Idea 16: The importance of preparation
If I had eight hours to chop down a tree I’d spend six hours sharpening my axe.
US President Abraham Lincoln
You need to prepare yourself well in advance for occasions when you know you have to make a speech of some kind or another. You may have weeks or only a few minutes at your disposal, but the principle of preparation is still applicable.
While the manner or degree of preparation you can achieve will vary considerably, it is useful to distinguish between general preparation and particular preparation.
General Preparation
Think of the example of a portrait painter. Most, if not all, of your training and experience will have equipped you for the ...
