Great Leaders Are Great Communicators... Come Toastmasters!

Anyone in the Northern Virginia area who wants to develop your public speaking and leadership skills, as well as build self-confidence and overcome your fears of speaking in public; We're having an OPEN HOUSE at our next Toastmasters club meeting this coming Saturday, June 3 at 10am. For more information, check out our club's website:

https://3551.toastmastersclubs.org/

If you're interested, please hit me up.

So Close,... But I'll Be Back Next Year!

Well, I got on stage, gave the best version of my speech,... and won 2nd place at the District 27 Toastmasters International Speech Contest. Despite fighting this pesky allergy-related bronchial spasm, I powered through it. 

It's particularly gratifying when I think about the fact that I got to this point with no formal coaching or training; i.e. I did tons of my own due diligence (reading, studying YouTube videos of champion speeches, and practicing relentlessly) to propel myself to the District competition.  It's also gratifying (while at the same time a little disappointing) when a few high level district officers come up to you afterwards to tell you that "You should've won." (One lady who coaches and mentors speakers told me that I gave the equivalent of a "World Championship level speech.")

It's all good, though. I've come this far, and I'm only going to get better. The journey continues. As Les Brown has said, "It's not over until I win."

I AM A WORLD CHAMPION PUBLIC SPEAKER!

I AM A WORLD CHAMPION PUBLIC SPEAKER! 

Yeah, that's right. I said it. I'm putting it out there into the Ether, the Universal Mind. Why?

Thus Saturday is the Toastmasters District 27 International Speech Contest. Having made it this far, a first place finish qualifies me to compete in the 2017 World Championship of Public Speaking, to be held in August in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

From the moment I told myself last year that I was going to win the World Championship in two years or less, the burning desire in my soul has only gotten hotter. I have envisioned myself WINNING the world title, being handed the 1st place trophy, and meditating on the FEELING of winning.

I AM A WORLD CHAMPION PUBLIC SPEAKER.

It's going to happen.

You heard it here.