You probably know that even after 50 years, most
Americans still rank the speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from the
steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 as the greatest speech of the
20th Century. And you probably know that the speech is commonly called the "I
Have a Dream" speech.
But you probably don't know what Dr. King did during his
speech when he got to the bottom of page 4, and that the technique he used can
help you give your greatest speech or presentation!
Before you find out more about this technique, let's set
the stage, since you probably weren't one of the quarter of a million people
there when Dr. King spoke live at "The March on Washington" during the Civil
Rights Movement.
Dr. King had a 5½-page prepared script that he planned to
deliver that day, and he did deliver it. Except that he stopped at the bottom of
page 4 and used one of the most important techniques you can possibly use when
you're speaking to almost any group on almost any subject! It's to "Trust your
gut!" That's it!
Put another way, "Listen to that voice within you." Or
"Trust your instincts and what's in your heart." Your head says, "Stay with your
prepared message," but your gut, your heart, and that still, small voice within
you says, "No! Go in this new direction!"
And that's exactly what happened on August 28, 1963 on
the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Here's
what Dr. King said later that year to Donald Smith, author of the book, "The
Dream."
"I
started out reading the speech, and I read it down to a point, and just all of a
sudden I decided (the audience response was wonderful that day, you know) and
all of a sudden this thing came to me, I HAVE A DREAM! I just felt I
wanted to use it. I don't know why. I hadn't thought about it before that
speech."
Dr. King used those four words, "I HAVE A
DREAM," eight times in three paragraphs. That's what made his
speech so amazing, and now, over 50 years later, it's still called "The Greatest
Speech!" Wow! What if every time you spoke
you listened to that voice within you, and trusted it!
As a professional speaker for 40 years, I have used Dr.
King's technique, trusting my instincts. It has served me well and it will serve
you well too. Why? Because your audience will sense your conviction, your
sincerity and your passion!
The next time you speak, think of Dr. King. Trust
your instincts, your feelings and that voice within that can help you give the
greatest speech or presentation of your life!
I too "have a dream" ... that you'll be calling or
writing me, and sharing how this idea has helped you!
MAKE it a great day!
