Toastmasters and I

I have just received the latest Toastmaster magazine. As usual, I savoured the magazine from cover to cover. 

The magazine never fails to lift up my spirit and is always packed with useful information on how to be a better leader and speaker.

Every time I read the magazine I gained new insights. Today, I learnt and I quoted:

"It is not the size of words that counts, but the clearness with which they represent your thoughts."

Dr Ralph C. Smedley 

1878-1965

As I close this short post, I am looking forward to another exciting Toastmaster meeting later.

Have an awesome weekend, my readers!

Women

For centuries, women had been suffering in silence under the oppression of men. Men with huge ego whose hubris made them feel superior and infallible. The more unreasonable control they exerted, the more righteous they believed. The more successful the men were, the more invulnerable they felt.

No longer so! For women have been emancipated in many parts of the world. It was therefore fitting for our Club President, Reuben to dedicate the Saturday's toastmasters' club meeting to women.

The meeting was called to order by our smartly-dressed Toastmaster of the Day, Wendy. She was confident and had good control of the meeting.

Highlights of the meeting included the kind reminder from our lovely VPE, Dr Latha. She took the opportunity to remind us that October was the month of pink ribbon aka breast cancer awareness. For women who are 40 and above, it is advisable to go for mammogram.

We learnt a new word, "audacity", which met boldness from our dashing language evaluator, Jun. He also provided an example of its use as in "we admire his audacity to take the challenge to speak on stage."

As with our toastmasters meeting, there was a lot of fun alongside learning. As I stepped out of the air-conditioned room into the scorching-hot weather outside, my heart was filled with all the good emotions. With a smile in my face, I walked with a spring in my steps. It has been such a wonderful experience.

P/s: There were many more learning lessons but I would not be doing justice to pen them all down, with my limited memory and writing skills. Nothing beats attending the session live. Hope to see you at the next fellowship meeting!

Reminiscence

This month has been one of reminiscing moments with old friends who are fellow toastmasters. 

My home club Kampong Ubi TMC hosted the Club's Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest on 31 August 2013. 14 September 2013 was IPA TMC's contest. While I took a back seat and did not participate as a contestant, I gave my support to the events as an audience. In fact, I have blocked out both Saturday afternoon and I was glad to do it.

I have always admired the contestants as it needs great courage to take up the challenge. All put up a valiant attempt to clinch the trophies. All are winners in their right. As the audience, we were treated to the slew of engaging, entertaining and enlightening speeches.

It was especially special this year as I also managed to catch up with old friends. Mrs G also joined us in the August's to support the event. I also met S at IPA event. Besides catching up with old friends, I also made new ones. 

I love the Toastmasters club. It epitomises the saying, there are no strangers, only friends we have not met.

Kampong Ubi TMC's Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest 2013

IPA TMC's Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest

Fellow Kampong Ubi TMC members lending their support at IPA's event.

Project 5 Speaking After Dinner

Project 5 Speaking After Dinner

Objectives:

1. Prepare an entertaining after-dinner talk on a specific theme
2. Deliver the talk using the skills developed in the preceding projects.

Time: 8 to 10 minutes

Sizzle with Masters of the Toast

Not so long ago, I was a struggling middle-aged office worker. My main work portfolio was to crunch numbers, flip through tons and tons of reports and hopefully hit the jackpot – with insightful trends and patterns. In short, it was the unglamorous backroom job. It was just like a restaurant, I was working in the hot and stuff kitchen and the waiter would bring the food to the customers in a posh and elegant dining room.

If you recall how mad scientists are being portrayed in movies. They have this dishevelled gray hair – often fizzled, and thick black rimmed glasses. I used to belong to that club. I paid very little attention to my appearance and way I presented myself, the way I talked. Between style and substance, I thought it was the substance that counted. I told myself. But who was I fooling?

First impression counts. I would not have befriended my husband some 20 years ago if I did not find his look appealing. After I knew him, he turned out to be a man of fine character.

My dear friends, we have to accept that looks and the way you carry matter. It will help you to open the door. And then, you will have to prove your worth.

Back to my work. The world is constantly changing. Expectations are different and standards are higher. For example, nowadays, we have restaurants embracing the open-concept kitchen, where customers can view the chefs at work or even choose to sit at the counter to get closer to the action as they enjoy the meal. Similarly, I found myself being thrust to the forefront at work.

