The Power of Asking Questions

I'm putting together my next Speech (#10 towards my Competent Communicator designation) based on Tony Robbins' suggestion in his book Awaken the Giant Withinthat we use Empowering Questions to bring ourselves along the path to successfully achieving our goals...

AND

being the multi-tasker that I am, I am also looking up possible homeopathic solutions for bites on my leg (they're itchy-- looks like I should be using some Rhus Tox, but apparently not with Apis, since they are hostile towards each other.) I also decided to dip into some of the current webtraining I am doing. That led to a scan of the Concise Oxford dictionary for possible redirect website names. And while doing that, I came across the following Swedish athletic term I have never before heard:

Fartlek, n. (Athl.), method of training for middle- and long-distance running, in which athlete runs over country, mixing fast with slow work. [Sw. (fart speed, lek play)]

I'm not sure if this is a very useful and empowering question or not, but I'll ask it: who knew?

Tonight I'm the Timer

For some members, the "Timer" would be a sort of fundamental, introductory leadership task at the Toastmaster meeting.

For me-- my stomach is in knots and my mind threatens to go blank.

I am one of those right brain lead folks who finds numbers-- and that includes 'time'-- causes stress.

I am going over the Manual with detailed notes so that I can manage to pull this off without passing out or embarrassing myself in some other way.

This is how I am breaking it down:
(1)I am stressed. I have negative images of what MIGHT happen (catastrophes) that could well become what my unconscious picks up as a command. Instead I am going to create positive images including:
**********I am cheerful and calm. I arrive early at the meeting and help with the set-up (I am also the Greeter and Ballot Counter)
**********I set up the timing equipment with no glitches.
**********The VP-Education has put together a clear and easy-to-follow Agenda with all the timing marked.
**********Before the Meeting begins, I ask a member to evaluate my role as Time-keeper and ask the scheduled speakers how long each of their speeches will last.
**********I have a pad of paper next to the timing equipment so that I am able to jot down what I need to jot down and recite it. I also have brief notes to explain what I must say to introduce the role of Timer.
**********Timer is also supposed to signal the Chair, Toastmaster and Table Topics Master with red when they have reached their allotted time. Need to check this out in advance.
**********I will come up with some clever titles for the various Table Topics folks as I time them (the last Timer was particularly good at that)

The Coming Speech

My husband and I have been in Vancouver helping our elder granddaughter (big age 2) transition with her new baby sister (born October 7th). I have 'farmed out' my secretarial tasks in the Toastmaster's Club at home, and have pretty much deferred the writing of a speech.

But words DO run through my head.

I'm not surprised to find out that there are tons of resources on the Internet. Here are some you might be interested in learning more about:

Debt is Dumb?

Watch finance-evangelist, Dave Ramsay, and pick up some of his superlative communication skills: http://godshealingword.org/debt1.html

The Club's Humorous Speech Contest

Last week was a bit of an eventful meeting-- I was Toastmaster for the first time (it went well) and our Vice President- Education resigned since she has just too many commitments on her plate at present. Fortunately, for us, a bright young guy in our fold consented to pick up the VP-Ed role-- the most challenging Club executive position, I understand.

And it appears that we are still planning to run our "Humorous Speech Contest" (for the Club) next week. I would love to finish my 10th Manual project with something hilarious-- but for the life of me, I feel so un-funny and really a blank when it comes to putting together a humorous AND inspiring 8-10 minute speech. I am going out to work in my garden and see if I become inspired...

Here is a really animated and helpful video of a Toastmaster doing a humorous speech:

ToastMasters Jitters

Tonight I'm the Toastmaster for the first time. It means that I am scurrying to fill a speech spot at a time when most people are either working or unwilling to do so at such an advanced time.

I'm actually considering doing my Number Ten speech and trading the Toastmaster's role with someone else for this week (I don't think I could manage both with much aplomb).

I just ran across a Public Speaking Group on-line that looks interesting. You can check it out here. I'm not sure I can afford it right now, but it looks intriguing.

Flop Sweat at the Comox Valley Toastmasters

Well, there I was, feeling all calm and chuffed about getting up and doing my #9 project in the Competent Communicator manual... I was going to demo a Green Smoothie in the Vita-Mix (as I talked about here previously) and had everything in place. Or so I thought. Turned out I left the lid for the Vita-Mix at home in the dishwasher. An inauspicious time was had by all. I just carried on, in the true spirit of Toastmasters (surely a bastion of stoicism if ever there was one). One very sweet young man, who did my evaluation, suggested that I might want to re-do the same speech another time so as to do it with the lid... that it was possible to do that. mmm. I don't think so.