Hannah Cheng: 2nd place winner, 2024 World Championship of Public Speaking

Summary

In this inspiring speech, Hannah Chang shares her journey of overcoming the fear of not being ready. From her initial hesitations about living abroad to her promotion as a law firm partner, she illustrates the importance of taking the first step despite self-doubt. Her encounter with Oscar in Taiwan and subsequent involvement in Toastmasters led her to embrace challenges and grow. Hannah encourages the audience to pursue their dreams without waiting for the perfect moment, as readiness is a journey, not a destination.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The speaker, Hannah Chang, expresses her initial hesitation to travel and live abroad due to feeling unprepared.
• 🍇 Hannah's first trip to Europe sparked a desire to live abroad, despite the cultural differences she encountered.
• 🎓 After completing her law degree and gaining a license, Hannah still faced doubts about her readiness to live abroad, as advised by her family.
• 👩‍💼 Hannah's career progressed in Hong Kong, but the inner voice of doubt continued to question her readiness to make a significant life change.
• 🤵 Mr. Tong, a role model and experienced lawyer, offered Hannah a promotion, but she initially declined, citing a lack of readiness.
• 💡 Mr. Tong's advice to 'just start' was a turning point for Hannah, illustrating the idea that one will never truly feel ready for big changes.
• 🏃‍♀️ Hannah took the leap and moved to Taiwan, where she faced challenges but found her way, as Mr. Tong had predicted.
• 💖 In Taiwan, Hannah met Oscar, who became her mentor and with whom she developed a strong connection.
• 🥐 Oscar introduced Hannah to Toastmasters, an organization that helped her grow in public speaking, despite her initial reluctance.
• 🗣️ Hannah's participation in the speech contest, despite her fears and self-doubt, represents the theme of taking action despite not feeling ready.
• 🚀 The overarching message is that one should not wait until feeling completely ready to pursue their dreams or make significant changes in life.

Q & A

What was the initial desire sparked in Hannah Chang during her first trip to Europe?

Hannah Chang's initial desire was sparked by her experiences in Europe, where she found the culture intriguing and different, leading her to want to live abroad.

Why did Hannah's mother suggest she finish her law degree before living abroad?

Hannah's mother thought she wasn't ready to live abroad because she didn't know how to cook and had no experience in independent living.

How long did Hannah spend building her career in Hong Kong before deciding to move abroad?

Hannah spent 10 years building her career in Hong Kong as a lawyer before she decided to move abroad.

What was Mr. Tong's role in Hannah's decision to move abroad?

Mr. Tong, being a role model and experienced lawyer, offered Hannah a promotion to partner at the law firm. However, his words about readiness inspired Hannah to quit her job and move abroad instead.

What advice did Mr. Tong give Hannah regarding readiness for new challenges?

Mr. Tong advised Hannah that she would never be completely ready and that she should just start and find her way as she goes.

How did Hannah meet her destiny in Taiwan?

Hannah met her destiny in Taiwan when she entered a cafe to escape the heat and started a conversation with Oscar, who later became her mentor.

What was the name of the organization or movement that Oscar introduced to Hannah?

Oscar introduced Hannah to Toastmasters, an organization focused on public speaking and leadership development.

What was the turning point for Hannah in her speech contest journey?

The turning point for Hannah was when she decided to join the speech contest despite feeling unprepared, applying Mr. Tong's advice about readiness.

What was Hannah's initial reaction to Oscar's proposal for her to join the speech contest?

Hannah initially felt she was not ready and hesitated, but she remembered Mr. Tong's advice and decided to join the contest.

What is the main message Hannah Chang wants to convey to the audience about readiness?

Hannah Chang's main message is that one will never truly be ready for new challenges, and the best approach is to start and find the way as one progresses.

How did Hannah overcome her fear of not being ready for the speech contest?

Hannah overcame her fear by accepting that she would never be completely ready and decided to start the contest anyway, trusting in her ability to find her way.