Public speaking was never my forte. I remembered when I was young, I was being “volunteered” to participate in a story-telling contest. I went on stage. “Goo... good morn... ing,...” [Long Pause] I was being ushered out of the stage. Even then, I was trembling throughout. It was worst than death!!!

“Ring, ring...” My office phone rang. I dread to pick it up but I had to.

“Aileen, I need you to brief at a meeting next week.” At the other hand of the line was my boss.

“Orh....”

After which, I would spend the next 7 days – worrying about how I would fare during my presentation, dreading each passing day, having nightmares from Monday to Sunday. Definitely, there would not be work-life balance if I allowed this fear to consume me.

So I went to the Internet to search for ways to improve. I typed “public speaking in Singapore”. Whoala, Kampong Ubi Toastmaster club came up among the top in the search list. Oh yes, I found the toastmasters. It was a pretty misleading name as I thought it meant being masters of toast bread. You know Yakun, the famous toast bread with kaya coffee shop.

Piqued by curiosity, I went to check it out. And like everyone here, I was once a guest. The rest is history. My speaking goal was simple. I wanted to be able to stand on my feet without falling on my face. And today, I have learnt to make a pretty mean toast – not the sliced bread but speeches – with the help of masters, toastmasters.

In short, the Toastmasters Movement deliver my goal with flying colours and many more. On a personal front, new challenges piled and they are still stacking up as high as Mount Everest, I thought of leaving. But I never left.

There is so much Toastmasters Movement can offer. I saw great speakers like Kwan Hong, Jun and Suhail, leaders like Antonius, James and Ramana emerge. At this point, I must qualify that the names are read out not in the order of their ranking, they are all superb in their own ways, but based on alphabetical order. Ordinary people like you and me are transformed into dynamic forces of oration and inspiration.

I am sold. Toastmasters programme works! Each assignment and contest which I have taken up allowed me to try something different. It stretches my potential like a rubber band. The big difference however is that this rubber band does not snap.

Every time, I jump at an opportunity. Wings are formed and I could soar to greater heights. At times when that did not happen, I am not going to bluff you. Failures do happen to Toastmasters. But there is always a safety net at the bottom of the cliff that helps us to bounce back.

There is so much camaraderie amongst fellow Toastmasters. Kampong Ubi TMC prides ourselves as being one of the friendliest club in Singapore. I always feel a sense of warmth and homecoming when I am here. We are amongst friends to lend each other a shoulder lean on and to cry on.

Today, I will like to thank my dear friends at Kampong Ubi for their support and kind encouragement. I will continue to sizzle with the masters of toast.

AP 5, Speaking to Inform, The Abstract Concept

Below is the speech which I have done based on research from various sources. It is posted here is based on my limited understanding and purely for sharing purposes.

The Presidents’ Mountain

In the Black Hills of South Dakota stood the grand sculptures of 4 great presidents of the United States of America. Have you even wondered who they are and what do they represent? Or the significance that they have in the land of freedom?

It all started in the 1920s in the heydays before the Great Depression some 10 years later. State historian Doane Robinson believed that a big country demanded big art. Robinson wanted the sculptures to be on the Needles Mountain in South Dakota – so named because of the sky piercing granite spires on the mountain. Many people snuffed at the idea. Some proclaimed that “Man makes statues, but God made the Needles”.

The Presidents’ Mountain or Mount Rushmore National Memorial, started as a celebration of all things American. It meant patriotism and what America was all about. It represented the ideology of America. Today, I will like to share with you what I have researched and what this ideology is all about.

The 4 presidents chosen to be immortalized represented the ideals that Americans held dear to their heart – democracy. What does “democracy” embody?

George Washington was the commander of the Revolutionary army. After winning the war, many of Washington’s most senior officers believed that the natural order of events was to decide who would become the King of the new country. They consulted with civilian leaders and wanted to crown Washington as King. Washington declined and within a few months he and his officers retired from the army, ending the idea of a “King of the United States”.

What does this episode tell us? It tells that George Washington believed that all human beings possess natural rights. He believed the legitimate purpose of government is to protect the rights of individuals. And this is what George Washington, the first U.S. president said at his first Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789:

“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”

That is democracy.

