The 2007 World Champion of Public Speaking Is....!
Saturday, August 18th 2007 @ 5:36 PM
The word from the Toastmasters International convention in Phoenix is that Vikas Jhingran, whom Bo and I interviewed last week on the Talking Toastmasters Podcast, won first place in the WCPS and is the new World Champion!
Here's how I found out, just a short while ago:
I had just left my house and was less than a mile away, when my cell phone rang. I answered, and a hushed voice said, "Ryan! This is Sherri...they're about to announce the winners and I need you to update the website!" It was Sherri Raftery, the District 31 Lt. Governor of Marketing, and fellow member of the Public Speaking iGrOOp. She was calling me, as I'm one of the people who helps maintain the District 31 web site, and being at the convention, she didn't have quick access to do it herself. I pulled the car around as fast as I could, and headed toward home.
Three hundred feet from my driveway, I heard: "And the third place winner is..." I couldn't make out the last name, but it wasn't Vikas-- that much I knew. As I walked in to the kitchen:
"And the second place winner is...Rory Vaden!"
Now this was a name I recognized! I had stumbled on Rory's websites a few weeks ago, and read about his last time as a finalist at the WCPS. I was definitely impressed with this guy! He has an amazing story, and a great message. And from watching his video clips, it was clear his is an excellent speaker. You can see his websites here for yourself: Discipline Dynamic and Success Starts Now Seminars. I'm glad he took the silver, well deserved, I'm sure.
I was then in front of the computer in my home office, logged on to our District Website, ready to type. "And the 2007 World Champion of Public Speaking is...."
And then all I heard was booming applause, cheering and screaming! The announcers voice did not come through the phone! And then I heard Sherri's voice break through the din, "Put it up on the website, Ryan! Put it up...I have to go!" I figured that meant Vikas must have won...and I tried to ask, but she didn't hear me. Click. The phone went dead. Before posting on the website, and sending an email to the nearly 300 members on our list, I called Sherri back. (Can you imagine the scandal and embarrassment if I would cause for Vikas and myself if I posted that he had won, and he had not...only to then have to post an "I'm sorry, I misunderstood" message?) But yes, it was true, Vikas had won!
It's hard not to let my bias show at a time like this. This is proud day for District 31. Vikas joins fellow WCPS Darren LaCroix, as one of two WCs from our District (Eastern MA and RI). I am so happy for Vikas-- I cannot imagine how excited he must feel. Simply amazing!
(Special thanks to Sherri Raftery for an experience that was the next best thing to being there!)
Photo above: Vikas listens to the advice of 2001 WCPS Darren LaCroix, a few weeks before the competition.
