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Do You Really Need a Free Retirement Speech?

My Grandfather's retirement gift:a pocketwatch Why give a ready-made and probably well-used free retirement speech ?
Wouldn't it be better to use the time you'd spend personalising & rehearsing a free retirement speech to write your own?

The easy-to-follow guidelines below will help you create an original, unique speech you'll be proud to deliver.

Would you like to read an original retirement speech sample written using the guidelines featured?
Read, then return inspired and ready to begin your unique speech.


Before you start to write collect your ideas together.

Use the headings below as guidelines. Put down as much as you can under each one. Do not self edit. Allow the ideas to flow. You will rearrange, expand, trim or delete them later but for now it's important you let whatever occurs be put down on paper.

  • I remember...(Suggestions: starting out 'x' years ago, what was important, what I looked like...)


  • Colleagues...(Suggestions: those who've been influential, friends, campaigns worked on together...)


  • Tributes...(Suggestions: Who have I admired and why? Who has inspired me? Name and thank them.)


  • Milestones...(Suggestions: personal achievements, the firm's achievements)


  • Anecdotes...(Suggestions: amusing stories about either yourself or the people you worked with.)


  • The future...(Suggestions: Personal future:- what I'm looking forward to, where I'll be, what I'll be doing...The firm's future:- where do you see it going? What challenges does it face?...)


  • Philosophy...(Suggestions: the values that have been important over the years and still are...)


Have you considered writing your own retirement poem?

It's not as difficult as you may think and you'll have something very special and original to offer.

You can find out here how to write a poem in free verse.

Getting it Together

Now that you have the raw material you're ready to shape it. But before you begin to write the speech you have three more important considerations:

  • How long is it expected to be?
    The usual speech length is 3 -5 minutes.


  • What tone do you want your speech to have?
    As many retirement speeches are delivered at a dinner or party, most people strive for a balance of humor, sincerity and respect. Keeping it too solemn may be inappropriate for the occasion.


  • What theme do you want to run through it uniting all your material together?
    Theme suggestions: team effort (through uniting one achieves more), friendship, loyalty, value of ongoing education, that youth is wasted on the young, humor, importance of believing in one's dreams...
Be sure to look through this large selection of retirement themed quotes. You'll find sharply witty, warmly funny, inspiring and even sad thoughts about the subject. Take any that appeal to weave through your own words. Maybe you'll find just the opening or ending you want!

Now Write:

Go back through your notes, select what you want, put it in order and write exactly as if you were talking out loud to a respected friend. You'll need an opening, middle and conclusion.

Remember the time allowance. You are better to make a few points well rather than try to cram your speech full and rush. If it worries you that you've had to omit either people or events, say so. People will understand.

Also remember: If you are writing a farewell or retirement speech about a colleague: 'do unto others as you would have done to you'. To gauge whether or not what you've written will be well received or has covered all the most important points, firstly put yourself in their shoes and secondly, read the speech through to several colleagues whose judgement you respect.
Be very aware of revealing personal or sensitive information. The person retiring because of ill-health or for special family considerations may not want it made public. Ask before speaking. If you don't feel you can ask, then you probably shouldn't be saying anything about it.

And the 'do unto others...' sentiment includes whether or not to write an original or use a prepared free retirement speech. It may not feel very good to know the speech you received was far from unique. Instead it was a free retirement speech available to everybody.

Go well. Your speech is now tailored to fit.

Click for more about how to write speeches

Click for tips on rehearsing and delivering your original, free retirement speech.

Click for tips on using humor effectively.

Click for a large selection of witty one-liners and snippets of wisdom about retirement

NEW!

Did you know people are looking for your words?

Everyday this site has hundreds of visitors searching for retirement speech samples. They need inspiration to help them write their own. My one speech is not enough!

You could assist by posting the speech you write. The more examples of retirement speeches we have to share, the better. Soon-to-be retirees will thank you for it.

Interested?

You'd get your own sample retirement speech page on my site and help so many.

Why don't you bookmark it now and post your speech when you're ready?



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Back to the Top the Free Retirement Speech Page

To re-read the Retirement Speech Sample click here

Go to Retirement Themed Quotations

How to write a poem in free verse

Get tips for rehearsing & delivering your 'free' retirement speech

Check out How to Use Humor Effectively and Safely.

Go back to the Home Page

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