About Time to Work the Finalist Speech

Last night I visited another club for the purpose of gathering feedback on my semifinal speech.  Afterwards, I did some thinking about where I am on the mission to Malaysia.

My sense is that I am just about finished with reviewing the feedback on the semifinal speech.  With all due respect to last night's club, the feedback I am now getting is predominantly redundant or unhelpful.  Telling me to "use the stage" is not a helpful message.  Suggested additions (given that I am at an ideal 7:00) are no longer helpful.  Comments on vocal variety are no longer helpful.  I am listening intently to issues of emotional context, gestures, and so forth, but at each presentation they're decreasingly impactful.

For that speech, I am moving on to work with my coach for polishing.  My sense is that I am now only at the stage of making adjustments, not amendments.  Will the speech show up again?  Absolutely---at a Speech Spectacular.  But it is time for another change.

I am also supposed to prepare a second speech.  And this one has not been battle tested.  With the six weeks I have left, this one needs some club presentations and thorough evaluation.  It's a speech I have not come to terms with.  Starting July 21st, I will take this one to show.

It's a judgment call, but I think it the right call.