My Unusual Method of Learning How to Speak (Part II)

What I learned from Indian missile tests.

Yesterday, I shared an article on my journey toward becoming a better speaker. That was focused on one key realization: I wasn’t a bad speaker—I just didn’t have enough things to say.

Today, let’s take that idea further by exploring another crucial aspect of speaking: the ability to speak for longer durations.

What I Learned from Indian Missile Tests

To illustrate this point, let’s look at India’s missile development program, specifically the Agni missile tests.

Over the years, India has systematically extended the range and capability of these missiles through incremental testing, each step building upon the previous one. The first Agni missile, tested in 1989, had a modest range of 700–900 kilometers. Over time, newer versions, like Agni-V, were developed with ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometers. Each phase of testing involved learning from past mistakes, optimizing performance, and gradually expanding the missile’s capabilities.

Now, what does this have to do with speaking? Well, just like the development of a missile, speaking for longer durations requires a gradual buildup. You don’t start by talking for hours; instead, you first master speaking for 30 seconds, then a minute, then longer. Each success builds on the last, much like how incremental testing allows missiles to hit farther targets.

And just like those missile tests, speaking for longer periods involves preparing, refining, and learning from each attempt.

Conclusion

As discussed in the last article, I started studying books and podcasts and eventually developed enough ideas to sustain talking for longer duration.

The main point of this article is that you can’t speak for hours by listening to youtubers giving random speaking tips. You have to follow gradual steps.

Without the strong foundation you can’t grow to a good speaker.