The NO HOLDS BARRED interview with DTM Mohammed Murad

I first met Mohammed Murad around 10+ years ago in Dubai Chapter. I saw this soft spoken handsome Arabic gentleman whom everyone respected and revered but whom not many spoke off freely. May be it was their love for him or may be their reverence towards him. But he had something really mysterious about him.

What followed next was an amazing journey for me to get to know this man as my friend and mentor. And what amazed me were his credentials and his achievements - both of which he never shared or spoke about. Simply because he was humble and reserved about his accomplishments. But what really stood out about him was – he was a true friend to me.

Where the world judged others in terms of their looks or their accomplishments, he would just look at a person’s heart and stand by them – come hell or high water.

Today after so many years, I am releasing a very small script in the form of questions & answers on a person whom I consider a true legend in the Toastmaster circles of the Middle East. 

To some he may be the retired Head of Dubai Police (Ambulance Section), to some others he may be the Past International Director of Toastmasters International and to the rest, he may be one of the most influential Toastmaster leaders of our times in the Middle East ….but to me he is a man who has touched the lives of thousands, influenced thousands more with his words and may be tens of thousands more by virtue of his ability to give and serve others

Friends, it is not everyday a person can have access to a Legendary Personality like DTM Mohammed Murad and ask him the questions that we are dying to know the answer to.  But given the personality Murad ....Well it is my honor to take his interview and our honor to get to know him.

If you are interested for Murad to receive your comments / suggestion about this interview and get them published in the next upcoming magazine - please email me your comments / view points on theinvisiblestring@yahoo.co.in along with 

1) Your name 

2) Your designation

3) Company name

4) Cell Number

5) Email address

and I will be glad to forward him all of your comments in one single email and also later on put them in the magazine

The NO HOLDS BARRED interview with DTM Mohammed Murad

Presented by the most controversial & tattooed speaker in the Middle East

Mad Max Machedo.

This interview was taken over a period of one hour and whatever DTM Murad said were written down word for word. It is divided into the following sections.

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ABOUT THE PERSONAL STUFF

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1.    What is your full name?

Mohammed Ibrahim Murad

2.    What does Murad means?

It means ‘Goal’ or ‘Destination’.

3.    What is your date of birth?

10^th of July 1965

4.    What’s your sun sign?

Cancer

5.    Do you believe in reports and characterization of sun signs?

Nope.

6.    How many members in your family?

My wife - Zareena Yousuf & my daughters ‘Eman’ which means ‘Faith’ and ‘Amal’ which means ‘Hope’.

7.    Are you and your wife opposites of each other or similar to each other?

Total opposites.

8.    How do you manage to settle your views & differences?

We understand each other.

9.    Is your wife a toastmasters? If not, why not?

No. Because she doesn’t want to be a toastmaster.

10. Your dream car?

Grey Corvette

11. The car you hate?

The 2010 Jeep – looks like a box

12. Your dream vacation?

A place where you have no mobiles, no emails, no computers, no technology – only a cool silent view from a high mountain top overlooking a beautiful still valley

13. Have you ever had a terrible vacation?

No. All of them were unique.

14. Whom do you consider the most ideal man on this planet?

Any man who is at peace and contented with whatever he has been blessed with while at the same time tries to learn and grow from within and help others at the same time.

15. Any man you don’t like?

Someone who is two faced and who thinks he is the best in the world and there is no one above him.

16. Your ideal woman?

Who has the same wit as I have.

17. Woman you cannot tolerate?

Any woman who talks nonsense and does nothing but gossip about the world, complain about everything and praise only themselves.

18. Your favorite speaker?

Leo Buscalia .

19. Your favorite book?

There are so many. But the one that stands out in my mind is ‘Peaks and Valleys’ by Spencer Johnson, MD.

20. Worst speaker you have ever heard?

Too many to name.

21. Could you give an example of someone whom you consider a ‘badspeaker’?

No names, but it was someone who has borrowed material from someone else work and was actually reading it out throughout the 60 minutes presentation.

22. Your favorite leader?

Nelson Mandela

23. Whom do you consider as a ‘bad leader’?

Anyone who is in a leadership role for their own benefit.

