Turn Your Deficit Into Your Skill Set with Toastmasters International
How would you feel if after a speaking engagement, someone approached you and told you that you were the worst speaker they had ever heard at a speaking event?
On September 4, 1969, this exact scenario happened to me. I found myself on the receiving end of some negative feedback after running a sales meeting for 17 people. After I finished the meeting, an older man approached me and asked if I was willing to hear some feedback. Though I was hesitant, I obliged. He bluntly said to me, “This was the worst meeting I have ever attended in my life and you’re the worst speaker." What did I do at that moment? I burst into tears.
The man immediately instructed me to stop crying, and at 28 years old, I had the choice to wallow in my sorrows and leave defeated or improve myself.
I wished I had known then that this moment would change my life in the most unexpected and unimaginable way possible. As I wiped my tears, I wished I could have foreseen that I would not only learn to overcome my fear of speaking but become one of the most recognized speakers in personal development, sales, and most importantly, how to be a better speaker.
This tearful moment was the catalyst to a career that would last over 50 years and include over 3,000 paid speaking engagements, coaching over 10,000 other speakers, being a founding member of the National Speakers Association, and being inducted into The Professional Speaker's Hall of Fame.
How did I get from this moment of defeat to cataloging my many successes? It starts with that man putting his arm around my shoulder and agreeing to mentor me into becoming a better speaker. Then, as I pulled myself together, he invited me to a Tuesday morning meeting at the Tempe Toastmasters Club, where he promised to "fix me."
I showed up that Tuesday morning and have been a member for the past 54 years. Why? Because Toastmasters International is the place to be if you need to develop your speaking and communication skills, and it will help you no matter what skill level you arrive with and regardless of your career path. They understand that in order to succeed, you need to know how best to communicate with others.
Toastmasters International can help by:
Developing your public speaking skills in a supportive, safe, and fun environment, so that you can practice your speaking repeatedly and build confidence.
Improving your listening skills with support centered on listening effectively and giving meaningful feedback to others.
Building your self-confidence to gain the courage to stand up and speak in front of an audience.
Connecting you with others so you can meet new, like-minded individuals.
Teaching you leadership skills and practicing them in a safe, supportive environment.
In just five short years as a member, I was named The Best Speaker in Arizona at the Annual International Public Speaking Contest held by Toastmasters. A few short months later, I was speaking in front of 2000 Toastmasters at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA, and placed in the top three in the world.
At Toastmasters, you too can turn your greatest deficit into your greatest skill set. If you’re looking for a network of support and a safe space to practice speaking, there are Toastmasters all across the country and even outside the US. Their network is sprawling, including 14,700 clubs in 144 countries with over 280,000 active members as of 2023. With their support, you will never have to wipe your tears after delivering the worst speech your audience has ever heard. Instead, you will have attendees stating the opposite. They will have witnessed the most extraordinary speaking engagement of their lives. They'll be thankful to have been a part of it.
Now go out and MAKE it a great day!
