At Toastmasters speakers face very different challenges including prepared speeches, evaluations, hosting an evening and table topics. Shortly, table topics is a session for up to 8 speakers (individually) to organize their thoughts quickly and respond to a question or topic on a stage. Time given for table topics speech’s is 1 to 2 minutes. A person with a role called Table Topics Master is responsible for conveying table topics session. During the last Toastmasters meeting, I was a Table Topics Master and my task was to challenge impromptu speakers. Instead of giving slightly related table topic speech topics I decided to combine all the speeches into one shared story.
Here is what I came up with:
1st speaker: Foreign investors are investigating Eastern Europe to choose one country where they will expand their IT services. Your task is to ensure Lithuania is the best place for such investment.
2nd speaker: Your colleague did a great work and a new company will be established in Lithuania. You have been invited to an interview. Right before shaking a hand of HR representative you realize you don’t have a shirt, just a jacket with visible chest hair. Even disadvantage can be presented as a plus.
3rd speaker: One day you realize you want to start working for yourself. You decide to quit. You decide to (ask audience) become a professional raper. Use this argument while explaining the reason of your decision to your boss.
4th speaker: Your activity fails or you see new opportunities. You decide to lunch a startup. Your million dollar idea will be (ask audience). Give an elevator pitch to investment angels.
5th speaker: Startup skyrockets. You earn millions. You have a great car, outstanding house and your beautiful wife decides you both will from now on become vegetarians. One evening, you make a decision to buy crispy beacon and eat it secretly. Your wife catches you and she is mad. How do you explain and calm her down?
6th speaker: You have been invited to held a speech at TED conference about your success. This is a proper chance to explain to younger generations that the hidden factor behind your success is not a hard work, but (ask audience). I invite a speaker to share his story with millions of viewers around the world.