Connect with Storytelling - Toastmasters

Summary

The speaker reflects on personal growth and the power of believing in oneself, despite life's challenges. At 17, after failing high school and an arrest, he faced his mother's tears of shame, prompting a desire to improve. His father introduced him to work, where he found a mentor in an accountant named Sam, who recognized his potential. This led to the speaker's return to education and eventual college graduation. Feeling lost, he found purpose and a voice through public speaking, inspired by a supportive community. The speaker emphasizes the transformative impact of unconditional love and support from those around him, turning his life around and making him whole again.

Takeaways

• 🌼 Everyone is unique and has something special that makes them beautiful.
• 🥀 Life can be harsh and may break one's spirit, making it hard to feel special.
• 👩‍👦 A mother's tears of shame can be a pivotal moment in a person's life, prompting change.
• 👨‍🏫 A supportive mentor can see potential in someone and help them discover their own abilities.
• 📚 Education and learning can be more engaging and enlightening outside of traditional school settings.
• 🌟 The power of dreaming and having someone believe in you can lead to personal growth and success.
• 🎓 Completing education and finding a partner can be significant steps in one's journey to self-discovery.
• 🤔 Feeling lost is a common experience, but it's important to seek guidance and support during such times.
• 🗣️ Public speaking can be a transformative skill that can be developed and cherished.
• 💔 Financial struggles and self-doubt are challenges that can be overcome with the support of loved ones.
• ❤️ Unconditional love and support from significant others can help piece someone back together after being broken.

Q & A

What is the main message of the speaker in the script?

The main message is that everyone is unique and has something special within them, and that even when life gets tough and one feels broken or lost, the support and belief of others can help one discover their potential and become whole again.

How does the speaker describe the three types of tears a mother can cry?

The speaker describes the three types of tears as tears of joy, tears of sorrow, and tears of shame, with the tears of shame being particularly impactful when a son sees his mother cry them.

What was the speaker's reaction when his mother cried tears of shame?

The speaker was deeply affected by seeing his mother cry tears of shame, describing it as a life-changing moment that prompted him to want to become a better man.

What was the turning point for the speaker after his arrest?

The turning point was when his mother expressed her desire for him to be a better man, and his father introduced him to work, which led him to meet Sam, an accountant who saw potential in him.

What role did Sam play in the speaker's life?

Sam played a pivotal role as the speaker's mentor and employer, helping him to discover his interests and potential by sharing stories about the world, history, culture, and philosophy.

How did the speaker's experience with Sam influence his educational path?

The speaker's experience working with Sam rekindled his interest in learning, leading him to return to high school, complete his exams, and eventually attend college.

What did the speaker feel after completing college?

The speaker felt lost and unsure about what to do with his life, even after finding a partner, because he did not have a clear career path or job.

How did the speaker's father help him when he felt lost after college?

The speaker's father introduced him to a club where he was encouraged to participate in speaking activities, which led him to discover his love for speaking and ultimately become a teacher.

What is the significance of the phrase 'I see something in you' in the script?

The phrase 'I see something in you' is significant as it represents the belief and recognition others have in the speaker's potential, which was crucial in helping him find his path and overcome his struggles.

How does the speaker's wife view him, according to the script?

The speaker's wife views him as someone with an undefined special quality, similar to how others in his life saw potential in him, even when he was unsure of his own worth.

What is the final message the speaker conveys to the audience?

The final message is that the belief and support of others can help piece a person back together, no matter how broken or lost they may feel, and that everyone has a unique potential that can be discovered.

Outlines

00:00

🌼 Discovering Uniqueness and Overcoming Adversity

The speaker begins by drawing a parallel between the audience and a flower, emphasizing that everyone is unique and has a special quality. However, life can be harsh and may cause individuals to feel broken or discarded. The speaker shares a personal story of failure and arrest at the age of 17, highlighting the emotional impact of disappointing his mother and the subsequent conversation with his parents. His mother's tears of shame and his father's practical advice to start working led him to an accounting firm where he encountered Sam, an accountant who saw potential in him. Sam's mentorship and storytelling inspired the speaker to dream and learn, eventually leading to the completion of high school and college. Despite achieving these milestones, the speaker still felt lost and unsure of his life's direction, prompting him to seek guidance from his father again.

