When it comes to public speaking, timing is everything
Mark Twain told a story about how he went to church one hot night to hear a city mission worker describe his experiences among the poor people of the crowded districts who, though they needed help, were too modest or
proud to ask for it.
The speaker told of the suffering and bravery he found. Then he pointed out that the best gifts to charity are not the advertised bounties of the wealthy but the small donations of the less fortunate.
His appeals worked. Mark Twain was up with great enthusiasm and generosity. He was ready to give all he had with him–four hundred dollars–and borrow more. The entire congregation wanted to offer all it had.
But the missionary kept on talking. The audience began to notice the heat. It became hotter and hotter. They grew more and more uncomfortable. Mark’s generosity began to shrink. It dwindled to less and less as the speech lengthened until when the plate did finally reach him, he stole ten cents from it. He adds that this simply proves how a little thing like a long-winded speech can induce crime.
The moral of the story: Plan your speech so that it will be the proper length. 2. Timing is everything.
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