”
Presenting his speech dressed in an aviator helmet, goggles, bomber jacket and long “Snoopy” scarf, Henderson brought to life his heartfelt story of loving and then losing a cherished childhood friend. He demonstrated his emotional story about coping with loss by literally falling on the stage.
Speakers delivered five- to seven-minute presentations on wide-ranging topics, and were judged on content, organization and delivery. David Henderson was named the world champion of public speaking after several eliminating rounds that began with 30,000 participants.
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. The organization currently has 260,000 members in 12,500 clubs in 113 countries. Since its founding in October 1924, the organization has helped more than four million men and women give presentations with poise and confidence.
To improve your own public speaking skills, and to get more information about local Toastmasters clubs, visit http://www.toastmasters.org.
Do you think strong public speaking skills are important to your success as an entrepreneur? If so, tell us what you are doing to keep your presentation skills on point?
