1. The story	Make a point, tell a story
2. The way	Learn English, the comedian way
3. The topic	I’m Chinese, I’m Canadian
4. Research	Listen, watch, read, and analyze
5. Research	Borrow it, use it, internalize it
6. Writing	When writing, write freely
7. Editing	Creative editing – Google’s my teacher
8. Speaking	The stuff you say and how you say it
9. Performing	Be yourself, only a little bigger
10. Using humor	Everybody needs to laugh

 

My name is Eric Liu. I’m a lucky guy. That is, I win things. Not vacation or vacuum cleaner or lottery ticket. I win jobs. I am so unusually lucky that I sent in 5 resumes, walked into 5 interviews, and walked out with 5 jobs. Generally speaking if a job posting interests me there’s a pretty good chance I will get there and win it. I hear you say: what’s your secret? My secret is I know how to talk. In March 2001 I came to Canada with an engineering degree. I was a new immigrant from China just like you. But – and this is an important “but” – I took a different path. When most of my Chinese friends invested 3-4 years learning another degree or designation, I spent the same 3-4 years learning speaking skills in public speaking clubs. When my friends held back and closed themselves from the world I reached out and spoke out. Notice that I played the game differently. And the strategy paid off. I became a 2-time first place winner of speech contests and I have attained the recognition of Advanced Communicator. Professionally I have worked 5 jobs in ING Direct, ATI Technologies, CIBC, GE Money Canada, and most recently, Scotiabank. I currently work as a senior manager for Scotiabank managing consumer credit risk in Central and South America including Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Caribbean countries. You think I’ve made all these achievements because I am capable? ... No, I’ve made all these achievements because I know how to talk and present myself.

 

Why do you come to Victoria College? To learn, of course. But don’t you think you already know enough? Do you realize to know is one thing and to show what you know is quite another. Much has been said about the keys to success in today’s job market: knowledge, skills, and experience are important; communication however, is critical. If two otherwise equally qualified individuals compete for the same position, the one with better communication skill gets the job. Some people say knowledge is power. No, knowledge isn’t power. Knowledge plus the ability to show it is power. This workshop isn’t about knowledge. It’s about the ability to show it. It’s about communication. It’s about marketing. It’s about presenting and promoting YOU!

 

I love speaking about speaking, especially when I get paid for doing what I enjoy doing. Do you know what my best moment is? Get paid. Well that certainly is a good moment, but not the best. My best moment is when I receive positive feedback from my students, such as the following:

 

 

You realize that small talk happens a dozen times a day – on your way to office, riding elevator with a co-worker, attending a meeting, picking up your kids from day care. I mean … you can not hide! You can’t hide from your house, your car, your cubicle. The skill of small talk comes in handy in many situations such as job interview, your first date, and business meeting. If you sit there and allow an awkward moment of silence, the people who sit with you are not going to feel comfortable. If they don’t feel comfortable with you, they will hire someone else, they will date someone else, and they will give their business to someone else. You see small talk has a social purpose – it breaks the ice, clears the way, and lays the foundation for any relationship. Without small talk you may never get to big talk or real conversation.

 

It’s ironic that we receive so little training on speaking yet we so depend on it in everyday of our lives. Trust me, I know how you feel. I understand your frustration ... because I have been there: I am 90% introverted. I grew up quiet and shy. Not too long ago whenever I was with people I felt awkward, I felt uncomfortable in my own skin, I felt I was missing something – something called confidence and the lack of it was having a huge impact on me – personally and professionally.

 

When you see those people – you know whom I’m talking about – the people who are smiling and happily mingling and talking, you think they are born with the skill, don’t you? See still some people think you are either born with the skill or you are not; you are born a small talker or you are not; you are born a great speaker or you are not. It’s not true! Don’t be fooled into thinking that great speakers are born with the skill. Because they are not! You see there is that 1% – 1% who are natural speakers ...... I hate them too. Very few people are natural speakers; most people have to work at it. They have read books, listened to CDs, watched videos, hired coaches, gone to seminars. In 2005 I went to Toastmasters International convention in downtown Toronto. I paid 150 bucks a day for 3 days in a row. You think it’s expensive? You think I’m crazy? Think about 10,000 people from around the world who paid for their flight, hotel, convention – everything out of their own pockets just to watch some of the best speakers speak. And they were not very different from you and me – they were just ordinary people who wanted to improve their speaking skill. And many of them are native speakers. Don’t you think we have some catch-up to do?

