TJ WALKER - THE HABIT INFLUENCER - Personal Development | LIVE STREAM

People think of me as a great writer. The text of my speeches are studied around the world. There are more biographies written about me than anyone else in the world. And I have this reputation as a fantastic writer. But what people don't realize is it was my public speaking that paved the way to my success in politics. It was my speaking as a state legislator, as a candidate for office, as a public official in Illinois that paved the way to my power. What people don't realize is that I didn't just jot down a few notes on the back of an envelope on the way to giving a speech. No, I would work on speeches for days, weeks, months. And I would practice my speech out loud in front of my law partner, Bill Herndon. I would practice over and over and over till I got it just right. My name is Abe Lincoln, folks. The example of Abe Lincoln to me is fascinating because there have been so many books written about him, again, more than anyone else in history. And yet most of these books gloss over the role of his speaking skill when it comes to how he gained power. He was considered witty, he was considered funny. People think of him as this man of few words. He gave the Gettysburg Address in two minutes. And they always forget the part that he never would have given the Gettysburg Address if he hadn't been a great speaker. In the five hour debates with Senator Douglas, and in these debate formats, he would speak for an hour, sometimes 90 minutes straight. So Abraham Lincoln was in fact, a great speaker. He did, in fact, practice. He practiced out loud again and again and again in front of his law partner, Bill Herndon. If it's good enough for Abe Lincoln, it's good enough for you. Practice your speeches out loud.