Dale Carnegie, the author of The Art of Public Speaking, once said, “There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” How does the presentation you gave differ from the one you practiced and the one you wish you gave? Why do you think that is true?

my book is ''all summer long'' hope larson

1 answer

The presentation I gave may have differed from the one I practiced and the one I wished I gave in a few ways.

The presentation I practiced may have been more polished, rehearsed, and structured. I may have focused on delivering key points and ensuring that my content was well-organized and coherent. However, when it came time to actually give the presentation, I may have felt nervous, stumbled over my words, or lost my train of thought at times, leading to a less smooth delivery than I had hoped for.

The presentation I wished I gave may have been even more engaging, confident, and impactful than the one I actually delivered. In an ideal scenario, I would have captivated my audience from start to finish, delivered my message with passion and clarity, and left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.

I think the reason for the differences between the three speeches lies in the unpredictability of live presentations. Despite thorough preparation and practice, external factors such as nervousness, distractions, technical issues, or unexpected audience reactions can all impact the delivery of a speech. Additionally, no matter how well I may have rehearsed, there may have always been room for improvement or new insights that I only realized in hindsight.

Overall, Carnegie's quote serves as a reminder that public speaking is a dynamic and often unpredictable art form, and while we may have a vision of our ideal speech, the reality of delivering it can be influenced by various factors beyond our control.