"Vocal Variety," Toastmasters Speech 6

I gave my sixth Toastmaster's speech last Monday, March 5th, on the paradox of choice and how it relates to happiness.  Another part of my speech, which as far as I know is new for our chapter of Toastmasters, was that I let the audience decide how certain parts of my speech would go.  The goal of the speech, which the Competent Communicator Manual calls "Vocal Variety," was to enhance your message by using pace, pitch, power, and pause.  My speech was six minutes thirty-seven seconds long.  Here's what I said:

I started off by introducing the topic of my speech and explaining how the choices would work.  I drew a large "A" and "B" on opposite sides of the chalkboard and gave the audience a sample question and asking them to point to the answer. 
The next step was to explain the paradox of choice:

"Has anyone heard of the paradox of choice? The paradox of choice is very simple actually and it can be shortened to a single phrase: More choice is not always better. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying we should have no choices. In the majority of cases, having some choice is better than having none."

I then asked my first question; as an example, would they rather hear about mustard or tomato sauce?
The audience chose tomato sauce.

"Many years ago most tomato sauces were of one consistency, thin, and it would sink to the bottom of your pasta. The reason being that this was the authentic Italian tomato sauce and because it was authentic the companies thought everyone would like it. Wrong. If you look on the shelves now there are three kinds: plain, spicy, and chunky." 

 You can see how much happier consumers are from the ratings that people then and now gave their preferred sauce, it went up as much as 10% in some cases.

But when you have too many choices, people become unhappy.

I then gave the choice between jeans and toothpaste as another example.

They chose jeans.

When you went to buy jeans many years ago there was one style.  They didn't fit well at first but after a while they stretched and you came to like them.  Now when you go there are many styles and when you now buy jeans it takes an hour or so.

The problem is that when you finally do buy the jeans you aren't as happy with them because you keep thinking how happy you could have been with the other types!

At the beginning of my speech, I mentioned that one reason the concept of choice is important is because it applies to everyday life.  I concluded with its application:

1. You can use choices to make those around you happier.  Don't give them too many or too few.  Find a middle ground.
2. When you are worried that you do not have enough options in your life, consider what it would be like without any or with too many.  You're happier this way!