05:02

🗣️ Unleashing Potential Through Public Speaking

In the second paragraph, the speaker recounts his father's introduction to a peculiar club where he was encouraged to participate in a 'Payable topic' exercise. During his first speech, he noticed a kind-eyed man in the audience who, after the speech, approached him with words of encouragement, similar to what he had heard from Sam. This interaction sparked a realization in the speaker that he enjoyed speaking and had a talent for it. This led to a career as a teacher, where he also experienced financial struggles and self-doubt. Despite these challenges, the speaker's wife saw something in him that he couldn't see himself, reinforcing the theme of others recognizing one's potential. The speaker concludes by expressing that even in moments of feeling broken or lost, the support and belief of others can help piece one back together and see the potential within.

Keywords

💡Unique

Unique refers to the state of being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else. In the context of the video, the speaker uses the term to emphasize that each individual is special and has qualities that make them stand out, much like a flower that is distinct from others. The speaker encourages the audience to recognize and embrace their own uniqueness.

💡Life-changing moment

A life-changing moment is a significant event that alters the course of one's life. In the video, the speaker describes the moment when his mother cried tears of shame as a life-changing moment. This event led to a profound realization and a turning point in his life, illustrating the power of such moments to instigate personal growth and transformation.

💡Unconditional love

Unconditional love is a type of love that is given without any conditions or limitations. It is a central theme in the video, where the speaker describes how the love from his wife and others in his life helped him through difficult times. This love is portrayed as a force that can mend brokenness and provide support when one feels lost or broken.

💡Dream

In the video, 'dream' is used metaphorically to represent aspirations, goals, or the act of envisioning a better future. The speaker recounts how he discovered his ability to dream and how it motivated him to return to school and eventually find success. The concept of dreaming is tied to the idea that everyone has the potential to achieve great things.

💡Lost

To be 'lost' in this context means to feel directionless or unsure of one's purpose. The speaker shares his experience of feeling lost after college, not knowing what to do with his life. This feeling of being lost is contrasted with the guidance and support he received from others, which helped him find his path and become a teacher.

💡Broken

Being 'broken' in the video signifies a state of emotional or psychological damage, often resulting from life's hardships. The speaker uses this term to describe his own experiences of failure and arrest, and how others saw potential in him despite his broken state. The concept of being broken is integral to the narrative of overcoming adversity and being rebuilt by the support of others.

💡Potential

Potential refers to the latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness. In the video, various characters express that they see 'something' in the speaker, implying they recognize his untapped potential. This concept is crucial as it highlights the importance of believing in and nurturing the potential within others.

💡Accountability

Accountability is the expectation that one will be responsible for their actions and will face the consequences if they fail to meet certain obligations. The speaker's father's response to his arrest and academic failure introduces the concept of accountability, as he is expected to start working immediately, reflecting a life lesson about taking responsibility for one's actions.

💡Philosophy

Philosophy, in the context of the video, refers to a study of ideas and beliefs, particularly those related to human nature, values, and the meaning of life. The speaker mentions that his work with Sam introduced him to philosophy, which broadened his perspective and contributed to his personal development, illustrating the value of philosophical inquiry in shaping one's worldview.

💡Support

Support, in this video, denotes the act of providing help or encouragement to someone. The speaker emphasizes the role of support from various people in his life, including his parents and Sam, in helping him overcome challenges and find his path. Support is portrayed as a vital element in personal growth and recovery from setbacks.

💡Reflection

Reflection is the act of thinking deeply about one's experiences, feelings, and thoughts. The speaker engages in reflection when he considers why his wife married him despite his past struggles. This introspection is a key component of the speaker's journey towards self-awareness and understanding his own value, as he ponders the love and support he has received.

Highlights

The importance of recognizing one's uniqueness and inherent beauty.

Life's challenges can make it difficult to feel special, likening it to a flower's petals being picked.

A personal story of failure and arrest at the age of 17, highlighting the impact of early life struggles.

