Toastmasters speech sample ( 5-7 minutes)

Question: What’s the one action that moves the needle more than 100 other actions?

Dear fellow Toastmasters and guests, have you ever felt overwhelmed by the number of tasks you have to complete each day? You’re not alone. Sometimes it can feel like we’re spinning our wheels, trying to get everything done, but not making any real progress. But what if I told you there was one action you could take that would move the needle more than 100 other actions?

The answer lies in mastering habits and timeframes. As we heard from the quotes, sometimes all we need for exceptional results is average effort repeated for an above-average amount of time. We can make our habits more enjoyable by finding the most enjoyable version of each habit we do. And we can achieve our long-term goals by focusing on the present moment, spending just one hour each day working toward our 10-year goals.

I’d like to share a personal anecdote about how this has worked for me. When I was in my early 20s, I had a dream of becoming a published author. But I had a full-time job and other commitments that made it difficult to find time to write. So, I decided to start waking up an hour earlier each day to work on my writing. At first, it was challenging, but soon it became a habit. And over time, that one hour each day added up. I wrote a novel and several short stories, and eventually, I was able to achieve my goal of becoming a published author.

Another example comes from the world of sports. Olympic athletes don’t become champions overnight. They train for years, day in and day out, working on their skills and mastering their craft. And the same goes for entrepreneurs, artists, and anyone else who has achieved great success. It’s not about doing a lot of things all at once. It’s about doing the right things consistently over time.

So, my fellow Toastmasters and guests, what’s the one choice that renders 1000 other choices irrelevant? It’s the choice to focus on the big moves and move quickly and peacefully through the other stuff. It’s about prioritizing the things that are most important to us and letting go of the things that aren’t. It’s about living a life that’s meaningful and fulfilling.

In conclusion, I challenge you to think about your own goals and aspirations. What is the one action you can take today that will move the needle more than 100 other actions? How can you master your habits and timeframes to achieve the life you want to live? I urge you to take that first step today, and to remember that every small action you take can lead to big results over time. Thank you.