Archive for July, 2010

Area Council Meeting

I limped to my first Area Council meeting today. Glad to have made it!

When Toastmasters Become Friends

When Toastmasters become friends…

  • - Someone will pick you up when your car won’t start
  • - There will be understanding with regards to suffering from fibromyalgia “symptoms”
  • - It’s possible to bring a large mason jar of green juice to a meeting and have your fellow club members look at you endearingly, rather than frightfully
  • - You don’t mind being gently teased for the above 3 items

July5-2010-ChineseCabbage2

Chinese Cabbage

The Five Musts

I’m currently reading John Assaraf’s The Answer and what has struck me the most, thus far, as the “Five Musts” that he has outlined:

  1. 1. You must find something that stirs your soul
  2. 2. You must become excellent at it
  3. 3. You must recondition your mind to believe you can have it and achieve it
  4. 4. You must understand how to make money at it
  5. 5. You must take daily action

Being involved with Toastmasters stirs my soul. I strive daily for excellence, taking whatever turn on my path that brings me closer to my dream of becoming a professional public speaker and facilitator. Therefore, when an e-mail came through from our Toastmasters Division W governor looking for facilitators for the summer Club Officer training, I needed to reflect on these “musts”. I realized that, as much as it terrifies me to lead a session for the first time, challenging myself will cement the belief that I CAN achieve it, and it will add to the excellence I am striving for on a daily basis.

In my year as President of Stone Road Toastmasters and Area 62 government, my focus is on the people. We are all Toastmasters, but we’re people first. Accomplishments are wonderful, but at the core, we are all just individuals looking to improve (together) in some aspect of our lives. More so, this improvement should be enjoyable, not a trip to the dentist’s office!