Improve Your Speaking

Summary

In this motivational transcript, the speaker emphasizes the importance of deliberate practice for achieving excellence, referencing Malcolm Gladwell's 'Outliers' and the 10,000-hour rule. They challenge the audience to commit to 3 minutes of daily speaking practice, using a webcam to record themselves explaining various topics. The speaker highlights the significance of practice over talent and the power of experimentation, urging individuals to take action and improve their skills through consistent, focused effort.

Takeaways

• 📚 Malcolm Gladwell's book 'Outliers' suggests that 10,000 hours of practice is the key to achieving world-class excellence in any field, regardless of innate talent.
• 🎻 Success in fields like music, sports, and public speaking is not about natural talent but about consistent and dedicated practice.
• ⚽ The example of soccer player Lionel Messi illustrates that even the most talented individuals achieve greatness through daily practice and commitment.
• 💪 The speaker emphasizes the importance of making a personal commitment to practice, suggesting that without action, all learning is in vain.
• 💻 The speaker proposes a challenge for the audience to practice speaking for 3 minutes every day for the next 10 days, using a webcam for recording and feedback.
• 🕒 The concept of 'practice makes perfect' is reinforced by the idea that even 3 minutes a day can lead to significant improvement over time.
• 🎨 A pottery class example is used to demonstrate the importance of focusing on quantity and experimentation over perfection in the pursuit of excellence.
• 🔍 The best results come from those who are actively engaged in the process, trying new things, and learning from their attempts.
• 🚫 The speaker warns against the pitfall of inaction, stating that even extensive experience without the intent to improve does not lead to mastery.
• 🎥 The use of a webcam is recommended as a tool for self-assessment and improvement, allowing for the observation of one's own performance.
• 🧠 The script encourages viewers to experiment with different speaking techniques during their practice sessions, as this fosters growth and innovation.

Q & A

What is the main idea presented in the script about achieving excellence?

The script emphasizes that excellence is achieved through 10,000 hours of deliberate practice, regardless of innate talent or background.

What book by Malcolm Gladwell is mentioned in the script, and what is its significance?

The book 'Outliers' is mentioned, which explores the factors that contribute to high achievement and suggests that 10,000 hours of practice is a key component.

Why does the script mention Irish people and Chilean people in the context of public speaking?

The script uses these examples to refute the idea that excellence in public speaking is innate to certain nationalities, asserting that practice is what truly matters.

According to the script, what is the role of talent in achieving excellence?

Talent is not the determining factor for excellence; rather, it is the commitment to consistent and dedicated practice that leads to mastery.

What does the script suggest about the importance of practice for a musician or a sportsman?

The script suggests that even the most talented individuals must engage in extensive practice to reach the highest levels of performance in their fields.

What is the significance of the 10,000-hour rule in the context of the script?

The 10,000-hour rule is presented as a universal principle for achieving excellence, applicable to various fields such as music, sports, programming, and public speaking.

Why does the script mention Leo Messi as an example?

Leo Messi is used as an example to illustrate that even the most successful individuals in their fields did not rely solely on innate talent but on consistent practice and effort.

What challenge does the script propose for the next 10 days?

The script challenges individuals to practice speaking for 3 minutes every day for the next 10 days, using a webcam to record and review their performance.

What is the purpose of recording and reviewing one's speaking practice with a webcam?

Recording and reviewing speaking practice allows individuals to receive immediate feedback, identify areas for improvement, and track their progress over time.

How does the script relate the story of the pottery class to the concept of practice?

The pottery class story illustrates that focusing on quantity and experimentation (as opposed to perfection) leads to better outcomes and skill development.

What advice does the script give for practicing speaking effectively?

The script advises to practice speaking daily, experiment with different ideas, and not be afraid to make mistakes, as these are all part of the learning process.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Path to Excellence Through Practice

This paragraph emphasizes the significance of deliberate practice in achieving excellence, referencing Malcolm Gladwell's 'Outliers' and the 10,000-hour rule. It dispels the myth of innate talent being the sole determinant of success, using examples from various fields including music, sports, and public speaking. The speaker challenges the audience to commit to practicing for 3 minutes every day for the next 10 days, suggesting activities such as explaining a product, CV, or personal vision. The paragraph concludes with the idea that practice, not just exposure or reading, is what transforms one into a skilled individual, and highlights the importance of making a conscious decision to improve.