 

Wait a minute, what, what’s wrong with it, what’s the matter? So what? There must be a word to finish that sentence. Someone please help her. How about possible? It’s possible. Even if I can’t hear you I know what you’re thinking: I have tried so many times and given up so many times. I am still me, the same me who can’t speak and can’t communicate. I wrote a song called “So Many Times”: so many times I tried, so many tears I cried. I agree after so many times it’s hard to believe that effective communication is still possible. But you don’t give up so easily. That’s why you’re here. Now you’re asking me: Eric, what’s your secret? How did you do it?

 

I hear you say: oh, thank you, Eric. Is this what you’re telling me? It’s a process. I don’t need you to tell me this. I know it’s a process. It’s a painful process … But it doesn’t have to be. I’m not saying it’s easy but it can be fun and enjoyable. I’ve done it 2 years and I enjoy every moment of it. Enjoyment is what you need and what I will provide. Enjoyment is what keeps you going when the going gets tough. Will you give up on something you enjoy doing even if it’s hard? No.

 

Success is also a habit. A good habit is another thing you need to keep you going. This workshop helps you make a habit of writing & speaking

·   Write stories that you can use in conversations, meetings, presentations

·   Find a speaker you like, imitate him or her. After years of modeling others you will develop your own, unique speaking style.

 

I’ll give you a toolbox not filled with spanners, pliers, or screwdrivers but techniques you will need to make yourself a better speaker. I will teach you how to research and catalog speech materials. I will teach you how to write and polish your own speech the same way a professional does it. I will teach you how to control your body in front of your audience, how to use the power of pause, eye contact, gesture, and pacing to hold your audience, and how to use 6 emotions and personal stories to connect with your audience.

 

Speaking skill can be learned. Here is a 6-word mantra. If you take nothing else with you from this presentation please take this: Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, Stay Noticed. When you are hungry you eat anything you can possibly find. When you are foolish you take risk. When you are noticed opportunity finds you. I have a student whose name is Joey. Unlike most of us Joey came to Canada only 6 months ago and she has already found a job in RBC. No, no, no, it’s not what you think. She has never worked for a bank before. Her secret for success can be summarized into this 6-word mantra: Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, Stay Noticed. Joey is hungry. Oh yes. Every time I come to Victoria College I see her: just walk around and hope to be inspired. You know that hope is a good thing because the day we don’t hope is the day we die. So Joey is hungry and she asks me: “Can I become a better speaker by attending your workshop?” I said: “Joey, let me answer your question with a question. I know you are hungry. So are you foolish? See lots of people out there, I should say, lots of smart people out there wouldn’t have the courage to get up and speak and make a fool out of themselves. If you are foolish enough to just try that, YES, I guarantee you you will become a better speaker.

 

So this is what I am going to do. I will teach you 1) how to lose face with/among/in front of people so people will notice you. I will also teach you 2) how to NOT lose face with/among/in front of people so people will not only notice you but also like you. But I can’t possibly teach you 2) without you trying 1) first. Nobody can.

 

Let me explain how this works. How many guys do we have here? Hey guys, if you remember university you must remember the weekend ball dance at student café. ... Come on, that’s where you court your favorite girls, remember? You were brave but you were such bad dancers. Yet you were smart and you had a strategy. You took three steps to make yourself a better dancer: 1) dance with another guy in your dormitory room; 2) dance with another guy at the student café. Yes we are 2 guys holding pinkies but we really are not gays; 3) after you got enough skill and confidence to invite your favorite girl to dance at student café… Now, when it comes to speaking you follow exactly the same strategy: 1) you come to my workshop. I teach you how to write and how to speak in a safe, encouraging environment. As a matter of fact all my students start speaking in the first of 10 sessions; 2) you join a public speaking club to gain stage time. I suggest any presentation you do in your company you do it first in your Toastmasters club – lose your face there, learn from it and get better; 3) after rounds of practice you will be able to speak comfortably and confidently in your company – you save face in the life-or-death speaking engagements. You realize there are only two ways to save face: 1) remain faceless – you are not seen at all so you don’t even have a face to lose; or 2) lose face, learn from it, and get better. If you remember university and the weekend ball dance the same strategy that worked for you back then will now work for you just fine. Hey guys, I mean all of you, I hope you dance again!

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