24. Your favorite movie?

1980 movie called ‘Fame’ Starring: Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, Barry Miller, Gene Anthony Ray & Directed by Alan Parket

25. Worst movie you ever watched lately?

An Indian movie titled ‘Veer’.

26. Favorite song.

‘Hotel California’ by ‘The Eagles’.

27. Worst song you ever heard?

Me singing in the bathroom.

28. Your favorite actor?

Jack Nicholson especially his performance in the 1992 movie ‘A Few Good Men’

29. Worst actor?

Can’t think of anyone specific.

30. Your favorite actress?

Meryl Streep’s performance in the 2006 movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’

31. Worst actress?

Can’t think of anyone specific.

32. Favorite TV show

Britain’s got talent & America’s got talent.

33. Your favorite politician?

Bill Clinton.

34. Worst politician?

George Bush.

35. Favorite business man?

Giorgio Armani

36. Your favorite sport?

Ultimate Fighting Championships and Volley Ball

37. Sport you hate the most?

Hate Golf.

38. Your favorite brand of watch?

Tough one – I love all since I am a collector

39. Brand of watch you hate?

There are many but I don’t particularly like Jacob & Co.

40. Your favorite speech?

The speeches by Winston Churchill

41. Most boring speeches?

The ones delivered by George Bush.

42. What do you work as currently?

Managing Director for ‘Canseeq’ – A Fashion House & ‘Fausteen’ – An event management company.

43. How many businesses do you run?

3; Canseeq – For Fashion; Fausteen - for events; Eman – A Beauty, Spa and Saloon

44. Have you had any business that you closed down?

Had one - A computer trading company named ‘Computab’

45. Your favorite color?

Grey

46. Worst color?

White

47. What time do you get up every day?

Around 8 to 8:30am

48. Do you exercise every day?

Every alternate day I do cardio + weights.

49. What is your favorite cuisine?

Kentucky Fried Chicken

50. What kind of food you dislike?

Dislike small portions of expensive overpriced food.

51. Do you drink? Smoke?

No. Never have and never will.

52. Did you ever save someone’s life?

Many times since I was working in the Ambulance department.

53. Has anyone come and thanked you for saving their life?

Not that I remembered and I didn’t think it was required to be thanked.

54. Do you believe in giving money to the poor?

Yes, very much.

55. Your favorite charity?

A Local Charity called Bait Al Kheir (House of Goodness)

56. How are you so slim & toned?

It’s a combination of workouts and lifestyle.

57. What do you think of tattoos?

I think they are unnecessary.

58. What do you think of piercings?

I think they are unnecessary.

59. Would you ever want to become a TV personality?

No, I am not interested in fame.

60. If Obama gave you an opportunity to work in his team as an International Director, would you grab it?

No.

61. Why not?

I don’t like politics.

62. If Speilberg gave you an opportunity to act in  movie as the lead hero for Indian Jones, the Middle east crusade along with Harrison Ford, would you grab it?

No.

63. Why not?

I am not an actor.

64. What is your opinion about children being permitted to use the internet so freely?

You cannot have children access the internet unsupervised.

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ABOUT TOASTMASTERS & COMMUNICATION

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65. A Toastmaster you admire?

There are too many to mention.

66. Toastmaster you don’t admire?

There are too many I don’t admire but learn to accept them as people who are different.

67. Favorite world champion Toastmaster?

The 1995 World Champion of Public Speaking - Mark Brown for being the person he is.

68. How many years have you been a Toastmaster?

14 years.

69. When did you become the International Director?

2007 - 2009

70. What were your achievements as an International Director?

I was given the opportunity to serve and contribute to the organization I loved and belonged to.

71. Do you have a mentor? How many?

Officially I don’t have. But as and when the need does arise, I have many people who guide me.

72. Do you have a mentee? How many?

There are many who approach me on a regular basis when the need does arise.

73. What is the longest time you have taken to prepare for a speech?

A whole week.

74. What is the shortest time you have taken to prepare for a speech?

1 hour.

75. What is the longest speech you have delivered?

A 75 minute after dinner speech.

76. What is the highest you have placed in a Toastmaster speech contest?

2^nd in the Humorous Contest for the District Level

77. When?

Very long ago.

