For example, if you’re accepting an award, you’ll want to introduce yourself to the audience. A chronological account of your life tells your audience where and when you were born, the first memory you can remember, and where you went to college.
For example, if you’re giving your speech at a business meeting, you might want to focus on your most impressive business-related accomplishments. If you’re giving your speech in an academic setting, you might want to highlight your academic accomplishments, including degrees and certifications.
For instance, if you are a veterinarian, you might talk about your first pet, your first job caring for animals, your decision to become a veterinarian, your current practice and your current pets. This is also a great approach if you’re writing a wedding toast. Focus on your friendship with the couple (or just one of them) and how it has influenced your life over time.
For example, if you’re a surgeon, you might talk about your most difficult case and how it led you to pioneer a new technique. If you’re a military veteran, you might talk about being in combat and how it changed you.
For example, if you’re giving your speech at a business gathering, you could start with a quote from the company’s founder. If you’re giving a wedding toast, it’s generally best not to joke—what you think is funny can sometimes come across as mean or embarrassing to the couple getting married.
For example, if you’re giving a speech that focuses on when you became a doctor as a key moment in your life, your first body paragraph might talk about how you liked helping people as a kid, the second paragraph might talk about your decision to go to medical school, and the last paragraph might talk about what it felt the first time someone called you “doctor. ”
For example, if your icebreaker speech has been about how you became a doctor, you could end by saying something like “Little girls who help clean up their friends’ ‘booboos’ on the playground grow up to be doctors. Thank you so much for having me. Have a great day. " You could also say something like “If you want to be a doctor, remember that there is nothing more important than a passion for helping people and a commitment to hard work. "
You don’t have to memorize the speech, but it should be clear that you know what’s coming next while you’re speaking.
