I won !

[andrewg818]

Hey-- I re-entered the TM International Speech COntest this year--I won at my club..and I just won the area-- ! I'm off to Division level in 2 weeks!
Here's a video of my speech-- any comments would be welcomed [yes, I used to stutter severely]:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ISWbqfedYbA

[nate]

Hey-- I re-entered...[yes, I used to stutter severely]:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ISWbqfedYbA

First of all let me say again how little I believe this. u spoke more fluently than most "non-stammering" professional public speakers I know.
And what do you mean rentered? did u do it last year or u entered and dropped out? and whatever happened please do explain the y? y would u do it, get up infront of a group of people and speak. is there money involved? or do u want to flex your your fluency muscle. What?
Nate

[Roley]

Way to go! We're all jealous!

Roley

[Standingtall]

Hey-- I re-entered the TM International Speech COntest this year--I won at my club..and I just won the area-- ! I'm off to Division level in 2 weeks!
Here's a video of my speech-- any comments would be welcomed [yes, I used to stutter severely]:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ISWbqfedYbA
Wow, Congrats on a great speech. I am very impressed. i am going to watch it again a few more times. Once again Congrats, your awesome. :D

[Charlieb]

Well Done Andrew

Fairplay to you for having the guts to get up there and do that.

I'd like to know how much preparation you had to put in to that to get it down to a tea.

The one thing I would agree with in your speech was when you said about "quitening you mind" I have recently come to realise (as I have probably said a million times in here already) that it has been my negative self that has kept me locked up in a cycle of bad habits and stammering.

If you're making money from your journey to fluency I wish you the best of luck. Personally if anyone want to know what I am doing to deal with my stammer check out my blog (For Free!!:D ).

Well done again though on an excellent presentation

Charlie

[andrewg818]

Ha ! Thanks for your comments. re: What I meant by re-entering: In 2006, I entered w/ my "LOOK AT ME NOW" speech about overcoming stuttering and lost at level 3---and didn't think I would reenter--and stayed out in '07... This year, I decided to do it again... My goal is to make it to the world finals and perform a remix of "LOOK AT ME NOW" [the overcoming stuttering speech there]...
"Look at me now," if you haven't seen it --can be viewed at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FPKWwKGVVhI
[that's me performing it at an event entitled "CELEBRATION OF HOPE"--where I was requested]
or, a worse version, in my opinion is:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MIzFruemH_c
[that's me losing at level 3-- in the contest in 2006-- I've learned lessons since then--]

[andrewg818]

Charlie writes:
Well Done Andrew


I reply:
Thanks !
Fairplay to you for having the guts to get up there and do that.

you write:
I'd like to know how much preparation you had to put in to that to get it down to a tea.

i reply:
In one respect, everything I did in 2005-2006 [I took off for much of 07 from speaking] was preparation..pushign myself to deliver 50+ speeches in 2005/2006--- and then to practice "look at me now" --as a contest speech in clubs -- in 4 states--really made me grow..
But the actual preparation for that speech--was a lot..[and is still ongoing]--but not as intense as in 06-- I spent about 20 consecutive days writing/rewriting/word smithing the story to get it to fit into the 7 min, 30 sec max. timeframe--while sounding natural/as unrehearsed as possible etc;
For the next few weeks, I practiced repeatedly at home for any group of friends that would listen-- 2-3 dozen times for my wife etc;
I also got 4-5 audiences to practice for -- including girls at a juvy detention facility!
I now have a list of about 20 things to improve in the speech b4 level 3-- I am "off" from it this week--and will practice it again next week--and have 4 more audiences lined up for practice [2 TM clubs, a church, and a rotary]--
On 3/13-- I will compete at Division level-- where I lost in 2006--and am confident I can win.. Doing so would be AWESOME-- cuz I'll go onto District-- which means-- the Florida state finals [actually, Florida and the Bahamas]--- which is onyl 2 levels away from the world championship [and a new speech is required after District]..

you also write:
The one thing I would agree with in your speech was when you said about "quitening you mind" I have recently come to realise (as I have probably said a million times in here already) that it has been my negative self that has kept me locked up in a cycle of bad habits and stammering.

I reply:
Thanks ! Indeed!

you also write:

If you're making money from your journey to fluency I wish you the best of luck. Personally if anyone want to know what I am doing to deal with my stammer check out my blog (For Free!! ).

I reply:
I haven't really made any money from speaking-- 99% of it has been for fun, ego, pro bono--I suppose I could market myself for $$ more--especially if I do more corporate/mgt related stuff--but am not very interested at this time-- My website has the option to contact me for it, but I haven't actively promoted it..I'd be happy to speak for NSA or similar organizations any time...

you write:
Well done again though on an excellent presentation
i relpy:
THANKS AGAIN!


Charlie

[Derek181]

I dont know how you do it. Ive watched your speeches a few times. I dont even see any signs of using fluency skills. Do you still practice on a regular basis? ive been practicing fluency skills in hope to become as fluent as you and iam no where near you. i find the only way iam fluent is if i use my skills with people and even that is sometimes hard to do.

[andrewg818]

As a technique becomes part of your regular speech, it becomes very natural and automatic. In some ways, it becomes like a magic trick, your audience only knows it--if you show them how you are doing it..If you listen closely, you will hear me consistently slowing and softening the first word of each sentence..but a sentence is defined as --each time the body requires me to take a new breath...
When the first word is a monosyllable, you will hear me put a comma after it..
When the first word is a multisyllable, you will hear me hyphenate it..
For example..
I do not say "Blood was running down my daughter's leg"
I say "Blood, was running down my daughter's leg"---for a moment, the mind thought I was only going to say "blood"--- but I've gotten fast/natural at it-- I blend it w/ the rest of the sentence..
Notice I don't just say
"BAIDEN" I say "BAI-DEN"--and my voice is changed to a softened/gentle tone --

You'll hear things like.. instead of saying "In my mind, I was thinking YEAH, what is that mr. smooth dancer man"--
I have the slow/comma start on "IN"
--it's in every sentence.. every time I breathe--sometimes it's a natural start word like "now"
in
now, some of you are probably thinking what I was...

or... after the dance routine and magic..
"No, it's because of what I did to stop her pain"

the "no" was my technique word-- It's all very naturally intertwined into the speech these days.. I've been doing it for nearly 4 years ; D
thanks !

[andrewg818]

The girl in the photo looks adorable..is that your daughter, Kayleigh ?