78. What is the biggest crowd you have faced as a professional speaker?

2000 people.

79. How many media / TV / magazines have you appeared?

Lots over the years.

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ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL STUFF

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80. Have you ever been in an accident?

Yes.

81. Was it seriously?

Yes, sort of.

82. Tell me more about the accident.

I was 23 and was working with the police. I had a murder criminal in my car. And someone hit the car head along while crossing the road. And my car went and smashed into the wall of a mosque.

83. Have you ever driven over the speed limit?

Yes many times.

84. Have you got caught?

Yes, many times.

85. When you became the International Director, you being from a different culture and religion – especially given the stereotype image by the media at large – didn’t that prove to be a challenge for you to overcome?

Yes, it was a challenge but only for a few people only.

86. How did you overcome it?

By simple, sincere, honest and heart-felt communication.

87. No organization or group is perfect. So what are the current drawbacks / challenges that Toastmasters has as an organization is facing?

1)               Rapid growth and how to control and sustain it while giving the maximum benefit to all the members.

2)               Adaption to the next generations thinking – how to connect to the new generation and involve them even more.

3)               Being able to look around and have a global perspective.

88. Do you ever see it possible for any individual from a different religion, race or culture say for example an Indian Hindu or Arab Muslim becoming the International President of TMI or do you still feel it will take time for such differences to be accepted by people at large?

No, I don’t think it is impossible. In fact the actual culture of Toastmasters has allowed this process to happen easily because Toastmasters focuses on talent and skills of individuals fairly rather than focus on differences in cultures & traditions of others.

89. Have you had a controversial moment in toastmasters or disagreements in Toastmasters?

Yes. Many.

90. Would you like to give an example?

Had a lot of people come and tell me – How could you actually be a leader with your background, religion or country of origin. There are also many times I have had differences of opinions with my own team members.

91. Have you ever had a moment in toastmasters where you were in a leadership role and had to remove toastmasters from the organization or reprimand a toastmaster any reason?

Yes. I have. When I was the District Governor I took the decision to have non-performing members (whom I knew) step down because they were affecting the overall health of the district.

92. Have you ever been in a physical fight or anyone threaten you in Toastmasters, Personally or Professionally?

No. Never.

93. Have you ever had a moment in life where you have regretted doing something in TMI?

Yes. One could be not taking full advantage of the learning experience of the TM process – as what could be benefitted from being a leader in TM. I didn’t know I could learn by giving others.

94. What is the difference between the judging systems of the Middle East versus the Judging system in the International Convention?

Different Divisions / Districts have a different perspective as to what connects with them and what does not. It is a learning process of knowing what to do to adapt to all kinds of judges / people / districts.

95. Have you ever bombed as a speaker?

Yes. A few times.

96. If you have to choose between doing what is popular with toastmasters versus what you believe is the right thing to do – what would you do?

I would always do the right thing.

97. Do you speak for a fee?

Yes.

98. What is the highest you have been paid as a professional speaker?

No comments.

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ABOUT THE CONCLUDING PARTS

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99. Do you see anyone from the Middle East become a world Champion of Public Speaking?

There is nothing impossible because possibilities are endless.

100.              What would he / she from the Middle East need to win the WCPS?

They would need to be open mind, need to be a voracious reader and be able to be mentored by many people.

101.              What is the most important speaking engagement you have received as a professional speaker? Was it in front of VIP’s? Big Politicians? Businessmen?

The most important speaking engagement I ever had was the one where I spoke to a group of 1000 young children at an Indian School. And even today I still have teachers coming and telling me that my few words were able to make a difference in the lives of those young children. That to me was the greatest and most important speaking engagement I ever had.

102.              What is the most important award you have received from TMI?

Being awarded the World’s Number District from Toastmasters International – The Presidential Distinguished District in the 1^st year of becoming a District.

103.              What is the most important non-toastmaster award you have received from a NON-TMI organization?

A Medal of Honor from the Commander of Dubai Police

104.              What is your current dream?

To stop working and get into training and speaking full time.

105.              How do you wish to be remembered as?

The one who made a difference.

106.              What do you think of my questions?

Very thought provoking.

107.              What is your opinion about me?

You have potential but you have to realize it if in order to be successful.

