TWEAK A FAMILIAR SPEECH TO FIT THE OBJECTIVES

When developing a Toastmasters speech, the temptation is often to study the objectives then come up with a speech that satisfies the objectives. That is good and logical, but sometimes it leads to a mental block. So how about a different approach?

 
Rather than starting with the speech objectives then looking for a speech topic to match those objectives, use a speech from a subject you are familiar with then adjust it to fit the objectives. There are advantages of speaking from a topic you are familiar.

1. The ease with which you can come up with the facts. Since you are already familiar with the subject, it takes less time to research on the facts and supporting material for your presentation.
2. Portability. You have spent time researching the topic. In fact you dug up more facts than are required for a (5 – 7 minutes) Toastmasters speech. The prudent thing then is to use a topic that you can carry with you out of Toastmasters to your career, hobby or side hustle. As such the time spent researching this Toastmasters project does not feel wasted after your presentation.
3. Passion: When delivering the speech you appear more natural. You are speaking from a subject you care about, therefore passion and enthusiasm come naturally.