Next was we had Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president. He was a man of great vision. He was the mastermind of the Louisiana Purchase. It was the greatest real estate deal in history. The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France at a price of $15 million, or about four cents an acre. The ratification of the Louisiana Purchase treaty by the Senate on October 20, 1803, doubled the size of the United States and opened up the continent to its westward expansion. And this far-sighted man too believed fervently that men are created equal and penned the Declaration of Independence.

He said this at the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. July 4, is independence day or the national day of the U.S.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

We also have the 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, whose leadership restored the Union and ended slavery on U.S. soil.

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand.”

Abraham Lincoln, Address at Cooper Union, February 27, 1860

The 26th president Theodore Roosevelt promoted the construction of the Panama canal, a 82-km ship canal that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, opening up international maritime trade. He also ignited progressive causes such as conservation and economic reform.

At the address at Carnegie Hall, March 30, 1912, President Roosevelt proclaimed:

"We, here in America, hold in our hands the hope of the world, the fate of the coming years; and shame and disgrace will be ours if in our eyes the light of high resolve is dimmed, if we trail in the dust the golden hopes of men. If on this new continent we merely build another country of great but unjustly divided material prosperity, we shall have done nothing."

From this speech, we see that President Roosevelt strongly believed in the right of the people to rule.

In conclusion, Mount Rushmore stands as a shrine of democracy, a monument and memorial to the U.S. birth, growth and ideals. Of democracy, it is the belief that men are created equal, the right of the people to rule, the ideals of freedom and equality for all.

I will like to end my speech with the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, a stanza from the poem by Emma Lazarus.

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses, yearning to breath free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
U.S. strongly believes that all men are equal. Its arms are wide-open to welcome the poor and oppressed can start afresh.

My first language evaluation

A fellow toastmaster Ramana suggested that I took up the role of a language evaluator. I was hesitated at first as I had never been a language evaluator in my whole life. Ok, I exaggerated - in my years as a toastmaster.

At Ramana's encouragement, I decided to give it a shot. I did some research in the Internet and watched how others did theirs in Youtube. I prepared the script for the opening and carefully chose the word of the day. I had a rough idea of what I was supposed to listen intently for and the key areas which I should focus on.

In the arena of public speaking, preparation can only take me so far. The real test is the performance on the day itself. I must say my preparation served me well. However, there were still certain areas which I needed to brush up on. These showed up at the actual day performance. Or rather, I should term it as rehearsal. For the Toastmasters Movement is to provide a platform for us to practise.

Thank you Toastmasters Club. I know with you I will be better than what I was yesterday!

A Night in the Mountains

It was 8.20 pm, one summer day in Wyoming, The United States. My family had just had one of the most wondrous holiday driving experience. We went up to a snow-capped mountain unknowingly and it was summer! At several thousand feet above sea level, the weather up at the mountains in Wyoming was perpetually cold with snow always dominating the landscape.
 
That was only one to two hours ago. And we were still on the road on the lookout for a lodging place to put up for the night. Now as the curtains of the night were drawing down, we were stuck in the middle of nowhere! There was no town, no petrol kiosk, not a single soul. Instead, we were surrounded by an expanse of wilderness and the road sign read “Big Horn National Forest”. There was another not so helpful signboard that indicated one would have to U-turn back as the road ahead would be closed if the weather turned inclement. There was no reception for our hand-phones. There was no street lights. The saving grace were the light reflectors which bounced the light from our car, guiding us up the mountain road. And yes, our GPS which was cranky just now, was working fine. We were all praying that it would remain so.
 
The elements of nature could be highly unpredictable and anxiety was running high in me. I looked at my husband who was taking the driver seat. He replied with a reassuringly tone “I guess we would just press on.” Along the way, our car was crawling as my husband was unfamiliar with the terrain. He stopped once to avoid a mule deer dashing across the road. We also chanced upon a dead mule deer in the middle of the road. It was knocked down by a passing vehicle and we felt sad for a life lost.
 
“Mama, you see outside, you see, you see.” My elder boy shouted excitedly with his finger pointing towards the side window of the car. “It is snowing!”
 
My younger boy who was until now fast asleep, stirred and opened his bleary eyes. His eyes instantaneously widened and he was fully awaken to take in sight of the falling white snow draped the surrounding landscape.
 