108.              Do you see it happening?

That is in your hands.

 It’s been a pleasure communicating.

Machedo L. A.
Part-time Professional Speaker, Trainer & Handwriting Analyst

Cell +971-50-631-85-19
Blackberry - 20666739
Facebook - Loy Anthony Machedo
Chat - loymachedo@yahoo.com / loymachedo@hotmail.com
Blog - http://machedomax.blogspot.com

The World's Most Spectacular Pools

Bliss in the Golden Triangle

Landscape architect Bill Bensley was responsible for a complete redesign of the grounds at Anantara Resort & Spa, a 90-room hotel located in Thailand—in the Golden Triangle, the point where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. Commanding a view over a jungle canopy, its pool may be the only one in the world that looks out onto three different countries. A poppy motif—a nod to the area’s history of opium trade—accents the pool.

Photo by: Erhard Pfeiffer

An Artist's Escape

Architect Alexander Gorlin created a guesthouse/studio for an artist in East Hampton, New York. He had designed a Palladian main house for the property almost 20 years earlier and welcomed the opportunity to build a complementary structure on the site that could stand on its own. Pictured: An old garden wall adjacent to the pool has been preserved and enhanced with plantings by its owner, who is an enthusiastic gardener. Trees obscure the guesthouse/studio, which is just up the hill.

Photo by: Michael Moran

Mediterranean Retreat in the OC

On California’s Newport Coast—the stretch of the Pacific long nicknamed the American Riviera—Donald Bren, chairman of the Irvine Company, decided to build Pelican Hill, a Mediterranean-style resort. The westerly view from the clubhouse pool takes in not only the lower terraces and golf courses of the hotel but the whole of Newport Harbor. Lining the pool are 300,000 hand-cut blue glass tiles.

Photo by: Barbara Kraft

Under the Tuscan Sun

Boston-based architect Robert Brannen and his wife, Barbara, with their daughters, Sarah and Jennie, purchased and lovingly restored a traditional Italian casa colonica and its stone barn, situated at the edge of a medieval village in northern Tuscany. The pool, with a surround of green slate from the Apuan Alps, is nestled below the main house, between the terrace house and some adjacent ruins. “We made a window opening in one of the walls so we could enjoy the view while swimming,” Sarah Brannen explains.

Photo by: Richard Mandelkorn

Moroccan Magic

If it were not overlooking a coconut-palm-fringed canal, a lavish if modestly scaled pleasure palace—designed by Todd Black for model, actress and writer Veronica Webb and her family in Key West, Florida—would surely be taken at first glance for a royal pavilion in Marrakech or Taroudannt in Morocco. The home is tucked away in a tropical paradise of a garden that includes mangoes, papayas, pineapples, yellow frangipanis, a diverse collection of palms and 45 varieties of orchids colorfully perched on the 100-year-old trees that populate their recently transfigured surroundings. Pictured: Landscape architect Craig Reynolds specified Buccaneer palms and other salt-tolerant native species along the canal side of the house, surrounding the pool. A team of Moroccan craftsmen and apprentices wrapped brightly colored Moroccan tiles around the columns that dip into the pool.

Photo by: Ken Hayden

Swimmer's Delight in Park City

Architect Peter Bohlin, who designed Dennis and Vicki Farrar’s house in Park City, Utah, says that “the very best architecture comes out of the right combination of the intellectual and the intuitive.” For Vicki Farrar, an avid swimmer, the 25-meter lap pool is a defining element. Stainless-steel ceiling panels, full-length glass walls and, at one end of the pool, an acrylic panel that reaches from its bottom to the ceiling create a sanctuary of illumination and clarity. “The light comes in like shards, almost rainbow colors,” she says, “different every day and every part of the day.”

Photo by: Nic Lehoux

Hong Kong Contemporary

Deep overhangs were among the traditional Chinese building elements that Seattle-based architect Jim Olson, of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen, incorporated into a graceful contemporary residence he designed for a couple outside of Hong Kong. The infinity pool overlooks the property, which is on a promontory a half hour from the dense city core.

