“I’m Not A Writer”

In the immortal words of The Rock…

IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU’RE NOT A WRITER!

You knew that advice was coming.  The truth is, that your toast isn’t about being a polished writer, or speaker.  Your toast is about showing that you care and connecting that message to the audience.

As is written in the book, your job is to honor, entertain and educate/inform.

I’ve seen really polished speakers at weddings, and while we’re at it, at business conferences and and workshops, deliver speeches that fall flat because they are boring or insincere.

If you don’t see yourself as a “writer,” just focus on being entertaining and sincere.  That’s it.  And you’ll succeed.

Use a framework like WT101 to help you organize thoughts.  Use the questions we provide to jog your memory.  Use the Dynamite Toast Checklist on this site (if you can find it, leave a comment and I’ll email it to you) to help.  Most importantly, just care about honoring the married couple and making them laugh.  If you do that, you’ll do great.

I’ll leave you with this.  A good friend of mine just lost his father, and was asked to give the eulogy.  It was a tragic, sudden, and heartbreaking loss.  He was too young and well know in our community.  My friend would not consider himself a prolific writer or public speaker.

HOWEVER…he got up in front of the funeral congregation and gave an unbelievable speech about his Dad.  It was funny, it was informative, and it honored the heck out of his Dad and his whole family.  He didn’t even cry during the eulogy, but he was probably the only one in the room who didn’t.

He simply channeled his honesty, sincere love for his Dad, and funny disagreements they used to have into a brilliantly spoken speech.  It was moving to everyone, regardless of age or relationship to him.

In that moment, maybe his Dad was with him helping.  Either way, he was a great speaker for those few minutes, and I won’t soon forget it.