“Daddy, can we go out and play.” He asked innocently.
 
“No, sweetheart.” My husband replied gently. “Look the temperature outside is subzero.” He pointed to the thermometer indicator in the car.
 
“We are not dressed for the occasion.” He smiled and stopped the car. “Let’s just take in the sight.”
 
It was then snowing intensely and my husband decided to stop and wait out for the storm to be over.
 
“Country road take me home, to the place I belong....” I began to sing and smiled encouraging at my two children to join me to keep our spirits high.
 
Snowstorm cleared shortly. Somehow up at mountains it was not as dark as I initially feared. There was still moonlight and it also lit up our moods somehow.
 
Just then, we saw a pair of red eyes staring at us straight in the face. It was the rear light of another car. Somehow, we were glad that to know that there was another human being in this place. We then tailed it as closely as possible and it led us out of the mountains before turning into a farm. We felt a strange swirl of relieved that we were out of the mountain but sad that while the driver in front was home, we were still in search of the next town, where the modern day comfort beckoned.
 
We passed by two small towns with a population of 500 to 800 before we reached the next bigger town and called it a day. For all that we have gone through, it has taught a very invaluable life lesson.
 
“While we can be prepared, unexpected events can still happen. Persevere and believe that good things will come.”
 
We went up the Big Horn Forest by accident. Yet, it gave us the unique opportunity to test our strength of our nerves and our ability to remain calm in adversity. This will help us through to face with the toughest challenge in our life. After all, we have done in when our lives were at stake.
 
It is the same thing for us toastmasters. We need to prepare for our speeches but sometimes the unexpected can still happen. Perseverance and belief is our ticket out of the situation.

Speaking to Inform Advance Project 4

Is Reading in the Toilet a Concern? 

This is a familiar sight in the early morning rush hour of Singapore. We see people (pause) reading (pause) newspaper. They can be seated or in standing position, with their papers opened at 45 degrees due to the space constraint in the very crowded train. Try as they might as there is little elbow space and very often, we do get brushed when they flipped the newspaper. 

Have you ever wondered if the persons who are reading the newspaper next to you (gesturing left and right) do so in the loo? And if so, would you be sick because the same newspaper has touched you? And if you are one of those people who read in the toilet, is reading in the toilet good for you? 

A very good afternoon, Club President, fellow toastmasters, friends and guests, today, I shall share with you my findings from some medical reports on the public health consequences of reading in the toilet.

There are two which I have studied – one is by Dr Ron Shaoul published in 2009. He is a paediatric gastroenterologist, in layman term, he is a doctor for the children, hence the term paediatric, specializing in the digestive function. Dr Shaoul has drew up a questionnaire and together with his colleagues, they had about five hundreds of people from all shapes and sizes completing it. Another is by Ms Val Curtis, director of Hygiene Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who has also in last year conducted a study in Britain on similar matter. Today, I shall share the salient findings from their reports by using a question-and-answer format.  

There are three questions which I will seek to answer. They are: 
1.     From a medical standpoint, do the reading materials become irreversibly infused with nasty contaminants when carried into the toilet?
2.     How long can unpleasant microbes live on glossy magazine covers or, for that matter, the pages of a newspaper?
3.     What does the straightforward act of reading on the toilet do for bowel movement? Is it good to read in the loo, or not? 

Answer to qn 1, does reading in loo put us at risk of being infected by the bugs in the poo. Ms Curtis summed it up all, in theory there was a risk. However, in practice, the risk was very slim. And in her own words, “there is no need to get anal about it.”The important thing is to wash your hands with soap after using the loo to get the bugs off. This way, even if you happen to be in contact with a shit-smeared newspaper, wash your eyes before eating should keep you quite safe.  Of course, if you refuse to do so, and later in your office, pick your nose when no one is watching, thereafter and rub your fingers in your eyes. You might well get an infection. For the determined, there is always a way. Don’t blame the person who read in the loo.

Q2, how long can microbes live on glossy magazines or pages of newspaper? Here is the good news. They don’t fare too well on non-absorbent surfaces. At best, they survive a few minutes. So by the time, the person reach the MRT station, all the microbes will have been long dead. How about smartphones, iPads? Unfortunately, such smart devices are not that smart when it comes to microbes. Their shiny and smooth surfaces are more accommodating and it is likely that bugs that live on those for hours. Curtis’ study suggested that one in six mobile phones is contaminated with faecal/excremental matter largely because people fail to wash their hands after going to the toilet. So don’t pick up smart devices lying around with your naked hands. Use a tissue instead. 

