Being one of the contestants, I had been thinking about what to say for more than a month before I finally put down words at work yesterday morning. I spent the afternoon making my props and rehearsed my speech several times before the contest.
Seven Minutes and Thirty Seconds
Five, four, three, two, one, time is up. I can get my hourly pay! (a sign holder for real estate advertising takes off the vinyl yellow raincoat, kisses one hundred NT bill)
Five, four, three, two, one, time is up. I can get my hourly pay! (a doctor in white coat, shakes two thousand NT bills in the air)
Time is money. Time is our most valuable commodity. Like it or not, we are judged by our society of material with how much we make an hour. The more money we make, the more successful we are. We are defined by the number on our price tag (show a price tag). How much is your price tag per hour?
I plunged into the job market immediately after I graduated from college in 1977. So long ago, when I was young and insatiable. Then I went to graduate school in US, came back to Taiwan to work for the government, Pharmaceutical Association, Pharmaceutical Company, my hourly pay went up, but I faced the question of my price tag at the end of second millennium (stick the price tag on me).
In 1999, at age of 45, I worked 24-7 as a project manager at Quintiles, a contract research organization. For more than one year, I managed clinical trials,surrounded by smart and rich doctors, for multinational pharmaceutical companies and I charged 1,000 US dollars for 15 minutes. In other words, I sold myself for profit with a price tag of 1,000 US dollars (show one thousand US dollars bill) for 15 minutes (move the long hand from 12 to 3 on the clcok). Fifteen minutes (move the long hand from 3 to 6 on the clcok) , charge! Fifteen minutes (move the long hand from 6 to 9 on the clcok) , charge! Been programmed to work at a time unit of a quarter of an hour, I thought about the value of my life. Was it about the accumulation of wealth? I quit my job for profit (remove the price tag from me).
I spent more time in communities, in Toastmasters, surrounded by energetic and enthusiastic people. They changed the trajectory of my life. I found the purpose of my life when I offered my helping hands for free for a bigger and more meaningful cause.
Facing age of 60 now, I shall lead my life with a new time unit of 7'30". Seven minutes and thirty seconds (move the long hand from 1.5 to 3 on the clcok) , give! Seven minutes and thirty seconds (move the long hand from 3 to 4.5 on the clcok) , give! In Toastmasters, for every speech I make, I aim to inspire and to motivate people to be themselves, to become masters of life and work, and to realize their dreams.
I joined Toastmasters in 1984 to meet interesting people and to hone language skills. Over past three decades, I have been programmed to deliver speeches in 7'30". It was about the accumulation of educational awards and titles in the beginning, but it is more about the value and significance of my speeches now, how much I can achieve in persuading people into balancing for profit and for purpose lives to make the world a better place for all. I know there is a long way to go in my remaining short life, but I'm on my way, one step at a time!
Time, be it invisible, it is in our hand. In 7'30", a Toastmaster delivers a speech to share his or her purpose of life. In 7'30", a Toastmaster does justice to his or her speech. In 7'30", a Toastmasters achieves bliss through services to others. Make the best use of 7'30" and it’s the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and others.
Five, four, three, two, one! Time is up! No money! Wow, it surely feels good to achieve another milestone in life in 7 minutes and 30 seconds! Contest Master!
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