This is the 5th of 8 posts sharing on why I like being a member of Toastmasters(TM).
Have you ever felt like you need to meet people outside your day-to-day
circle?
You’ve come to the right place – Toastmasters!
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| A warm memory from 2017. |
For myself, I came from an engineering background. Some people term engineers as being square. 😊 Half true! There are ‘squares’ in every profession.
I’m a sales engineer. Hence, I meet people from
engineering/production/maintenance departments of a manufacturing company as
well as contractors and operators. At times, I meet the R&D team, at times purchasers and at times, finance, if only it could be more often, which means I get more good old cheques to collect.
At a Toastmasters (TM) meeting, I meet entrepreneurs, bankers, IT personnel,
students, retirees, among others. Regardless, we were once terrible speakers
and we all have the passion to learn and support each other in our TM tracks.
Even if a member is based in the US, Europe, Asia or Oceania, we share the same
passion and always greet international guests with warm welcomes.
At my club, Super Speakers Toastmasters Club in KL, Malaysia, we assign
new members to mentors, as their
special guardian angels particularly in the first few years of being a
Toastmaster. Back in 2012, I was assigned to a lady who looked like me, sounded
like me but WWWAAAYYY more experienced, more lively more giving than me.
There’s more. She’s more productive, more sassy and definitely has more memory
cells than me. It’s superb for her age of 60+. She has consistently volunteered
me into roles and applauding me as I delivered my speeches and participated in
contests. At her age, she still works, and she’s a voluntary line dance teacher
to her friends and neighbours. As a 2nd term president of a local Lions Club as well as a past Toastmasters EXCO of a string of roles, she’s
been a great role model to me, not just in my TM journey but as a person,
leading a colourful life, while making a difference in the community.
Then, I’ve got a mentee who is an emcee herself with Astro, a local major
broadcasting company. I’ve never come close to knowing someone from the showbiz
until I joined Toastmasters. She’s a self-initiated and eloquent speaker, yet
maintains her humble self. If I’d like
to improve my pitching and persuasive skills, I know where to go, as she demonstrates
and sells on a TV shopping channel. As the saying goes, you are the average of the
5 people you surround yourself with. I think I’m in good hands.
There are many ways we can meet people outside our working lives. TM is one of them. Members are people wanting to improve themselves regardless of age and background. While doing so, they help others to improve as well, as here in Toastmasters, we learn in moments of enjoyment.
Through my 3/8 gains posted
earlier, you’ll learn more on why being a TM opens up an opportunity to give.
Are you looking to meet people
outside your circle too?
Want to check our next meeting out?
Follow our Facebook page at
‘Super Speakers Toastmasters Club’
This is my 5th gain as a member of Toastmasters. Stay tuned
to fine out 3 more.
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