“Wishes”

Toastmasters Speech #10

Inspire Your Audience

I hold in my hand a magic box. In just a few moments, the genie inside will grant you three wishes… three wishes for anything in the world that your heart truly desires. On the slips of paper in front of you, I want you to write down three wishes, three wishes for anything you may want. There is only one rule. You must wish for something for yourself. I will not ask you to reveal your wishes to the audience.

(pause)

My dad use to tell me, growing up, that every person is either exactly where they want to be, or they are getting there. Are you where you want to be? Do you have a plan, a strategy to get there?

If you have wished for wealth, why aren’t you wealthy now? Are you not satisfied with what you have already? Do you owe more money than you can possibly earn? Are you a prisoner to creditors?

If you wished for an early retirement, what is your plan? At what age will you retire? How much money will you need to retire? Or, are you a prisoner to work?

If you wished for a better job or a promotion, are you working to improve your skills? Are you giving 100% to your current position? Or are you a prisoner to complacency, contentment?

If you wished for good health, are you taking care of yourself as you should? Are you actively involved in an exercise routine, are you eating a healthy diet, and having regular check-ups? Or, are you a prisoner to gluttony, the TV remote, and excuses?

If you wished for happiness, why aren’t you happy now? What does it take for you to be happy? Are you a prisoner to misery?

What is holding you back from realizing your dreams? What holds us back is our captures. What we have to realize is, no one has power over our destinies that we have not personally given authorization to have. If you are held prisoner by creditors, by work, by gluttony, by misery, you have given your personal okay to be held their prisoner. No one can enslave us if we don’t first wish to be enslaved.

But how do you plan your escape? Break free of this jail? Become who we want to be? Where we want to be? Take charge of our destiny? Fulfill those wishes you hold in your hand right now?

The first step is to realize that each and every one of us here today is a prisoner in one way or another. Each one of us has allowed ourselves to be held captive in one way or another. We have left our destiny in hands other than our own. And in some cases, we are not even… the co-pilot and not even… the navigator.

The next step is to determine exactly what it is you are a prisoner of and then take responsibility. Perhaps you are a prisoner to creditors. I am reminded of the commercial of the man who says “I have a wonderful family, a 5 bedroom house, a new car, and cheerfully says through gritted teeth “How do I do it all? I’m in debt up to my eyeballs. Someone help me.” This man is a slave to his creditors. He has no control over his destination. If he is to dig his way out of the prison he dug for himself, he needs to… dismiss the jailer. He needs to… take responsibility for himself. No one else… is to blame. No one else… is responsible.

This leads us to the third and final step: Take back… the key to the prison cell. You have the power over your own destiny. You may have given away this permission, but you also… have the power… to take it back. You have the power to say: “No more!” “No more!” “No more… will I allow myself to be less than what I want to be.” “No more… will I be a prisoner… of my own making!” “ No more… will I make excuses.”

(pause)

(Hold up 1 finger) Realize we are all prisoners… (two fingers) realize what you are a prisoner of… (three fingers) take responsibility.

Now, as promised, I am going to pass around the magic box with the genie inside that will fulfill all your wishes. Will fulfill all that your heart desires. (Pass around box with mirror inside.) Carefully open the lid just enough to see the genie inside, then close it quickly so he will not escape.

Now, I want you to take those wishes that are in your hand, and turn them into reality. Determine your own destination, take responsibility for yourself, plan your escape, and alter your course if necessary. You are the pilot, you are the co-pilot, and you are the navigator. Never again give the controls to your destiny over to the jailer. Remember, you… are the genie. You… have the magic. You… are in control!