I enjoy speaking and continue to work at improving my craft. Someone once called me a Wednesday speaker. When I asked him to explain, he said, "I still remember on Wednesday what you said on Sunday." I considered that a high compliment. Last year, I ran into two women who recognized me. They both told me that they had just been thinking about a message they heard me deliver. To the best of my calculations, they had heard those messages eight years earlier!
Most people don't know, however, that I learned to speak by not speaking. If you don't think that's possible, it is true. To understand how I did it, you will have to read on.
ELEVEN YEARS
I was an associate pastor in Alabama for eleven years from 1978-1989. While I had many chances to lead a small home group, I only got two chances in those eleven years to speak before the entire church. The second time I spoke was the last Sunday I was there before I left for Orlando. So it's an accurate statement that I averaged one talk every eleven years. That's a lot of preparation time between messages, don't you think?
So what did I do for those 600 Sundays, plus conferences and special meetings, when I watched and listened to so many speakers? I got ready to speak, that's what I did!
I knew that one day I would address large audiences, even though I was far from doing that during those eleven years. So first, I would dream of and visualize myself speaking before people. I often tell audiences that I saw them before I ever came to be with them. Second, I studied the speakers I witnessed. I watched what worked and what didn't. I decided what kind of speaker I would be before I ever got a chance to speak, just by watching and learning. I think the most difficult thing was to watch ineffective speakers when I knew in my heart that I could do a better job.
Third, I prepared things to say, even though I had no invitations or speaking engagements. I wrote my Life is a Gold Mine seminar in 1985, well before I ever had an invitation to deliver it. I prepared the slides, outlines and material. I had a few chances outside of my local church to speak, and I made the most of those opportunities, although at times I wasn't very effective.
Finally, I never gave up my dream, even though I had few opportunities to speak. I watched comediennes. listened and read great speeches of history and went to school to earn my doctorate. I did all that I knew to do. There were times that I was so discouraged when nothing happened to advance my vision that I, well, I just cried. But I never gave up.
THE BREAKTHROUGH
Then I moved to Orlando in 1989 where I was pastor of a church until 1993. It was then that I also began to speak in prisons. I would speak once a week at the church, but often spoke six or seven times a week in a jail or prison. I went from no speaking to nonstop speaking. Today, I have no lack of engagements and I continue to hone my skills. My main preparation, however, was during those eleven years of non-activity.
What is the dynamic here that is important for you to grasp? I think it's found in Proverbs 22:29:
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
I don't care what your dream is. If you spend time pursuing excellence and becoming good at what you do, you won't have to go looking for "kings." The kings will come looking for you. So don't waste any more time waiting for your breakthrough. Rather invest your time in preparing for the day when your breakthrough comes. And that preparation can begin the minute you finish reading this Monday Memo. Have a great week!
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This is my last week in Zimbabwe. I have been away from home since April 21 and it's time to go!
John:
I look at this Memo and I can't help but think of my wife, Sandy. When we first pastored (1978-1993) in Fayetteville,Georgia, Sandy spoke only twice in the entire 15 years. Not because I did not want her to speak, but the grace was on her to concentrate on something else. When we arrived in Buffalo, Texas, there was not only an opportunity but a mandate to speak to a group of women each week. She also started to address the congregation occasionally but the end result is a world wide teaching ministry. There is a lot to be said of preparation and also finding what type of speaker you really want to be. It took me a couple of years before I found my comfort zone of speaking and in the end it was a hybrid style of two mentors of mine. Great memo as usual. Have a great time back in the states.
Paul
Posted by: Paul | June 25, 2007 at 06:49 AM
I am a new member of the Celebration Church family in Harare. Your message about speaking... you have no idea what it has just done to me! I'll tell you one day!!!
Posted by: Gerald | June 25, 2007 at 02:43 PM
Wow!I wish you knew what this revealing message has done to me.It has soothed my inner desire to speak.Many regard me as a candid speaker but with noone to speak to I have found myself pondering over and over when I will ever be accorded an opportunity to speak.Indeed it came once when Pastor Tom took me to Zambia with fellow businessmen.I realised my burning desire was not able to be quenched as there was a time limit factor;but through your message Iam confident my day and season to be speaking before kings is near.
Posted by: Ellard | July 02, 2007 at 12:06 PM
This posting is exactly what I needed to hear today! Several years ago the Lord had me lay down public ministry in order to allow Him to do a deeper work in my own life. Recently the Lord released me to preach and minister as the main speaker at a retreat back in April. It was awesome! Yet, I am still waiting for more opportunities to minister! I’m uncertain as to the balance between seeking out opportunities and waiting on the Lord to open the doors in a sovereign manner. Regardless, your story has reminded me of the importance of preparation in the waiting season. Just this morning I was contemplating upon this very issue. Thank you for sharing your story!
Posted by: Brian Francis Hume | July 11, 2007 at 11:38 AM
many thanks for the wisdom you give,very insightful may God bless you...memo 302 has encouraged me
Posted by: kwame -london dominion centre | July 16, 2007 at 03:23 PM
In the sport of archery as one aims toward the target a very interesting action takes place. The bow is in the hands of the Archer who knows what the target is. The target is in sight, the arrow is lined up, the bow is aligned into position with the target and - the arrow is pulled AWAY FROM THE TARGET before it is launched.
What is also interesting to note is that it is in this DRAWING AWAY FROM the target that the energy is stored up to launch the arrow to the target goal.
As we engage more and more our identity and purpose in Him our ‘target’ becomes better defined. In my life it was in that drawing away from my target that selfish, prideful attitudes were dealt with, humility learned and the learning process was perfected and purified.
We must be aware that this drawing away time of preparation is for the imparting of the power necessary to reach our target.
Posted by: Bill | July 23, 2007 at 12:48 PM