Let’s move on to Q3, is reading in the loo good for you, in particular your bowel movement? Dr Shaoul thought that sitting and reading while doing your business might be relaxing and make things go better. Maybe it could just be the cure for constipation. As it turns out, it is not true. Toilet readers spend more in the loo and think that they are less constipated than non-toilet readers. Other measures of their defecation habit show that the two groups hardly differ. Shaoul’s work hints that toilet readers suffer more haemorrhoid or piles. But before you get too paranoid about it, the effect is negligible. 

In conclusion, my dear friends, reading in the toilet while quite widespread, is a harmless habit. It alleviates boredom. Next time when your tummy hurts badly, you can use it as a distraction therapy. Back to you Toastmaster of the day. 

7 Lovely Logic

From a fellow toastmaster who is also my club president. I am also very impressed and inspired by him as he has brought our club to the top 5 clubs among the more than 150 clubs in Singapore and Thailand.

7 Lovely Logics

1) Make Peace with your Past so it doesn't spoil your Present.
2) What others Think of you is None of your Business.
3) Time Heals Almost Everything, Give Time, Some Time.
4) No one is the Reason of your Happiness Except You yourself.
5) Don't compare your Life with others, you have No idea what their journey is all about.
6) Stop Thinking too much, Its Alright not to know all the Answers.
7) Smile, you don't own all the Problems in the World.

Good Writing

I have written a number of posts on good writing. This is yet another. The posts share a common thread that is writer's thought must be coherent. I will usually demand myself to write clearly - meaning, my readers can understand my writing in a single rapid reading.

Of course, having a good command of English will ease the process. So step one is to have clarity in what you want to say. I cannot help you here, but I could share with you some tools to help your ideas flow together logically. These tools are words and phrases which will help you connect your ideas that establish the relationships from one sentence to another. They are also known as transitional markers.

To show:
Addition
- again, also, and then, besides, equally important, finally, first/second/third/etc, further, furthermore, in additin, last, likewise, moreover, next, too

Cause and Effect
- accordingly, consequently, hence, in short, then, therefore, thus, truly

Comparision
- in a like manner, likewise, similarly

Concession
- after all, although this may be true, at the same time, even though, I admit, natually, of course

Contrast
- after all, although true, and yet, at the same time, but, for all that, however, in contrast, in spite of , nevertheless, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the other hand, still yet

Time relationships
- after a short time, at length, immediately, later, temporarily, afterwards, at that time, lately, presently, thereafter, as long as, before, meanwhile, shortly, thereupon, as soon as, at last, earlier, at the same time, of late, in the meantime, since, soon, until, when, while

Toastmaster:What would men be without women

Advanced Communication Series: The Entertaining Speaker
 
Project 3: Make Them Laugh
 
Executive Summary
 
Humor is an ideal way to attract and hold an audience’s attention. You can also use humor to build rapport, emphasize points, convey a sensitive point, or deal with unexpected incidents that occur during your talk. Humor includes some kind of unexpected twist that pleasantly surprises the audience. Practice delivering the material until you can do so smoothly, pausing before the punch line to create tension.
 
Objectives
-        Prepare a humorous speech drawn from your own experience.
-        Strengthen the speech by adopting and personalizing humorous material from outside sources.
-        Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humor effective.
 
Time: 5 to 7 minutes.
===============

What would men be without women?
 
Last week, my husband and I went hiking to the Treetop Walk at MacRitchie. For the benefit of the uninitiated, the TreeTop Walk is the first of its kind in Singapore, in Johor Bahru and also in Batam.  Once there, you be at the top of the world, a bird’s eye view of the surrounding.
 
Before we all get carried away, that’s the marketing part, which is to get you high, at the top of the world. Now, we need to be real, with our feet firmly on the ground.  In order to enjoy the beautiful scenery, one has to trek 4.5 km from the MacRitchie Resevoir Park to the entrance of the TreeTop Walk. 4.5 km equates to 1.5 to 2 hour walk. That’s not all. Unless you live in TreeTop Walk, you will need to walk back to civilization. So add another 4.5 km for a round trip. In total, it is a hike of 9 km or about 4 hours.
 