The powerful moment of seeing a mother's tears of shame and its life-changing effect.

The role of a supportive father who encourages immediate action after a setback.

The transformative experience of being seen and valued by an employer, Mr. Sam.

The impact of daily storytelling on broadening one's perspective beyond formal education.

The realization of one's ability to dream and the subsequent return to education.

The struggle of post-college life and the search for purpose and employment.

The discovery of a talent for public speaking through a supportive community.

The journey from feeling lost to becoming a teacher and a speaker.

The financial struggles and the emotional support from a spouse.

The concept of unconditional love and its role in personal recovery and growth.

The metaphor of being 'pieced back together' by the people in one's life.

The speaker's belief in the audience's potential, seeing something in them.

Transcripts

[Music]

you and I are not very different from

this flower just like this flower is

unique you are unique all of us has

something special that makes us as

beautiful do you know what makes you

special now the answer to that can be a

little difficult to find because

sometimes life has a cruel way of

picking out your petals breaking you

into and throwing you into the trash and

when you're broken it's very difficult

to feel special

mr. Carter sir my fellow flies I can

remember the first time I broke I was 17

years old I had already flunked high

school and managed to get myself

arrested now I wasn't afraid of the cops

but there was one person I was very

afraid of and that was my mama raise

your hand if you have an emotional

mother let me see

put them all together you get mama

I can hear her scream outside the police

station even the cops were afraid she

came up to me held the iron bars looked

into my eyes and I saw a tear coming

down her face now I've seen my mama cry

before but mother's cry three types of

tears tears of joy tears of sorrow and

tears of shame and when a son sees a

mother cry tears of shame that's a

life-changing moment she looked at me

and said son I want you to be a better

man that night when I drove home my dad

was waiting for me at home

now my dad is a cool dad raise your hand

if you have a cool dad put them all

together you get my dad my dad came up

to me and said son it's okay you flunk

your exams

you already got arrested that's fine you

get that from your mother's side

I want you to start working immediately

and I said okay so my dad took me to

meet one of his friends called Sam

now Sam was an accountant who had an

accounting firm and had generously

decided to make me his personal

assistant and there he was he looked

like a teddy bear but this man was

special I looked at him and he looked at

me and then he said the most amazing

thing he said son I see something in you

but I don't know what it is if you

decide to work with me I can help you

find that something and I was like whoa

that's the first time in my whole life

somebody has ever told they see

something in me and I started working

for Sam and every day after work he used

to tell me stories about the world about

history about culture about philosophy

and it was much more interesting than

what I learned in school and I

discovered I can dream and I started

dream ladies and gentlemen after one

year I went back into high school

completed my exams and went into college

after successfully completing college I

found a great girl but not a job

I didn't know what I wanted to do with

my life have you ever had that problem

and when you're lost it's difficult to

feel special so I went back to my cool

dad and I said dad I feel lost he said

you are like your mother so my dad

introduced me to this strange club that

had a strange name with strange people

talking on the first meeting they told

me to do something called Payable topic

I asked it but while I was speaking I

see a strange man seated in the back row

humble simple the unfailing quality of

kindness in his eyes as soon as I

finished he walked up to me look me dead

straight in the eye and said son I see

something in you but I don't know what

it is if you come here twice a month

maybe we can find that something and

ladies and gentlemen I discovered I

could speak and I loved speaking and

that led me to become a teacher I know

what it's like to not have enough money

in your bank account I know what it's

like to worry when the bills start

coming in and sometimes in the middle of

the night I wake up my beautiful wife

and I ask her honey why did you marry me

she says I saw something in

but I still don't know what it is ladies

and gentlemen today I am a dream I am a

speaker and I learned the unfailing

quality of unconditional love from my

wife I was broken and I've been broken

lost and broke many times in my life

but the people in my life were able to

reach into the trashcan and make me

whole again if it was up to me I would

have never been able to do that and this

is why if you have great people in your

life no matter how broke how loss or how

broken you become they can piece you

back together ladies and gentlemen when

I look at you I see something in but I

don't know what is it over you

you