Mr. Toastmaster, Guests, ladies and gentlemen. I have a question for you: Who is Deon Barnard? Do you know? Would you like to know? Deon Barnard (I) occupies 7 out of the top 10 Google searches for Deon Barnard. My aim tonight is to give you a short introduction to Deon Barnard
I was born in Namibia, grew up in Namibia and..... Well, staying in Namibia. I love telling jokes and making friends laugh. Let me tell you a few stories about myself.
How many of you have done athletics before? Now, how many of you have been forced to do athletics, knowing for sure that you cannot do that event. Well, I had a teacher who liked giving those types of events to me. Here is a short breakdown of what I did in each year of high school:
1. 1994: When you just get into high school, you are being tested for all the events. That year, I was told to run 100m I cannot even run around the track cause I was too unfit (actually still am, but getting better). Well, I ran with these shoes when everybody else has spikes, I ran with normal hiking shoes
2. 1995: That year, the teachers decided that I did not do so well in the 100m, so I must do 3,000m! Can you imagine me running around the track 7.5 times as if somebody is chasing me? Well, that did not go so well, cause by the time I went around the track the 4th time, I was overtaken by the first people. Then I decided, let me just walk. Needless to say, all the events on that day were late, cause of me taking such a long time to finish. Now my question is WHY I did it. ONE Point!!! Can you believe it: One point for my team? We lost with 3,999 points that day, so if I did not complete the race, we would have lost with 4,000 points
3. 1996: This year the teacher decided that I am not so good at 3,000 so I was put in 1,500m. That was fine, but when we came to the inter-high school meeting between Jan Mohr and Academia, 10 of us was "Chosen" to do Pole Vault. I have seen a pole on TV, but have never held one in my hand, never mind trying it out to jump with. The standard jump starting height is 2m. We all tried, looking sometimes as if we are determined to break the pole in half or use it as a javelin. Eventually, for the first time in history, the officials put the bar down to only 1.5m, which is lower than high jump.
4. 1997/8: Both these 2 years I was put on under-19 400m hurdles. That hurdle came to my waist and on top of that, it is 400m Again, no spikes, only tennis shoes. In hurdles, the rules are that the first and the last hurdle must stay up, otherwise you are disqualified. Therefore, I run to the first hurdle, miraculously got over it and kick the rest over till the last hurdle. I always came in first, from the back.
That ended my athletics career for good.
I am also very adventurous, but will tell you about that on another time. Just to give you a few examples: I took a tour driving with bicycles from Windhoek to Cape Town, another trip from Windhoek to Walvisbay through the desert, did bungee jumping off a bridge from 66m.
In conclusion, what can you expect from me during the next 9 speeches? Well, as I grow, my desire is to challenge each person here to grow in different areas as well and change some of our mindsets. I love adventure, but one thing that I am also passionate about is helping people succeed in all areas of their lives. I will challenge you with topics such as: what are you're believe system towards money and finances? Have you written down your Goals? Do you have your written goals on you RIGHT NOW? If money and time was not an option, what would you do, where would you go?
Maybe you are sitting here tonight and say: I hate public speaking or standing in front of a crowd. Well, I leave you with the words of Art Williams: Do it and do it and do it and do it. 95% of your growth as a speaker comes when standing in front of a group. Therefore, speak and speak and speak till you love it and then speak and speak and speak till you move from free speaking to Fee.
Mr. Toastmaster.
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Ice Breaker Speechby Toastmasters282773,441 views
Also, a little known fact is that if you Google© "Deon Barnard", 7 out of 10 results will pertain to a douchebag
DOCTORDANification 1 year ago
I LOVED your speech, Deon. Thank you so much for sharing. I had some of the same challenges with sports in High School. I am a 6' tall woman, and everyone expected me to be a basketball player......... ahahaha.. NOT! I'm pretty good with a softball though. :)
Blessings to you and yours, Deon. I want to see More!!!
TheAlisaKay 1 year ago