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

Toastmasters International

17 Aug 202407:53

Summary

TLDRIn 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.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Overcoming the Fear of Inadequacy

Hannah Chang shares her journey of self-doubt and the realization that readiness is a myth. Born in Hong Kong, she faced the challenge of wanting to live abroad despite not feeling prepared. Her mother and sister's concerns about her lack of cooking skills and her career in law were obstacles she initially accepted. However, a pivotal lunch with her role model, Mr. Tong, who offered her a partnership at the law firm, led to a profound insight. Hannah learned that one will never feel truly ready for big changes, but taking the leap is the first step to finding the way. This realization prompted her to quit her job and move to Taiwan, where she found love and a new purpose.

05:03

🥐 Embracing New Challenges with Toast Masters

In Taiwan, Hannah met Oscar, who introduced her to Toast Masters, an organization that helped her grow in public speaking despite her initial lack of cooking skills. Oscar became her mentor, and their chemistry led to a significant turning point when he asked her to join a speech contest. Although she felt unprepared, Hannah remembered Mr. Tong's advice and decided to participate. The experience, although initially daunting, taught her that readiness is not a prerequisite for taking on new challenges. She encourages others to start their journeys without waiting for the perfect moment, as the path to success is found through action, not inaction.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Readiness

Readiness refers to the state of being prepared or willing to undertake a task or challenge. In the video's theme, it is the feeling of being adequately equipped to face new experiences. Hannah Chang repeatedly questions her readiness to make significant life changes, such as moving abroad or starting a new career. The concept is central to the narrative, as it explores the idea that one might never feel completely ready for big decisions but must take the leap anyway, as exemplified by her decision to move to Taiwan despite her doubts.

💡Challenges

Challenges are tasks or situations that require considerable mental or physical effort to overcome. The video discusses the idea of taking on new challenges, such as traveling the world or starting a business, which can be daunting but also rewarding. Hannah's journey is filled with challenges, from adjusting to life in a new country to facing the prospect of a new career path, illustrating the video's message that challenges are a natural part of growth and self-improvement.

💡Career

A career is a professional occupation or the series of positions one holds in a professional life. Hannah's career as a lawyer in Hong Kong is a significant part of her identity and life before she decides to move abroad. The decision to leave her career represents a major life change and is a key turning point in the video, highlighting the difficulty of letting go of something secure to pursue an uncertain but potentially more fulfilling path.

💡Fear

Fear is an emotional response to perceived threats or danger. In the context of the video, fear is what holds Hannah back from pursuing her dreams, such as the fear of the unknown, not being good enough, or the possibility of failure. The video encourages viewers to confront their fears and take action despite them, as doing so can lead to personal growth and new opportunities.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration is the process of being motivated or stimulated to feel or do something, often by someone or something. Mr. Tong serves as an inspiration for Hannah, encouraging her to take the leap and start her new life abroad. His advice to 'just start' is a pivotal moment in the video, illustrating the power of mentorship and the impact of supportive figures in helping individuals overcome their hesitations.

💡Self-Doubt

Self-doubt is the feeling of uncertainty in one's own abilities or decisions. Throughout the video, Hannah experiences self-doubt, questioning whether she is ready for the changes she wants to make. This concept is closely tied to the theme of the video, which is about overcoming internal barriers to pursue one's aspirations, as seen when Hannah decides to move to Taiwan despite her self-doubt.

💡Opportunity

Opportunity refers to a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something or a favorable juncture for attempting something. The video presents opportunities as moments that one must seize, even if they feel unprepared. Hannah's move to Taiwan and subsequent meeting with Oscar represent opportunities that she takes, leading to new experiences and personal growth.

💡Mentorship

Mentorship is a relationship in which a more experienced or knowledgeable person helps guide a less experienced one. Oscar becomes Hannah's mentor in the Toastmasters organization, providing guidance and support as she navigates her new environment. Mentorship is a key element in the video, showing how the advice and support of others can be instrumental in personal and professional development.

💡Toastmasters

Toastmasters is an international organization that helps people develop public speaking and leadership skills. In the video, Toastmasters is the platform where Hannah meets Oscar and embarks on a new journey of self-improvement. It serves as a metaphor for taking on new challenges and stepping out of one's comfort zone, as Hannah does when she joins the organization despite her initial reluctance.

💡Courage

Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery. The video's message encourages viewers to have the courage to start something new, even when they don't feel ready. Hannah's decision to move abroad and join the speech contest, despite her fears and self-doubts, exemplifies the courage needed to embrace new experiences and opportunities.

💡Growth

Growth refers to the process of developing or becoming more mature, advanced, or elaborate. The overarching theme of the video is personal growth, which Hannah experiences as she moves abroad, faces new challenges, and learns to overcome her fears and self-doubts. Her journey illustrates the idea that growth often comes from stepping outside of one's comfort zone and embracing change.

Highlights

The speaker admits to not feeling ready for the challenges ahead.

Hannah Chang's experience of traveling to Europe for the first time sparked a desire to live abroad.

Cultural differences in Europe, such as expensive water and the practice of cheek kissing, intrigued Hannah.

Despite her mother's advice, Hannah was encouraged to finish her law degree before considering living abroad.

After completing her law degree and gaining her license, Hannah still faced hesitations about moving abroad.

Hannah's sister advised her to start working as a lawyer before making a significant life change.

An inner voice challenged Hannah's decision to leave her career in Hong Kong after 10 years.

Mr. Tong, a role model and experienced lawyer, offered Hannah a promotion to partner at the law firm.

Hannah's initial reaction to the promotion was to express that she wasn't ready, echoing a recurring theme.

Mr. Tong's advice was to 'just start' and find the way as you go, a pivotal moment for Hannah.

Hannah took the bold step of quitting her job and moving to Taiwan, despite the challenges.

In Taiwan, Hannah met Oscar, who would become a significant figure in her life.

Oscar introduced Hannah to Toastmasters, an organization that would challenge her further.

Despite not knowing how to cook, Hannah was encouraged by Mr. Tong's advice to 'just start'.

Hannah's chemistry with Oscar led to a mentorship and growth in her personal and professional life.

Oscar's proposal for Hannah to join a speech contest initially made her feel unprepared.

Hannah's participation in the speech contest, despite her fears, led to a moment of realization about readiness.

The speech concludes with a call to action, encouraging the audience to pursue their dreams regardless of feeling ready.