Duane's blog

July 13, 2011 - My dad (Gene Smith) is one of my biggest fans and helpers.   He is always doing things for me, and offering help in all aspects of my life.   Specifically for our purpose here, my father is always searching for, and passing to me articles from magazines and newspapers that have to do with public speaking.   Recently my dad found a great article in Readers Digest.

I recently read an article addressing the challenges associated with dyslexia. The article inspired me to explore more thoughtfully about how my challenges associated with dyslexia have been negotiated and managed with the help of public speaking.

The New Straits Times (Malaysia) published and article validating how important public speaking skills are for potential employers, by emphasizing how potential candidates for jobs lack the desired attributes that by nature contribute to the over all package that is a desirable employee.

According to July 23, 2010, article:

"Overcome Your Fears and Speak Effectively," was an article published in The Toronto Sun on June 23, 2010. The article quipped about how Jerry Seinfeld joked, "Most people would prefer to be in the coffin than giving the eulogy."

In 1996-1997 while attending graduate school, and coaching with the California State University Los Angeles Forensics team I worked with two other coaches, Josh Miller (who I still work with today), and Dustin Lee Abraham.  Before I go any further it is important to clarify that the forensics I am referring to is not dead bodies, but rather speech and debate - competitive public speaking!   The three of us coached the CSLA speech team together, and prior to that each of us had competed for four years.   We were what is known in the speech community as forensicato