Photo by: Benjamin Benschneider

Cabo Compound

“The goal was to create a spectacular place, reminiscent of a Mexican seaside estate, while embracing the natural surroundings,” architect and designer Jim Rimelspach says of Esperanza, an Auberge resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which he renovated. The compound, originally designed by architect Howard J. Backen in 2002, was landscaped by George W. Girvin Associates. The infinity pool’s illusion of infinity is interrupted only by the swim-up bar, and gazing out at the Sea of Cortés is the favored pastime here.

Photo by: Erhard Pfeiffer

Keeping it Cool in Hawaii

Architects Ricardo and Victor Legorreta collaborated with designers Paul Vincent Wiseman, Joseph Matzo and James Hunter, of The Wiseman Group, on Sandy and Jeanne Robertson’s Hawaii house. Pictured: To protect the lap pool from the heat and rain, Ricardo Legorreta partially enclosed it; he took his inspiration for the color from jacaranda blossoms. “The palette is hotter than normal for me, but you don’t do all beige with Ricardo,” Wiseman says of the house’s hues.

Photo by: Matthew Millman

Vineyard Views

“The objective was to provide a simple structure that takes advantage of 360-degree views while staying true to the viticultural nature of the land,” architect Howard J. Backen says of Fred and Mary Constant’s residence at their Diamond Mountain Vineyard in Calistoga, California. “On this property you can stand in one spot and turn in a circle, and everything you see is great,” comments Backen. The pool was situated to take advantage of this.

Photo by: Erhard Pfeiffer

French Chateau

 In the medieval hill town of Ménerbes, France, a fortified château dating back to the 11th century was sensitively renovated at the hands of an American couple, with the help of French designer Michel Biehn. The swimming pool—a copy of an 18th-century stone bassin—was set beside the medieval ramparts of the village, 180 feet below the level of the house.

Photo by: Marina Faust

Spa in Mauritius

"We created a calm and holistic environment,” designer Chandu Chhada says of Shanti Ananda Maurice, a beachfront hotel and spa on Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean, which he collaborated on with architect Jean-Marc Eynaud. Bill Bensley landscaped the 32-acre property; three swimming pools are nestled among the lushly landscaped gardens. Pictured: One of the swimming pools at dusk. “The landscape is part of the building,” says Eynaud. “The quietness is in line with the spiritual atmosphere of the spa.”

Photo by: Robert McLeod

My views on Love, Lust, Marriage and Friendship between a Man and Woman And the lessons learnt.

My views on Love, Lust, Marriage and Friendship between a Man and Woman

And the lessons learnt.

 (Monday, 19th July 2010, King of the Ring Championships at Rayan Hotel, Sharjah, UAE.An customized event by me....but one hell of an amazing event. In this picture from Left to Right - Super Model & TV Presenter Rebecca, Myself and Super Model & TV Presenter Andreea Zoia)


At the age of 33 as I look back…I realize, I have had the honor and privilege of a rare kind.

Being born as a Middle Class Indian in a rather very conservative family who was ‘forced’ to rattle off family prayers, behave ‘decently’ (and not myself) and one who was not even permitted to speak to a girl in the presence of his elders, I had an honor not many of my family members had.

It was better than being a great sports person.

It was better than getting a 1^st class rank in my school.

It was better than being given any certificate of any kind for any achievement.

It was this.

I enjoyed sex, foreplay and sexual games with loads of females.

*tsk*

*tsk*

*tsk*

This is so wrong.

Let me rephrase it.

I exchanged and shared a physical experience with many members of the opposite sex – which to be honest, was mutually done in the pretext and façade of a word called ‘love’.

In some holy books, it was called ‘the most sacred gift’.

In some cultures, it is called ‘a holy bond’

In some countries, it is only for ‘married couples who are blessed in the eyes of ‘God’.

So…with regards to me…, to be honest….it just ‘sex’.

And there is nothing wrong in being honest that “you enjoyed sex”.

Being in my 20,

My hormones were raging

Stuff was happening to my body

And I was getting outright horny.

All of a sudden females were hot,

Breasts were nice to suck, kiss and lick

Female butts were to be squeezed and touched

And females were…well to be experimented as porn guinea pigs.

So considering that ‘sex’ is NOT a bad thing, let’s move on.