So yes, it was a beautiful place but also yes, we had a tiring time. No thanks to my impatient husband who insisted to go faster and faster and even faster. Did he not know the phrase “more haste less speed”?
 
“Why can’t you go faster” He would hurry me.
 
Puff, puff [pause] “I can’t… erh, because I am a woman?” I ventured a guess.
 
“See, I have always told you that men are better than women.” He continued as he took my panting silence as an admission that he was right.
 
I retaliated by giving him a hard cold stare that must have sent chill right down his spine.
 
For from my eyes, he must have seen the list of all the unfulfilled promises when he was then my boyfriend. Equal responsibilities in our household expenditure. Equal responsibilities in doing our housework. Equal responsibility in raising our children.
 
His definition of “Equal” in raising our baby, for example. Our bundle of joy, was his. He would carry, cuddle the baby. Our burden of joy, unfortunately was mine. I would cajole, cater to the every need of the baby.
 
There was a recent report on fewer women than men in senior leadership position. The data mentioned that there were 3 women for every 8 men at the top.
 
I salute the few women who have reached the pinnacle of their career. For it is really a mammoth task. For a woman never, ever, really leave the kitchen behind, for each step on the corporate ladder that she advances, her man is pulling her the other leg to remain in the kitchen. Just imagine balancing one leg on the kitchen ladder and the other on the corporate ladder. The higher she limps up the corporate ladder, the more precarious the balance is.
 
“Ah!!!!” My train of thought was broken by my husband’s loud scream.
 
Before I knew it, a bunch of monkeys snatched his red plastic bag containing some snacks and water for our trip.
 
“Oh mine. Who in the right frame of mind will bring a red plastic bag to attract monkeys?” I took the opportunity to rub salt on his predicament.
 
”What would men be without women?” I sighed.
 
“Scare, madam, mighty scare." My husband promptly replied.
 
Back to you Toastmaster of the Day.
***

Speech Writing Course

I was packing my bookshelves when I chanced upon the notes on speech writing course which I have attended in 2009. I thought it would be good to share with my toastmaster friends. Here are the tips.

Objectives of a Speech
First, consider the objectives of the speech. Usually, a speech falls into one or more of the four categories - 1) inspire thinking; 2) stir feelings; 3) motivate action; and/or 4) provide information.

So what are the qualities of a good speech?
1. Meet the objectives
2. Well-organised
3. Interesting
4. Passionate
5. Precise and concise
6. Persuasive

It will be good that the speech is also humorous, relevant, easily understood and memorable.

In a nutshell, a good speech is one that is 1) easy to follow and understand; 2) achieve its objectives; and 3) memorable.

When we are drafting a speech, we need to bear in mind tht the attention span of audience is short and getting shorter. There is an audience beyond the one in front of the speaker - such as the media (TV/ newspaper).

That sounds intimidating. Fret not, to navigate the thouroughfare of speech writing, we can follow the following process closely.
1. Determine the message (e.g. staff conference?)
2. Consider the audience
3. Think about the person delivering the speech (if the person is not you)
4. Collect informaton and organise it into about 5 points and rank them.
5. Start from point 1, then 5. Move on to 3, then 4 and finally point 2.
6. Link points with smooth transitions, e.g. meanwhile, 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc
7. Write the conclusion then introduction
8. Work on a sound bite (sound bite refers to the "boxed-up text" in the newspaper, usually it is a quotation, it's short 1 sentence or at most 2 sentences. They are important and expressed in a nice and stylised way.
9. Review conclusion and introduction
10. Have someone deliver it and assess how it flows.

Tips to consider
Use:
1. Alliteration (e.g. fast and furious)
2. Anedotes
3. Antithesis (e.g. "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." Martin Luther King, Jr., speech at St. Louis, 1964)
4. Call to action
5. Contrasts
6. Conversation English (read Bill Gates' speeches)
7. Definitions
8. Humor with care
9. Quotations
10. Repetition
11. Rhetorical questions
12. Rounded-off figures
13. Short sentences
14. Set of threes
15. Similies (same in some aspect usually 1 - he eats like a pig, life is like a journey) and metaphors (same in everywhere). E.g. Passion is like fuel in the rocket, it propels the rocket to greater heights.
16. Simple words
17. Sound bites
18. Statistics - to use sparringly
19. Transitions
20. Vivid imagery

Avoid:
- Cliches (expression that is no longer fresh. e.g. at this mount in time, without further ado, last but not least, we work 24/7, on that note. Instead use finally, let me end my speech...) and platitudes (sentences that say something that is true but people have heard it so many times. e.g. Change is the only constant).


