Public Speaking Excellence: Presiyan Vasilev

November 25, 2013

Members of Toastmasters have the opportunity to compete in various speaking contests after completing six speeches from the Competent Communicators manual. This happens first at the club level, then at the area level, then division and finally at the district level.

Contestants who compete in the International Speech contest, if they win at all levels listed above, have a chance to compete to be crowned the World Champion of Public Speaking. For competitive speakers within Toastmasters, this is the most prestigious designation that can be reached.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to support a member of my club who was competing in the International Speech Contest at the district level. I sat with other members of my club at the table directly in front of the stage. It was a unique opportunity to get a chance to witness some of the best speakers in our district close up.

I was amazed at the great level of talent, practice and preparation that the competitors displayed. The competition was stiff and the member of our club did not win the contest. The person who did win was Presiyan Vasilev, who gave an amazing presentation about a time when he had car troubles.

So it was interesting to learn a few months later when Vasilev was crowned the World Champion of Public Speaking for 2013. I wasn’t surprised…he was that good. To see the winning speech, please view the video above.

Interesting to note…according to Darren LaCroix, Vasilev delivered his speech at various points somewhere between 40 and 50 times. Also worth noting, he is a member of six different Toastmasters clubs in the Chicago area.

If you’ve been around long enough on this blog to read about the Pecha Kucha presentation by Maria Scileppi that blew me away, you know that she spent 60 hours to prepare for her six minute 40 second presentation. I have no doubt Vasilev spent considerably more time to prepare in his quest to become the World Champion speaker in 2013.

I share all this as a reminder to you that, if it’s important enough, you must put in the time and effort to do your best…to be your best. And while you may not be designated as a champ after all this preparation, you will win the respect of others and more importantly…yourself.

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    Lessons From an Astronaut

    November 18, 2013

    A couple weeks ago, while driving home from work, I tuned into the rebroadcast of Fresh Air on my local NPR station. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Terry Gross interview astronaut Chris Hadfield. Truthfully, I wasn’t too aware of Mr. Hadfield. I do remember viewing his version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” from the International Space Station which became a YouTube hit and generated more than 19 million views.

    However, I was filled with a sense of child-like wonder and awe as I listened to Hadfield describe what life was like in space and the amount of courage, preparation and dedication it takes to pull off a typical mission. I was also blown away hearing Hadfield’s eloquent, almost poetic description of the views of earth from the International Space Station.

    Recently, Hadfield released a book, “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth.” It’s the type of book I wouldn’t typically read, but it will immediately go to the top of my reading list.

    Whether you’re a marketing pro, teacher, engineer or fast food employee, I highly recommend you listen to the Terry Gross interview with Chris Hadfield. It will expand and add perspective to your thinking and give you a deeper appreciation for the risks astronauts take in the name of science.

    “Hero” and “Rock Star” are words that are overused in the media and today’s society. After listing to the Fresh Air interview there’s no doubt in my mind that Chris Hadfield is both.

    How about you…who’s your hero? I’d love to hear from you.

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      Taking Courageous Action

      October 14, 2013

      As an avid cyclist and a member of my local YMCA, I see a lot that impresses me: cyclists that blaze down the bike path in the stifling heat and humidity, runners with unstoppable endurance and weight lifters that can bench press twice my weight with ease. When I see these athletes in action, I feel motivated to step up my “game” by pushing myself a little harder and farther. No, I’m not in a competition with them, but I’m competitive with myself.

      As much as these athletes impress me, there are others in these same places that amaze me even more. These are people with physical challenges who, despite their challenges, show up every day with a workman-like attitude. When I see them, it’s not their athletic ability that impresses me…it’s their courage.

      At the Y, I see an Asian woman in her 60′s who has suffered a stroke. She uses a cane to walk (slowly and deliberately) and then she carefully gets onto the rowing machine for an hour’s worth of rowing. There’s nothing impressive about her rowing…it’s not particularly fast. What impresses me the most is her courage to show up and get onto the rowing machine despite the difficulty and struggle to to so.

      On the bike path, I pass a woman – in her 70s (I presume) walking at a slow pace. She’s thin and somewhat frail-looking and her gait is not a natural one. Sometimes she has others walking alongside her. But what impresses me is her consistency to show up. Every Sunday when I’m out there on the trail, she’s out there too. Again, there’s nothing impressive about the way she walks. However, the fact that she’s out there every Sunday blows me away. When I see her, I smile and feel blessed by her presence.

      In our day-to-day lives, there are a likely a lot of people who catch our attention – people with natural gifts, talents and plenty of charisma. But I’m learning that the real heroes are the people who aren’t perfect in their activities, work and appearance…they are ones taking imperfect, courageous and consistent action.

      What action or activity, however imperfect, are you putting off?

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        Four Takeaways from Social Media Week Chicago

        September 30, 2013

        Webster’s Dictionary defines social media as “forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal ideas and other content.” Social media as a term is not even ten years old (according to Webster’s), yet it continues to evolve and change. With this in mind, I attended Social Media Week […]

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          The Positivity and Possibility of Twitter

          August 26, 2013

          Every other day, it seems, we hear of athletes, celebrities and professionals at all levels getting into trouble for something shared on Twitter (and other social media channels). I recently stumbled upon the FireMe site, which provides a real-time list of Tweets that can potentially get you into trouble. As I explore that site, I’m […]

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            Talking Improv

            June 3, 2013

            Have you ever read an article or watched a presentation and wished that you would have written or delivered it first? I felt that way last year when I stumbled upon this talk by storyteller/poet/improviser/musician Dave Morris. His TEDx Victoria talk is the talk I wish I would have delivered back when I was daydreaming […]

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              Book Review: Steal Like an Artist

              May 13, 2013

              Creativity is one of those ideas that brings about a different range of emotions for different people. For some, creativity feels elusive…just out of reach and difficult to experience. For others, creativity is something encouraged and expressed on a regular basis. I had a chance to read Austin Kleon‘s Steal Like and Artist recently and […]

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                Getting Your Feet Wet in Toastmasters: Tips for Newbies

                April 22, 2013

                So you made the decision to finally join Toastmasters. That’s an important first step. But what’s next? What are you going to speak about and what’s the best way to write a speech? These are just some questions new Toastmasters have when joining a club. I hope to answer some questions and provide tips for […]

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                  Let Your Writing Simmer

                  March 19, 2013

                  If you’re like me, you enjoy cooking with your Crock-Pot. No matter what you put into this magical cooking device, everything tastes good. Perhaps it has something to do with the slow process of cooking the food slowly and allowing it to simmer and the spices to co-mingle. In recent weeks, I have taken on […]

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