When I went blind, I discovered I had a story to tell. At first I thought I was boring everyone to death but I soon gained confidence as people started to give me positive feedback. Telling my story involved not speaking from notes but speaking from the heart, as my notes I could no longer access, but my heart I could. The more I interacted with my audience and my heart the better my story became! There is a story in all of us - what is yours?

Step 1: 10 year period

1. Pick the 10 year period in your life which has been most significant for you to talk about. Taking a piece of paper, on the left hand side of the page write each of the 10 years in chronological order. Now, beside each year write the most significant thing which happened that year. You now have the basis for your story. Now try telling it to someone. 

Step 2: What could you speak about?

2. Write down a list of all the things you could speak about. Is there a link between any of them? Could you combine two of them and come up with something really different that would provide an interesting perspective?

Step 3: What's unique about you?

3. Write a list of things that are unique about you. It could be 'single mother', 'truffle maker', 'half marathon walker' or 'Braille reader'. These are all experiences that could combine to become your story. Which one tells your best story?

Step 4: Prepare an opening

4. Prepare an opening for your story. This can be a general greeting or an introduction. The more prepared your introduction is, the more confident you will feel about getting on your feet.

Step 5: Major Headings

5. Once you have your story outlined, write down a list of major headings going from beginning to end. You may use the time line outlined in the first action to build your story. By writing the headings down you now have a format that can be easily transferred to cue cards. Put these cue cards in a place you normally spend your quiet time, and learn them off by heart. This will not only help you at public speaking time but you will be able to pull them out of your mind at any other speaking time. 

Step 6: Prepare an ending

6. Prepare an ending for your story. It's easy to get distracted so having an ending prepared will help you finish more powerfully. This is the time to leave your audience with your major message. It may include a poem or a quotation from someone famous. Whatever it is - rehearse it and pull it out when you are ready to complete.

Step 7: Do the unexpected

7. Do the unexpected. One of the great things about telling your story is that it is your opportunity to showcase all of you! Your list of things that are unique about you may include that you tap dance so include this in your story somehow.  People will love it. At the least they'll be impressed with your courage to do something different. Have some fun - you'll be loved for it!

Step 8: Interact quickly with your Audience

8. The sooner you interact with your audience the better.  It will give you the opportunity to relax and show them the real you. They will respond in kind and be more open to hear what you have to say. They will connect with you which is your primary goal in standing up and telling your story. Remember they all want you to succeed and will love what you have to say. You are unique and so is your story - so start telling your story to the world now!