Ok, so maybe I have too much time on my hands. Truth is, it was Monday when I wrote this, and I didn't feel like writing. Instead, I spent my time catching up on my reading hoping to spark some new ideas.

I came across this story, and quite frankly, I thought it was funny. Maybe your funny bone doesn't bend that way. Hey, I'm a writer; we make fun of everything, and it's all grist for the mill.

Anyway, enjoy it. When I wrote this, it was Heart Attack Monday, i.e., more people have heart attacks on Monday morning than any other time. (Must be from having to go back to a real J.O.B. LOL)

Chapter 11 - How to Make a Speech, from the ebook How to Turn Your Ability into Cash by Earl Prevette:

Some years ago, I was invited to make a speech. I chose for my subject "The Three-Legged Stool," a dissertation on the relation of Capital, Labor and the Public. Toasts to doubtful characters and the denunciation of the Constitution of the United States opened the meeting. I was unaware that it was a communistic meeting.

Finally my sponsor introduced me. I spoke briefly as follows: "Some people here are denouncing the Constitution of the United States. This is the law of the land and guarantees civil rights to everyone. This law makes it possible for you to meet here in peaceful assembly, and to denounce it is to denounce your own security."

At that moment someone shouted, "Go to hell." I paid no attention. In explaining "The Three-Legged Stool," I pointed out that Capital rep- resented one leg, Labor represented one leg and the Public represented one leg. These three legs make the stool and each leg was dependent upon the other to stand, and all three legs must stand together, or else fall together. Again the voice in the audience shouted, "Go to hell." I paid no attention. In about one minute
the same voice shouted, "Go to hell." I paused, smiled and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, in the past five minutes I have been invited three times to join the Communist Party." The audience rose to its feet and cheered me for at least two minutes. Every person in that audience was my friend.

This is an old story, and some of you may not get it. That's OK. It's pretty humorous, but it really doesn't reveal what the rest of the chapter is all about, and that's making a speech.

In fact, this story itself would make a great inclusion in a speech. Why? Because it's compelling.

Even if you never have an occasion where you need to make a speech, the advice offered in this chapter is good advice, not just for business people, but really for everyone because we all have to communicate with others in one way or another whether it's through speech or written communication.

Good writing, as well as good speech, can't always be compelling. However, it can always be clear and concise.

Not only is this story compelling, it's also clear and concise. The writer also writes the way he speaks, a skill we are never taught in school.

Enjoy the joke. Get a good laugh. In fact, buy a copy of this book. It's a great life plan. Apply the skills of Earl Prevette to your writing, as well as your speech, and you'll see a tremendous improvement.