05:03

🕒 Embracing the Power of Daily Practice and Experimentation

The second paragraph builds on the concept of daily practice, suggesting that even a small commitment of 3 minutes a day can lead to significant improvement over time. It breaks down the 10,000-hour rule into more tangible time frames, illustrating that consistent practice over years can lead to mastery. The speaker encourages experimentation during practice sessions, drawing an analogy with the practice habits of top musicians. The paragraph also shares a story about a pottery class to illustrate the importance of focusing on quantity and continuous practice over perfection. It concludes with a cautionary note about privacy during practice sessions and a final call to action to start practicing with a webcam for immediate feedback and improvement.

Keywords

💡Outliers

The term 'Outliers' refers to the book by Malcolm Gladwell, which explores the factors that contribute to high levels of success. In the video, it is mentioned to introduce the concept that excellence is not just about innate talent but also about deliberate practice. The book is used to set the stage for the discussion on what it takes to achieve world-class performance in various fields.

💡Excellence

Excellence is defined as the quality of being exceptionally good or outstanding. The video emphasizes that excellence is achievable through consistent and dedicated practice, rather than relying solely on natural talent. It is a central theme that excellence can be cultivated in areas such as music, sports, and public speaking.

💡Practice

Practice is the act of performing an activity repeatedly to improve or maintain one's skill. The video script highlights the idea that 10,000 hours of practice is a key factor in achieving excellence, as it allows for refinement of skills and learning from mistakes.

💡Talent

Talent refers to a natural aptitude or skill in a particular area. The video challenges the notion that talent is the sole determinant of success, suggesting that hard work and practice are more critical in reaching a high level of proficiency.

💡Commitment

Commitment in this context is the dedication and determination to achieve a goal or to follow through with a course of action. The speaker urges the audience to make a commitment to practice speaking for 3 minutes every day, emphasizing that this is a crucial step towards improving their public speaking skills.

💡Return on Investment (ROI)

Return on Investment (ROI) is a measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment. In the script, it is metaphorically used to suggest that the time and effort invested in practicing public speaking should yield improvements in one's skills, thus providing a 'return' on that investment.

💡Webcam

A webcam is a digital camera that allows for video recording and conferencing. The speaker suggests using a webcam to record oneself practicing speeches, which provides a tool for self-assessment and feedback, a crucial part of the learning process.

💡Feedback

Feedback is the process of providing comments or critique on a performance or piece of work. In the video, feedback is mentioned as an essential element for improvement, as it allows individuals to observe their own performance and make necessary adjustments.

💡Pottery Class

The pottery class example illustrates the importance of focusing on the quantity and variety of practice over perfection. It shows that those who aimed for quantity produced better work, as they were constantly experimenting and practicing, which is a metaphor for the speaker's advice on public speaking practice.

💡Experimentation

Experimentation is the act of trying out new methods or ideas to see what works best. The video encourages viewers to experiment with different speaking techniques during their practice sessions, as this can lead to discovering new approaches and improving skills.

💡Dedication

Dedication is the quality of being committed to a task or purpose. The speaker stresses the importance of dedicating time each day to practice, which is a form of dedication that can lead to significant improvement over time.

Highlights

The most important thing you can do in the next 10 days to improve your speaking is to practice daily for 3 minutes using your webcam.

Malcolm Gladwell's book 'Outliers' suggests that achieving world-class excellence in any field requires 10,000 hours of practice.

Excellence isn't about innate talent; it's about the time and effort put into practicing and improving.

Leo Messi's success is attributed to his daily commitment to practice, not to any natural physical advantages.

The most important commitment you can make is to practice speaking regularly, as this will lead to improvement.

Recording yourself speaking daily provides valuable feedback and helps you to improve.

A pottery class experiment showed that those who focused on quantity, producing many pots, ended up creating the best quality pots as well.

The group that focused on creating the perfect pot spent too much time thinking and not enough time practicing, resulting in poorer outcomes.

The lesson from the pottery class is that frequent practice and experimentation lead to better results.

Practicing speaking for 3 minutes daily won't quickly add up to 10,000 hours, but it will still lead to noticeable improvement over time.

