On message

The essence of inspirational speaking is the message delivered to the audience. I was interested to see the range of material that the nine World Championship finalists used to support their messages. For the most part, they drew on ordinary everyday experiences. That's something worth bearing in mind if you're ever preparing an International contest speech: it doesn't have to be about the lowest point of your life.

Let's take a look at the finalists in order.

Speaker 1: James Jeffley, California
"The greatest power"
Subject: Trying again after a miscarriage
Message: In adversity we find our superpower

Speaker 2: Kelly Sargeant, Texas
"Goodbye WiFi" (3rd place)
Subject: A phone-free holiday with family
Message: A human connection is more important than an Internet connection

Speaker 3: Kwong Yue Yang, China
"Four words" (2nd place)
Subject: A visit from parents
Message: Don't say "I told you so", say "everything's gonna be okay"

Speaker 4: Marc Williams, NYC
"Want"
Subject: Failing a college course and changing careers
Message: Realise what you really want may be different from what you think you want

Speaker 5: Alain Washnevsky, LA
"The Catalyst"
Subject: Looking after his boss's cat
Message: Take responsibility

Speaker 6: Eric Donaldson, Tennessee
"The medicine in your memory"
Subject: Rediscovering love after a miscarriage
Message: The memory of family support can get us through the tough times

Speaker 7: Dananjaya Hettiarachchi, Sri Lanka
"I see something" (1st place)
Subject: People who have mentored him
Message: There is something special in everyone

Speaker 8: Sharookh Daroowala, Vancouver
"Letter to a son"
Subject: His son leaving home
Message: Experience art as well as the internet

Speaker 9: Chris Woo, Brunei
"Imperfections"
Subject: Not having a speech ready
Message: Never quit when you have support

I've never seen an audience as supportive as the audience at the WCPS final. As you go up through the levels of contest, the support gets more and more enthusiastic, but the Convention audience took the cake. When a contestant asked us to sing, we sang; when they repeated their catchphrase at the end of their speech, we recited it with them; when Chris Woo concluded his speech with a sincere apology for not being ready, a few people in the balcony were on their feet for him. (See Gregory's post and its comments for more on Chris.) The winning speech drew actual screams and cheers, and when the results were announced, some in the audience were calling out "Dananjaya!" even before the contest chair. (Risky, that, by the way. Judging is a funny thing, and even if the judges were in agreement with the people's choice, what if Dan turned out to be the one DQ for time?)

Given what these people put themselves through to compete in the final, it's really uplifting to see them get so much love!