Picture one of your well-educated, articulate friends. He/she is a good writer, a skilled communicator, and a successful executive. When you go to this person's home, what do you expect to find? Somewhere in the house you will uncover a library, or at least several shelves filled with books. There will probably be some works of literature, current bestsellers, religious or philosophical tracts, and perhaps some old college textbooks.
The point is, people who have to communicate by writing words usually surround themselves with books filled with printed words--for inspiration, example and sometimes, just for good vibes. And yet many of our friends (and this probably means you) don't surround ourselves with examples of our favorite speakers. This is a shame.
Who you consider to be a great speaker is a matter of personal taste. What is not debatable is the salutary affect on your speaking if you regularly expose yourself to great speaking. So if you admire Winston Churchill, buy or rent as many videos or CDs of his speeches that you can afford. Listen to them and watch them, just as you would reread a classic novel or replay a favorite movie. (It's not that you have to mimic Churchill's style in your next speech, but watching Churchill speak may inspire you to prepare better and rehearse harder for your own next speech)
Maybe you don't like Churchill; then get Jesse Jackson's speeches on CD or cassette. You will be surprised what you can find if you go to Amazon and type in the name of a famous person and then search under "DVD" or "CD."
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