Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 6.djvu/70

 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 8 . vi FEB., 192*

The SECRET of BEING a CONVINCING TALKER

How I learned it in one evening.

By GEORGE RAYMOND.

" Have you heard the news about Frank Jordan ? He's been made secretary of the company ! "

This news quickly brought me to the little group which hid gathered in the centre of the office.

I could hardly believe my ears I knew Jordan was a capable fellow, quiet and unassuming, but I never would have selected him for any such sudden rise. I knew, to", that the Secretary of the Great Eastern had to be a big man, and I wondered how in the world Jordan secured the position.

The first chance I got I walked into Jordan's new office, and after congratulating him warmly I asked him to give me the details of how he jumped ahead so quickly. His sr.ory is so intensely interesting that I am going to repeat it as closely as I remember.

" I'll tell you just bow it happened, George, because you may pick up a point or two that will help you.

" You remember how scared I used to be whenever I had to talk to the chief? You remember how you used to tell me that every time I opened my mouth I put my foot into it, meaning, of course, that every time I spoke I got into trouble ? You remember when Ralph Sinton left to take charge of the Western office and I was asked to present him with the silver cup the boys gave him how flustered I was, and how I couldn't say a word because there were people around? You remember how confused I used to be every time I met new people ? I could'nt say what I wanted to say when I wanted to say it ; and I determined that if there was any possible chance to learn how to talk I was going to do it.

"The first thing I did was to buy a number of books on public speaking, but they seemed to be meant for those who wanted to become orators, whereas what I wanted to learn was not only how to speak in public, but bow to speak to individuals under various condi- tions in business and social life.

"A few weeks later, just as I was about to give up hope of ever learning how to talk interestingly, I read an announcement stating that Dr. Frederick L<vw had just completed a new course in business talking and public speaking entitled ' Mastery of Speech*' The course was offered on approval without money in advance, so, since I had nothing whatever to lose by examining the lessons, I sent for them, and in a few days tney arrived. I glanced through the entire eight lessons, reading the headings and a few paragraphs here and there, and in about an hour the whole secret of effective speaking was open to me.

'For example, I learned why I had always lacked confidence, why talking had always seemed something to be dreaded, whereas it is really the simplest thing in the world to ' get up and talk.' I learned how to secure complete attention to what I was saying, and how to make everything I said interesting, foicefu), and convincing. I learned the art of listening, the vajue of silence, and the power of brevity. Instead of being funny at the wrong time, I learned how and when to use humour with telling effect.

" But perhaps the most wonderful part of the lessons were the actual examples of what things to say and when to say them to meet every condition. I found that there was a knack in making oral reports to my superiors. I found that there was a right way and a wrong way to present complaints, to give estimates and to isRueorders.

" I picked up some wonderful points about how to give my opinions, about how to answer complaints, about how to ask the bank for a loan, about how to ask for extensions. Another thing that struck me forcibly was that, instead of antagonizing people when I didn't agree with them, I learned how to bring them round to my way of thinking in the most pleasant sort of way.

Then, of course, along with those lessons there were chapters on speaking before large audiences, how to findJ material fur talking and speaking. howto talk to friends, how to talk to servants, and how to talk to children.

" Why, I got the secret the very first evening, and it was only a short time before I was able to apply all of the principls, and found that mv words were begin- ning to have an almost magical effect upon everybody to whom I spoke. It seemed that I got things done instantly, whereas formerly, as you know, what I said, went 'in one ear and out of the other.' I began to acquire an executive ability that surprised me. I smoothed out difficulties like a true diplomat. In my talks with the chief I spoke clearly, simply, convinc- ingly. Then came my first promotion since I entered the accounting department. I was given the job of answering complaints, and I made good. From that I was given the job of making collections. When Mr. Buckley joined the Officers Training Corps I was made secretary- Between you and me, Georga, my salary is- now 1,500 a year, and I expect it will be more by the end of the year.

"And I want to tell you honestly that I attribute my success solely to the fact that I learned how to talk to people."

When Jordan finished I asked hin> for the address of the publishers of Dr. Law's Course, and he gave it to me. I sent for it and found it to be exactly as he had 1 stated. After studying the eight simple lessons I began to sell to people wh had previously refused to listen to me at all. After four months of record- breaking sales during the dullest season of the year, I received a wire from the chief asking me to return to- the city office. We had quite a long talk, in which I explained how I was able to break sales records, and I was appointed Sales Manager at almost twice my former salary. I know that there was nothing in me that had changed except that I had acquired the ability to talk, where formerly I simply used "words without reason." I can never thank Jordan enough for telling me about Dr. Law's Coursa in Business Talking and Public Speaking. Jordan and I are both' spending all our spare time in making public speeches- on political subjects, ami Jordan is being talked about, now as Mayor of our Town.

SEND NO MONEY.

So confident are the publishers of " Mastery of Speech,' 1 Dr. Law's Course in Business Talking and' Public Speaking, of the result, once you have an opportunity to see in your own borne how you can, in one hour, learn the secret of speaking, and how you can apply the principles of effective speech under all 1 conditions, that they are willing to send you the course- for free examination for 3 days.

Don't send any money. Merely write a letter and' the complete Course will be sent, all charges prepaid at once. If you are not entirely satisfied send it back any time within three days after you receive it, and you will owe nothing.

On the other hand, if you are as pleased as are the thousands of other men and women who have taken the Course, send only 30s, in full payment. You take no risk and you have everything to gain, so writa now before this remarkable offer is withdrawn. 60,000 men and women have benefited by Dr. Law's Course.

THE SECRETAHY (Dept. 102), DR. LAW'S MASTERY OF SPEECH COURSE,

2 Bramhaw Gardens, S.W.5. [Adrt.

Printed by THE ATHEN.ECM PRESS. Bream'i Buildings. E.C.4. and Published by THE TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY (limited;)

Printing House Squart, London E.C .4.- February, 1920.