I had to learn how to ‘cool’ myself down…and this was the best place and people to do it with.

So back to my story….

I enjoyed sex, foreplay and sexual games with a loads of females…

But this was not the big deal.

The big deal of the whole equation was…

I enjoyed sex, foreplay and sexual games with a loads of females….

WITHOUT promising to get married to them

WITHOUT being a ‘nicey-nicey’ guy

WITHOUT promising them that I would be a ‘one-woman-man’

Now this was indeed surprising.

Simply because women has we knew it, we felt and anticipated that they wanted a ‘fully & totally-committed’ man.

One that would be a nice guy like those in the movies

One that would save the world and then come bruised only to love his one woman

One that would face off temptation only to true to his true love…

But I was a lucky guy who was getting away with day-light murder.

Being able to have and exchange physical pleasure with so many females without having to commit myself to them – was like enjoying a free movie ticket with all the popcorn and nachos for free without having to pay for it!

Now this is a rare treat and I was treating myself pretty well.

My  schedules were really packed and tight.

This was one of my typical days when I was 17 or 18 years old…

·         I would go to a girl’s house whose dad and mom were working but because she was so nerdy, having a guy wanting to shower her with attention and shag her with romantic dialogues was a treat.

·         After her, I would go off to my friends house whose sister was a bit ‘cracked up in the head’ (don’t know why) but he felt she always listened to me. So I would go to his house, while he would give us both privacy and there I would keep her happy.

·         Next was the 3 young girls in my building. They were pretty young and I would give them ‘sexual’ education and we would play ‘doctor-doctor’

·         After that came going home, showing my face, having lunch and then back to the hunting forest…

·         I would move on to meet another girl down her building to exchange a few gifts and yes, give her ‘my gifts’

·         And finally in the evening came a girl whose parents went out for jogging and exercise and I would give her my rendition of ‘jogging and exercise’

And while on this amazing goose chase to shag as many girls as possible, I would also very dedicatedly hunt for more girls because I had to keep my life lines open. And if you do recollect – 17 years ago, there was no internet, no chatting and no online dating sites. So I really worked hard towards my goals. And if you recollect, I told you my family was a ‘conservative’ family…So I worked hard through the loop-holes of fooling my parents without being caught using the phone.

So lesson number 1 which I learnt was this…

In love…..both men and women…

They don’t know what they want.

They honestly don’t….

They assume that they know what they want…

But they don’t…

Because no one ever does.

I dated so many girls

And each of them had a typical theory

Of what they wanted

What they hoped for

And what they were ready to settle down with

But in the end

The guy who they settled down with

Was totally opposite from what they stated they wanted

Lesson number 2 was this…

Men love Bad girls

Women love Bad boys

There is some strange thrill that comes out

From dating someone who is bold, dirty and slutty

It brings out the devil dormant inside of us

And makes us do things we fantasize

In each case of the women I was with

To be brutally honest

They were all really nice women from really nice households

While I was openly a bad guy

These girls were from good families

But still…

They wanted the ‘forbidden apple’

And I was their road to the naughty freedom they were looking for…

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Interested in part 2?

Let me know.

What makes some speeches memorable while some others deplorable?

What makes some speeches memorable while some others deplorable?

Here are a few clues.

Memorable Speeches are those which….

1)      Have simple stories

2)      Have twists & turns that glue you to your seats

3)      Have a simple yet powerful themes

4)      Have a touching message to convey

5)      Have logic and make sense

6)      Have energy, enthusiasm and emotions

7)      Have words which are powerful and well crafted

8)      Have sentences which are carefully created

9)      Make you reflect and remember moments in your life

10)   Can be understood by children and adults alike

Deplorable speeches are those which…

1)      Are nothing but a litany of senseless theories & opinions

2)      Words that are black, white, boring and flat

3)      Sentences which are created just to fill spaces

4)      Do not capture your attention in the first 30 seconds

5)      The speaker looks more important than the audience

6)      You didn’t know what the speaker wanted to communicate

7)      You didn’t know why the speaker took the opportunity to speak

8)      A child would lose interest listening to the first minute of the speech

9)      You cannot picture what is being stated

10)   Make you feel that every minute that is spoken is as if ten minutes had passed by.