The Back Story
Just 20 days before our epic battle, I spoke, in club, for the first time. 30 seconds into my speech, I ripped my notes up. I managed to finish, but right after a heat fell over my face. I quietly exited the room, hid in the bathroom and cried.
After our Toastmasters meeting, Rich put his hand on my shoulder like a father.
"Jordan, there is a great speaker in you and I'm going to help you get there."
In 2006, Rich participated in Toastmasters International's World Championship of Public Speaking, placing 3rd out of nearly 30,000 contestants worldwide. He has finished in the top 20 speakers in Toastmasters in 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
That day, he taught me my first public speaking lesson "Internalize your speech, don't memorize it."
The next week the toastmaster of the night asked who was competing in the club contest. I fearfully raised my hand.
"Jordan, I'm sorry you can't compete this year. You have to give 6 speeches beforehand."
The club only met once a week... I was heartbroken.
That night, I messaged Rich one question. "Is it possible."
His response?
"Yes."
I took up every speaking slot our club offered and recorded the speeches I gave at other clubs. With each speech I gave, I gained a little more confidence.
After my 6th speech, fear set in. The contest was in 2 days and I didn't feel like any of my messages hit home. I didn't feel like I even belonged in the same toastmasters club as Rich, much less share the same stage. I explained my internal struggle. How can I speak next to you!
He replied, "One word at a time."
The Contest
I showed up to the contest full of passion. You could almost feel the energy pulsing from me. I walked into our club meeting room. Rich was the only person in the room. He sat in the front row with his eyes closed. He sported slick black pants, a button up and a tie. I had blue jeans, nikes and a tight button up that showed off my physique. It was a classic battle between experience and youth.
My first question was clearly a reflection of what I was feeling. Rich, are you nervous?
He responded with a smile. "Always. The only way to give a great speech is to be a little nervous."
I blew out a sigh of relief. I knew he was my "competition" but he also is my hero. I asked for help.
"I haven't given a single run through of this speech without messing up. Can I give you my intro? I think I can do it if I'm looking at you. I know you can't edit it or anything. I just need to make sure I can say what I have."
He nodded.
I stumbled through it somehow and proceeded to put my head down. Most competitors would take advantage of that moment of weakness, but not Rich.
"Jordan, you're so much better than you think. You're going to kill it."
I mumbled, "I haven't given this speech in time once..."
I've never seen him stare at me so hard. "When that red light goes on, you bail. Hear me?"
"Yes sir."
20 minutes later it was time to draw for who spoke first. I stuck my hand in the box and pulled out the little piece of paper. I slowly opened it. My heart sank. Written in big black ink was the number 2... I had to go after him.
Show Time
Rich stood in front of the audience with absolute conviction. Within 20 seconds he had the whole crowd laughing. His gestures were powerful, he stressed his points perfectly and we hung on his every word. As I listened I waited for him to do it... 30 seconds later, BOOM! He dropped a bomb on us. This was the champion I expected.
He shook the toastmaster's hand, and proceeded to sit right beside me. He patted my back and whispered, "You've got this Jordan. Knock em dead."
His encouragement gave me a sudden sense of clarity. I walked up, shook the toastmasters hand and opened.
"I've spent all week figuring out how I could connect with you. I knew... if I could do that, I would change your life."
I looked at Rich, his head nod gave me permission to keep going.
"How can I connect with an audience with an age range of 20 all the way to 35?"
The room erupted in laughter.
I looked at Rich, he nodded his head. I proceeded
"At 4:00 a.m. last night it hit me. The one thing you and I have in common... Is life.I'm sure you will agree at times, it's not easy."
I locked eyes with Rich, he gave me the last nod I needed. I turned my gaze towards the audience and erupted.
I built a playground out of thin air on the stage, I made them see my best friend standing up against the playground tyrants! I built a drug house and showed them my bestfriend dragging me out! I made them visualize me giving that first speech!
I took a deep breath, as I prepared to let loose a bomb of my own.
"My, whole, life...my best friend has been my dream."
Have the courage to stand up for yourself! Quit asking your friends permission to follow your heart! Don't show up to toastmasters with your back against the dream that brought you here!"
I shook the toastmasters hand, and took my seat next to Rich. He whispered, "You won! You nailed it. I'm... so...proud of you. I felt like the World Champion of Public Speaking already. Not because I had won but because my hero just said he was proud of me.
We waited for 15 minutes for them to get back and declare me the champion.
The ballot counters walked in and the Toastmaster took the stand.
"This is terrible. It appears we have a disqualification. Our Solar Speak club champion is Rich Hopkins!"
I had gone over the time limit by 11 seconds.
Rich didn't jump up for joy, or run to grab his prize. His only concern was me. The only thing I remember was him grabbing my hand. All the noise in the room disappeared as the words "disqualified" ran through my brain.
When I came back to my senses, there was an intense heat on my face. The same heat I felt after giving my first speech. The toastmaster struck the gavel dismissing us and I ran out the room. I ran to the first hiding spot I could find and cried. Chasing me, with his prosthetic leg, Rich thundered down the hallway yelling my name. He found me sobbing in a hidden corner of the waiting area.
He walked right up, and put his hand on my shoulder.
" This contest does not mean anything. You have an incredible story, and you are going to change more lives than you can imagine. This contest does not define you."
I choked out a response, "I wouldn't have minded losing to you. You're amazing and you've taught me everything! When I heard that I was "disqualified" my heart was ripped out of my chest. That was the best message of my life and it didn't qualify."
Rich nodded with understanding and began a story.
"It was 2005. I was competing for the area contest and I gave a knock out speech. I thought for sure I had punched my ticket to the finals. That's when I heard the same words you heard tonight. We have a disqualification."
I looked at him in disbelief.
" I was 3 seconds over. I know what you're feeling. I also know that I won't allow you to give up."
On February 27th 2014, 20 days after ripping up a speech I wrote about myself, I gave a speech so powerful, a world champion doubted his victory. That's... top tier coaching. Thank you Rich.
