Comments on Stage Time Article 12/11/08: Speak Naked?
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Hey guys, I’m trying something new. I’m going to offer a place for people to comment on the articles I write. What did you think? Did you like it? Did it bother you? Was it boring?
I will leave all comments up good or bad up unedited (as long as there is no profanity, or something otherwise inappropriate.)
Let me know what you think!
Stage time,
Darren LaCroix
2001 World Champion of Public Speaking
– – — – — – –
Darren LaCroix learned how to be funny the hard way by experience. He is a keynote speaker with a thriving publc speaking career. He authored books, CD’s, DVD’s, & other public speaking courses. He gives motivational speeches all over the world including Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.
Ohhh…you are asking for it.
Darren,
Your spin on the picture the audience naked is excellent. In FL where many audiences can be markedly older than the norm, it really has never helped me to picture the audience naked at all!
Cheers and happy holidays!
Carol
To me, speaking naked is being open to the audience and showing this with your body languare and your pace and eye contact. At Toastmaster conferences, I’ve seen a couple of people do this. One is a local Toastmaster who is a successful writer. The other, when I think about it, is Harvey MacKay. – who spent about an hour talking one on one to members of the audience who lined up to see him.
I was so impressed by this fearlessness, and thinking back on in now I think: When we admire something, we are probably finding an area that part of us realizes is a weekness – and an area that we can find the motivation and the tools that would make this our “trademark.” – Like the 90 pound weekling who becomes Charles Atlas. – dating myself.
Thanks, Darren, You gave me a good idea for a speech. I’ll try it out at one of my Toastmasters clubs.
Although a by now somewhat aging ‘Mr.Toastmaster in Europe’ I did enjoy your “Ouch” speech in California.
Hello Darren
I’ve learned that my most effective presentations are the ones that I “speak naked”. By opening up to my audience they open up to me. WOW!! What a step up from just a year ago. We all have a message and we need to be willing to be fearless when we share it. Thanks Darren. Merry Christmas!
Patrick
Darren,Thanks for the opportunity to “chat” about your ariticles. I, too, am learning to open up and explore what it is that I really want/need to say to others. You remember me from our Toronto coaching experience last year and I still hear your words as I continue on my journey to discover what it is I need to say. Happy Holidays
Darren, I know where you’re coming from when
you say we should “speaker naked” in front of
our audience. But, sometimes, baring our
souls to members of the audience might bring
up too many “negative” images from the past
that it opens up wounds in the minds of
our audience that they would just a soon
leave unopened. I know that because I spoke
about an experience I had when I “crashed”
my H-D motorcycle exactly three months after
I had started riding it, opened up some old
wounds within the membership of my Toastmas
ters members. It resulted in several members
giving similiar speeches later on, but then
they suddenly dropped out from attending
meetings, never to be seen or heard from
again. So, I’m not that sure it was all that good that I had given that speech, because it took
me almost 5 months to prepared it and then
I almost didn’t get through it because of
the “old feelings” it brought back in my memory
.
WOW Darren!! What a wonderful opportunity for your readers to express their thoughts on your articles. I must first say Darren – you are my inspiration, I follow all your articles from which I gain much needed help. I think for those of us who are speakers the idea of “Speaking Naked” would assist our listeners to better relate to what we are saying since it would help them focus on their own experiences and possibly draw something from what is being said which could be of help to them in dealing with their own struggles.
My grateful thanks Darren for your support.
All the season’s best to you and yours and continued success in the New Year.
Winie
DARREN YOUR IDEA TO POST COMMENTS IS A GOOD ONE. I LIKE YOUR STRATEGY FOR FINDING YOUR SPEECH TOPIC.
T.WAYNE GATEWOOD
THE BUILDER
I was thrilled to read this article and hear what Elaine had to share. Telling one’s own personal story of pain, addiction, whatever and getting it out to help others is great. I too have a couple topics I need to start speaking more about which will not only continue to help me but hopefully will reach out and touch others.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Patricia Cotton
it is indeed ang wonderful articl about speak naeked it is realy i like it very muck beacuse if we speak neaked that wil show and reflected all the inside passionate and will break all the barriers between the speaker amnd audience. dear darren keep what you doing and i wish you all the best in your future.
thank
ali
This was timely and relevant. I too was like Elaine until I met with a group of ladies who inspired me to follow my heart and speak about my painful divorce and how I overcame the pain of being rejected, dejected and disowned and how I had to fight my way back from a near nervous breakdown. I’m just now finding the courage to get naked before audiences an tell my story to help someone break free of the after-effects of breaking covenant!
Thanks!
Tracy Y. Washington
http://www.Fashionyoursoul.com
People relates to true to life experiences that they can draw lessons from and inspire them to change the way they do things or beliefs. And when we use them in our speech as a defining moment it send a powerful message that the audience can take away long after you have have delivered it.