About two years ago, I was an extremely active member of Toastmasters International. I had discovered TM a few years earlier through a friend who is a professional speaker. I went to a meeting and thought the organization was great- a supportive group that's aim is to help you become a better public speaker. Whether you are a veteran speaker, scared to get up in public, not a native English speaker or just want to get better, TM offers fun, logical, easy steps. I found a club near my job and started going to meetings..and guess what? I became a better speaker. And unlike most things in life which take a long time to achieve, my comfort level soared in a short period of time, months. Now, I never felt I was terrible- but just lacked the opportunities to make presentations in front of groups often. But as I worked the TM program..set some basic goals and just showed up, I became very good. I gave some really wonderful speeches and became really decent at presenting on the fly..and it was fun!
Well what happened?
Well...I became pregnant with little Malcolm and all the confidence in the world couldn't make me get up to speak. I admire women who gone business as usual during their pregnancies, but I felt like Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka-the last thing I wanted was to get in front of people, I really just wanted to hibernate for a while. So I did. I gave a few speeches but a few months into the pregnancy I called it a wrap and didn't renew my membership. A year and post maternity leave later..I still hadn't returned.
What makes doing something that you know is good for you so hard?
Finally, I had run out of excuses to not go. Many people say the hardest part is just showing up. I find that's true and I see so many of my friends caught in paralyzing circle of self doubt. One of my favorite speakers, Les Brown says if you don't know what to do, just do something ! Anything! Sometimes it is just that first step that is so hard.
Returning to the fold.
Well, I returned to TM a few weeks ago, and today I spoke for the first time in some while. My job was to evaluate a new speaker as he gave his "Ice Breaker" speech. The Ice Breaker is the first speech in a series and is just that --meant to break the ice. How apropos, I thought, because this in a sense was an ice breaker for me as well.The one wonderful thing about TM is that you can really see the potential and others and so see it in yourself. Now I feel recommitted to the program and ready to tackle my advanced speaker goals. What goal do you have, new or old, that you need to "Break the Ice" on or recommit to?
Well what happened?
Well...I became pregnant with little Malcolm and all the confidence in the world couldn't make me get up to speak. I admire women who gone business as usual during their pregnancies, but I felt like Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka-the last thing I wanted was to get in front of people, I really just wanted to hibernate for a while. So I did. I gave a few speeches but a few months into the pregnancy I called it a wrap and didn't renew my membership. A year and post maternity leave later..I still hadn't returned.
What makes doing something that you know is good for you so hard?
Finally, I had run out of excuses to not go. Many people say the hardest part is just showing up. I find that's true and I see so many of my friends caught in paralyzing circle of self doubt. One of my favorite speakers, Les Brown says if you don't know what to do, just do something ! Anything! Sometimes it is just that first step that is so hard.
Returning to the fold.
Well, I returned to TM a few weeks ago, and today I spoke for the first time in some while. My job was to evaluate a new speaker as he gave his "Ice Breaker" speech. The Ice Breaker is the first speech in a series and is just that --meant to break the ice. How apropos, I thought, because this in a sense was an ice breaker for me as well.The one wonderful thing about TM is that you can really see the potential and others and so see it in yourself. Now I feel recommitted to the program and ready to tackle my advanced speaker goals. What goal do you have, new or old, that you need to "Break the Ice" on or recommit to?
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