Quietness Of Mind
Month: March 2018
Journey Of A Lifetime!
Now that I have been a member of Toastmasters International for 10 years, it’s a good
time to reflect on the experience.
It has been a life-changer for me.
As a born introvert I know only too well the ‘apparent fear’ one experiences when one stands up before a group of people to speak, whether it is in a work or business meeting, or if you are asked to give a speech somewhere.
After 10 years of ‘investing myself’ in the programme, here’s what I have learned:
* The old adage ‘you only get out what you put in’ is totally true.
Out here in Australia, Clubs meet twice a month and I’ve missed perhaps 15 – 20 meetings in those 10 years. I would say that I’ve been to at least 240 Toastmaster meetings if you count the other Toastmaster clubs that I have visited in that time.
* The benefits I have gained/positive impact on my life are immense.
I wrote an article back in 2015 for this blog and will post the link at the bottom for I identified 18 ways my life has benefitted from being involved in Toastmasters.
I’ve even managed to progress from Introvert to Ambivert as well!
* I sometimes get asked, ‘Why do you keep going?’
Simply put, Education, Motivation, Friendship & Fun!
I can’t remember how many times that I felt like just going home and vegetating because I had a hard day at work or whatever. Whenever I went to the Toastmasters meeting, I always came out at the end, revitalised and re-energised.
Every meeting you learning something new, either about yourself or about public speaking/leadership and with each time you do a role and/or speak you grow that little more in confidence.
I’ve made so many great friends who are so supportive, and we have loads of fun.
* It gives you a chance to have a positive impact on other people’s lives
I can easily relate to how other people (especially Introverts) feel and can help them through my experiences. The membership individually and as a whole want people to succeed. We support them through their mistakes, want them to progress and use their skills out in the World at large.
Toastmasters Clubs also run Youth Leadership courses in schools and Speechcraft courses for adults.
I’m really looking forward to the next 10 years and beyond in Toastmasters. Here in Australia, we’ve just taken delivery of the new PATHWAYS Education programme. 10 Paths to transverse. I’ve selected, ‘Presentation Mastery’ as the one I’d like to begin with.
There is another old saying that says, ‘It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey…’, well this journey is one that I am ever so grateful for!
David Johnson
17 March 2018
To find out the way 18 ways being involved in Toastmasters has helped me, click on
https://communicatingcreatively.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/why-toastmasters/
If you would like to find out more, click on https://www.toastmasters.org/
Bitter-Sweet Moment…
Life Lessons!
Like a lot of people at the start of the year, I did a Vision Board and set some goals etc.
One area I addressed was health. I set walking, meditation, exercise and fluid goals which were going tremendously well until the 18 February…
Whilst I was doing them I felt I had more energy and was keeping on top of things.
The goals were to:
- Walk 3 times a week
- Walk a minimum 15km’s (9.3 miles) per week
- Meditate every day for a minimum of 10 minutes
- Exercise 3 times a day (I have 10 stretching exercises a Physio recommended)
- Drink 1.5 – 2 litres (3.7 – 4.2 US pints) a day
With my Wife, Susan, we operate a Strategic Marketing business, I am in a BNI (Business Network International) breakfast networking group, holding two committee positions; Vice-President Public Relations for Camden Toastmasters and am a co-Mentor for Gledswood Toastmasters, a proposed new club.
Apart from that, we have our time together plus all of my creative interests.
Looking back, I can see the reason that the goals went pear-shaped over the last month!
It has been such a busy month on all fronts that the business meant quite a few late nights; it is contest season in Toastmasters and I was involved in contests at Club level and Area level. These led to late nights, and a lesser quality of sleep that definitely impacts the next day (especially when you have some early starts) and so on…
I restarted the activity today and feel much better for it! I believe the last month would have been a lot less draining if I had made the time and stuck to the goals I had set myself. I also need to look at perhaps reducing my involvement on committees from 4 positions to two.
Hopefully, I can learn from this ‘latest life lesson’ and that I won’t have to be taught it again. 🙂
David Johnson
17 March 2018
A Richer Journey
The inspiration for this poem came from being part of the judging panel on the Lions Club International Youth of the Year District contest that I wrote about in my previous post.
Inspiration Plus! – Lions Club International Youth of the Year!
Yesterday, I had the most marvellous experience of being a member of a panel of 5 Judges on the Lions Club International Youth of the Year District 210 N2 Final here is South-West Sydney, Australia.
Initially, there were supposed to be 6 contestants, all aged 15, however, the only boy withdrew from the contest prior to the day.
As a panel, we interviewed each of the 5 contestants on subjects such as Leadership, Sporting & Cultural activities, Citizenship & Community involvement, Academic and general knowledge of Local, State, National & International affairs for a period of 30 minutes.
We then had to judge each contestant on two Impromptu Speaking questions, one 5 minute speech and on Presentation and Personality.
It was a fascinating process. Seeing and hearing the students present themselves via three different formats, handling the nerves as they did was a credit to themselves, their parents and their schools.
Congratulations to all the contestants and in particular the Public Speaking Winner and the Overall Winner. Best wishes in the forthcoming State Titles!
In all-in-all, it was a very inspiring day! It was such a pleasure to interview and hear the contestants. They were so inspirational!
It was also wonderful representing Toastmasters International on the Judging Panel.
Congratulations to Lions Club International for conducting such an event and a HUGE THANK YOU for the opportunity!
Thank you also to fellow Toastmaster, Anne O’Keefe who put me onto the opportunity.
If you ever get the chance to be part of the Judging Panel for this contest, I would highly recommend that you take it.
Written by David Johnson
11 March 2018
Visual Song
Communicating Creatively 