Aaron Beverly, 2nd place winner of 2016 World Championship of Public Speaking

Summary

In this powerful speech, the speaker reflects on the impact of words and the value of being concise. Using personal anecdotes, including a memorable moment with a soft-spoken young woman named Michelle, the speaker highlights how a few well-chosen words can leave a lasting impression. Despite being encouraged throughout life to speak more, the speaker suggests that it's not about quantity, but the quality of what we say that truly resonates. The message encourages embracing quietness and ensuring that every word we speak is meaningful and impactful.

Takeaways

• 😀 Just because you speak more doesn’t mean people will remember you. It's the quality of what you say that matters most.
• 😀 Words have the power to leave lasting impressions, whether they bring joy, sorrow, prejudice, love, or inspiration.
• 😀 The speaker has always been a quiet person and reflects on whether we’re judged by how much we speak rather than what we say.
• 😀 In a Toastmasters meeting, a simple but powerful statement from a young woman showed how a few words can deeply affect someone’s life.
• 😀 Silence can be powerful. It's okay to be quiet or soft-spoken. The value of communication lies in the meaning, not the volume.
• 😀 The speaker’s story of Michelle, a soft-spoken young lady, highlights how a few well-chosen words can change a person’s life.
• 😀 We often feel pressure to speak more, but sometimes being concise and thoughtful is more impactful than speaking endlessly.
• 😀 The speaker’s personal experience at the bus stop with a grumpy bus driver shows how words, even negative ones, can affect people's emotions.
• 😀 Words can evoke a wide range of emotions, from pain to peace, and they have the potential to inspire change and bring people together.
• 😀 The core message is that while we may feel pressured to say a lot to be remembered, it's the meaningful words we speak that truly resonate.
• 😀 At the end of the day, it's the authenticity and emotional impact of our words that leave a lasting memory, not their quantity.

Q & A

What is the central message of Aaron Beverly's speech?

The central message of Aaron Beverly's speech is that it's not the quantity of words that makes an impact, but the quality. He encourages people to embrace brevity and the power of a few carefully chosen words.

How does Aaron Beverly challenge the idea of speaking more to be remembered?

Aaron Beverly challenges the idea by sharing personal experiences and stories that demonstrate how a few impactful words can be far more memorable than a long-winded speech. He argues that brevity can leave a lasting impression.

What personal experience does Aaron Beverly share to illustrate his point about words?

He shares an experience from his own life where he was always told to speak more, but later realized that speaking less, but meaningfully, can have a greater impact. He also shares a story about a bus driver known for her gruff demeanor, contrasting it with a more powerful moment when a young woman, Michelle, shared a simple, emotional story about her mother's belief in her.

How does the story about Michelle contribute to the overall message of the speech?

Michelle's story emphasizes how a few words, even when spoken quietly, can be incredibly powerful. Her simple declaration about her mother's belief in her shows that it's the meaning behind the words that matters, not the quantity.

Why does Aaron Beverly mention the bus driver known as the 'bus lady of doom'?

He mentions the bus driver to illustrate how words, when spoken without meaning or warmth, can leave a negative impression. It serves as a contrast to the power of meaningful, concise speech.

What does Aaron Beverly mean by 'just because you say more doesn’t mean people will remember what you say'?

He means that verbosity or speaking for the sake of speaking does not necessarily lead to a lasting impression. People tend to remember meaningful, impactful words rather than a lot of words that don't carry substance.

What does Aaron Beverly suggest about people who are quiet or soft-spoken?

He suggests that being quiet or soft-spoken is not a negative trait. Instead, it can be an advantage because when quiet people do speak, their words are more likely to have a strong, lasting impact.

How does Aaron Beverly describe the process of being a Toastmaster?

He describes it as a journey of learning the power of words, and specifically, how brief, well-chosen words can have a greater impact than long-winded speeches. He highlights a particular meeting moment, the 'table topics' session, where participants are challenged to speak on the spot, showing how people can use words effectively in unexpected situations.

What role does the concept of memory play in Aaron Beverly’s speech?

Memory plays a significant role in the speech as Aaron emphasizes that it's not how much you say, but what you say that people remember. He encourages people to make their words count, as meaningful words tend to be remembered for much longer than an abundance of words.

What advice does Aaron Beverly give to people who feel they are not loud or outspoken?

Aaron advises that people who are quiet or not loud should not feel pressured to speak more. He suggests that when they do speak, they should focus on making their words meaningful, as this will have a more lasting impact than speaking simply to fill silence.