“Eloquence is a Muscle—Not a Mystery”
By Ubong Essien, CSP — Dean, School of Eloquence
For too long, Monica avoided the stage.
She thought eloquence was a gift—bestowed, not built.
Until she discovered the truth:
Eloquence is not magic. It is a muscle.
Just like physical strength, eloquence grows with:
- Repetition (the gym of public speaking is practice),
- Coaching (your trainer is knowledge), and
- Performance (your proving ground is the podium).
In her earliest attempts, Monica’s voice trembled. Her hands froze. Her thoughts scattered.
But each time she stood up to speak—even imperfectly—she tore down fear and built up fluency.
We told her: “Confidence is not a warm-up. It’s a build-up.” And build, she did. Not overnight, but with every coached session, each structured speech, and every word of feedback.
The result? A transformation.
Eloquence is not reserved for the few. It is earned by the faithful.
If you want to speak well, you must lift the weight of your voice.
Push through self-doubt.
Practice until presence becomes second nature.
Like Monica, you will find your voice.
Because eloquence is not a mystery. It is a muscle.