Table Topics Secrets Revealed

Someone said that there is no such thing as talent because talent means divine gift. Hard work, persistence and passion will get you what you want.

If you practice a hundred times, a thousands, you will become better than ever. If you set goals, practice, get immediate feedback and focus on the techniques, you will be a champion.

Do you know the saying “Practice makes perfect” is a myth? If you practice wrongly, say you learn to type with 2 fingers, you will be perfectly wrong. Wrong practice leads to wrong outcome.

Practice makes better. Anyone can win a Table Topics Contest. I put a bunch of newbies who are afraid to volunteer during table topics session. I put them through a 6-session workshop. At the end of it, every one felt much more confidential. I keep grilling them with topics after topics. I taught them the techniques of responding to specific types of questions. They get immediate feedback.  Two of the graduates of my workshop subsequently won the Club’s Table Topics Contest.  Another became a first runner-up in the Area contest.

Now you can discover the secrets in the book “Table Topics Secrets Revealed!“

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Current Affairs is a favourite genre. The favourite Table Topics of the month is about the global financial crisis.

One of the questions asked is: How does the current financial crisis affect you?
This year, one of the questions in a district contest is a very simple and straightforward one:

“The credit crisis is going to cause all of us to have to tighten our belts. What advice do you have for our audience members here today?”

This is an easier question that the one at the Toastmasters District 73 Table Topics Final 2007.

The question was: “Do you have to obey all the public speaking rules?”

Take a look at the performance of the District champion. He has a very dramatic start. The audience laughed.  He took a minority view point. The trick question is in the word ‘all’.  At one point, he walked to the lectern to read the topic again.  He paused well to buy some time to recollect his thoughts. He ended by restating his point that one should break the rules because it is more fun.

For Table Topics contests at the District level,  the topics are usually abstract such as quotations, or controversial and humourous ones such as the above.

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Miss Singapore Universe 2004

It was the year 2004. The 5 most beautiful women were left standing on the stage. One of them will be declared the most beautiful woman in Singapore. The person who can answer the question best will be crowned Miss Singapore.

You will cringe at their answers.   Some will crack under pressure and say the most silly and meaningless thing. But some will keep their cool and say something meaningful and witty.

The question is: “If your daughter wants to join Miss Singapore Universe, what advice would you give her?”

The winning answer from 19-year-old Sandy Chua.  She said:

“I will tell her to go for it and do her best.
I will also tell her a pageant is not about winning because it is only one night.
But she is the daughter I will love for the rest of your life”

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