Great musicians improve by constantly trying new things and experimenting, even if their practice sounds terrible.

When practicing speaking, don't just aim for perfection; try different approaches and experiment with new ideas.

You can delete any recordings you're not happy with, so don't be afraid to experiment and make mistakes.

If you don't commit to regular practice, any advice or instruction you receive will be a waste of time.

Dedicate 3 minutes a day for the next 10 days to experiment with and practice your speaking skills.

Transcripts

Thinking...

What's the most important thing you can do in the next 10 days to improve your speaking?

and for this

Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book 3 years ago: "Outliers"

"Los que Sobresalen" [in Spanish]

What does it take to achieve World-Class? What does it take to be truly Excellent?

As a musician? As a sportsman? As a speaker?

and he looked at multiple different cases

Is it talent?

do Irish people just have this inmate knack that they can be great public speakers?

and people from Chile will never get there

the answer is "No".

What is it that leads to excellence?

in programming?

and the answer: 10,000 hours of practice.

No matter where you start from, no matter how talented a kid was in school

it's the kid that practices 8 hours a day that's now playing

as a soloist with the top orchestras of the world

Leo Messi wasn't born with a better right knee and a better left foot

than anyone else in the world.

It's what he chose to do every day after school every weekend

that means he is where he is today.

The most important Commitment you can make to yourself

…you can listen to all of this and if you don't do this it's a waste

so, as you are considering that €6,000 that you've mentally paid

and you are thinking "how do i get a Return on Investment?"

Every laptop comes with a webcam

I want each of you to decide that you're gonna spend 3 minutes

every day for the next 10 days.

You can call them workdays so you don't have to do it at the weekend.

for 3 minutes every day

Start a little program that records

and explain a product... explain your CV... explain your vision...

explain what is a good life...

One speech that i get my students in IESE to do towards the end

"A Value You Would Share with a Child as the Basis of A Good Life"

So, Day 10 that's your challenge...

3 minutes

your answer to what value

would you share with a child as the basis for a good life.

So, nothing I can do here is going to turn you into a great speaker.

No amount of watching YouTube videos of Bill Clinton is going to turn you into

Bill Clinton

No amount of reading is going to turn you into a writer

only by speaking... that you turn into a speaker

but there are people who are fifty five years old

they've been in more than 10,000 hour's worth of meetings

and they're crap at meetings

the 23-year-old who started yesterday

is better at making meetings run effectively

so it's not just about 10,000 hours...

it's about deciding that it's important deciding you can get better

and the video allows you the feedback that you can watch and see

Here, there was...

a pottery class in the United States

Ceramics. Making pots.

and the teacher took half of the class

and she said at the end of this term

your grade will be given on the weight of pots that you create

here is a weighing scales

at the end of the class

whoever's total production of pots weighs the most

will get the highest grade

to the other half of the class

she said you'll be evaluated on your one most finished piece of pottery

the group that were told "sheer weight"

what was their way of carrying on everyday they produced 5,6,7 pots

they tried random experiments

they tried weird things they try different ideas

but their hands were on clay from the first moment

the group that we're told that they would be evaluated on the most finished pot

they read...

they thought... they talked about concepts they talked about philosophical ideas

they read more...

then went to galleries to look at other people's pots

and the first time they touched clay

was about 3 days before the end of the class

all of the best pots

were made by the group

that focused on weight.

So, your way of being in the pottery group that was measured on weight is get

the webcam going every day

if you do it for 10 days you'll get a lot better

if you keep it going...

3 minutes doesn't get you a very quickly to 10,000 hours

10,000 hours... 8 hours a day is 5 years

4 hours a day 10 years 2 hours a day 20 years

but... we will all still be alive 20 years from now

even 30 years from now

Imagine.

if you set a target of really practicing trying… trial…

and the greatest musicians when you listen to them practice: it's horrible

when I play piano I play the pieces I know

the greatest musicians when they're practicing are trying things they don't

already know. They are trying experiments, they are trying random things

So with the webcam don't just give your perfect speech, try random things

because no one else has to see it. It can be deleted rather quickly

but just be careful that no one gets to your PC while you've got all the silly ones

left on the desktop

so the first

Answer is...

This is a waste of time if you don't decide to dedicate 3 minutes

for the next 10 days

To put into practice, to experiment with some of the ideas