This is a sample speech that won several contests in my district. I provide it here for anyone looking for ideas or sample speeches to get started in Toastmasters or any other venue. Feel free to use in any way you like.
Introduction
For in the end – There is really only one destination, and that place is you. Everything, all of it is you. This is the last line from one of the last songs that Prince released back in 2015.
Often when we have a simple idea and we believe that we are stating it as plainly and as directly as possible. It doesn’t work. It just sounds silly or like some pop psychobabble.
Perhaps it would have been more clear if he had simply said, When you find yourself, you find everything that you were looking for. Well, that sums up the idea, but it doesn’t get to the feeling. So let’s try something else.
Story
Oh, I know. . . For my 60th birthday. My wife took me on a tour of Paisley Park. Paisley Park was the name for the industrial park that Prince used to house his offices, studios, and home.
On the tour you see all kinds of spaces – – sound stages, recording booths, rehearsal areas, and, of course the obligatory gift shop. But the space that was most interesting to me, was a room next to his office. A closet really; that had been converted into a display case for Shoes.
We were told that Prince, had around, 1200 pairs of shoes. Apparently, what would happen is he would get an idea for an outfit – sketch something on a pad, hand it to the tailor and say – – make this!! The tailor would make the outfit deliver it to him. He would try it on – – if he liked it, he would say, order me the shoes.
The tailor would then take a bolt of material from which the outfit had been made, bundle that with the order and deliver it to the cobbler. They used a single cobbler for all of these shoes. So, all of the shoes had the same maker – – every one was unique – – and every one was a perfect match for what it was made to do.
As I stood there. In the midst of all of these shoes. I thought to myself, If a fellow has 1200 pairs of shoes, Even if he changes close three times a day, That means that each pair gets worn, maybe – once a year.
I thought to myself, what the heck do these shoes do with all of that spare time? Surely, they must feel; Empty, Unloved, and Unwanted in the darkness. The shoes had other characteristics for decorative purposes. Some of them had zippers, some of them had buckles, some of them had laces. For some reason, I could envision all the shoes with zippers getting together over in this corner. They would have their own little slogan. Zip him up. Zip him up.
The shoes with laces, might be on the more conservative side of the room. They would have their own motto – We’re straight laced; we’re straight laced. The shoes with buckles might get together someplace else. They might be the rebels of the group. You can’t zip us up. You can’t tie us down.
Thousands of soles- – all with the same maker – – each one unique – – and each one a perfect match for what it was made to do. Most of them Falling susceptible to group think. To fill the emptiness that creeps in between the moments when they feel like their true selves. Does any of this sound familiar?
Message
Friends – So much of our conflict; Our tension; Our turmoil; Can be explained by the group think that we fall prey to, to tie this over between the moments when we know exactly who we really are.
Like that moment when you are dealing with your sick child – – When the rest of the universe disappears and, all you see is that child. In the eyes of that little one, you are Everything. And, you know, that this is exactly what you were made to do.
When you’re dealing with some problem, that’s been weighing on your mind for days months, even years. And one day all of a sudden as though you had been selected, off of this shelf . . .
The fog lifts the clouds depart, the moment of Revelation is at hand. Oh, That’s what I’m supposed to do. In that moment. You know exactly who you are. And you are in a group of exactly one.
Closing
Friends. The next time. You want to set those people straight. The next time you want to let them know who you are. The next time you want to scream “You will not replace us.” Pause, if you can. Let this little thought run through your mind.
For, in the end – That was really only one destination and that place is Shoes. Everything. All of this. It’s just Shoes. Maybe the silliness of my restatement will bring the temperature down just a little bit. And perhaps the spirit of the message might allow us to live together like civilized human beings — just a little bit longer.
