I’m always looking for punch lines or short quotations that I can use for multiple speaking situations. Recently I read an anecdote that that will serve nicely for any speaker.
A little boy wants a dog and his dad finds a man online who has a litter of puppies to give away. So the father and son go visit the dog owner. He shows him the five puppies and one, the smallest one, is wagging his tail vigorously. The son picks that one. The father asks him why since it is the smallest of the litter. His son answers, “Because it has a happy ending.” 
The possibilities are many. End a toast for a promotion. The toaster delivers the punch line and then ends with, “We knew when we hired Jeff that there would be a happy ending to his hard work. I believe that this promotion is just the beginning of many happy endings for Jeff.”
Introduce someone who has overcome a large obstacle to be the speaker. After telling the story, deliver the punch line, “With her presence here today to speak, we can certainly say about Sara, ‘This is a happy ending.’”
Preview your next motivational speech by telling the story and then say, “I believe the points I will make today will aid you in many happy endings.” Then go into your first point.
You can make preparing and delivering speeches less burdensome when you have a good story or quotation to use for a variety of occasions.