Writing the introduction
- You have 15 seconds to capture the attention of audience (most important)
- You never get second chance to make a good first impression
- Write the intro towards the end
- Possible introductions include - a provocative quotation, a vivid anecdote, a thought provoding question or a startling statistics

Writing the conclusion
- Repeat your main point more emphatically (you want them to retain that one point. e.g. Let me end my speech by emphasizing/ repeating this very important point/ by leaving you with the thoughts of...)
- If appropriate, call for action
- Possible conclusions include a rhetorical question, or an appropriate quotation e.g. is that the kind of world you want to live in?

Remember there are two aspects - 1. what to say (contents) and 2. how to say (method)

Speaking to Inform - Advanced Toastmaster Project 3

Project 3: The Demonstration Talk

Executive Summary

A demonstration is the most effective way to explain a process, activity or product. Demonstration can be done through body movement (showing a dance step or skiing technique), showing a physical object, or displaying a model. Carefully rehearse the demonstration and be sure the audience can see it. Anticipate any problems that may occur and plan how to handle each one.

Objectives
1. Prepare a demonstration speech to clearly explain a process, product or activity.
2. Conduct the demonstration as part of a speech delivery without notes.

Time: Five to seven minutes

=========================

3, 4, 5, 6 Code of Thinking

Greetings,

How many of you learn about KSTMC through the Internet? [Pause] Quite a good number of you.

This is the power of Internet. It gives you tons and tons of information. So much so that dear friends, today, we are inundated with information. Yes, information is power. But we also need to separate the small details from the big picture. When your thinking is clear, you will be able to articulate your thoughts better and make a great impression to your bosses, your supervisors and your friends.

Today, I will like to do a show-and-tell on a new way of thinking which I termed as 3,4,5,6 code of thinking. I learn this from Dan Roam, the author of the book “Back of the Napkin. This is an interactive session, meaning that you will need to do some work. I subscribe to what Confucius says “I hear I forget, I see I understand, I do I remember”. Please refer to this sheet of paper on the table and fill in the blanks.

Let’s start with 3. Please write in the sheet 3 built-in tools, which are 1. Eyes, 2. Mind’s eye (through our experiences); and 3. Our hands (to draw, to see things in pictures).

Even though, I say that this is a new way of thinking, it is also in us. We have all the tools.

Next, I will move on to the number 4. 4 here stands for the 4 steps of visual thinking.

- Look, see, imagine and finally show.

For example, you decide to improve your public speaking skills. So you look around you, you google for how to improve your public speaking skills. Look is the step whereby you gather information then you see, meaning you sieve out the information that is most pertinent, most helpful. You decide to come to attend KSTMC meeting today. You are now watching me giving a presentation. Next, you imagine yourself on stage doing public speaking. Finally, when you join us as a member, you will show us by standing on stage and speak.

I will now move on to 5, which refers to 5 key questions which we need ask ourselves when we are looking at a problem. These 5 questions will help us to cover almost all aspects in the problems. Write on the sheet of paper – 5 questions and draw a squid like this – S, Q, V, I and D.

When you look at an issue, you will need to first consider your audience and decide whether you want to do simple approach or a more elaborate one. For example, for fellow guests who are interested to join KSTMC to improve his or her public speaking skills, I will use the simple approach. When you join us, you improve your speaking skills by doing. For fellow members, I will go further into the details – when you join us, you will receive manuals which will explain to you how to do and you will need to complete 10 projects in order to be a competent communicator.

Q here stands for quality versus quantity. V – vision versus execution, I – individual attributes versus comparsion (for example, you may be deciding whether to join KSTMC or to join a course on public speaking. You will look at the individual attributes – the members of KSTMC, the cost involved and so on). The last question is Delta – change versus status quo. When you decide to change, to join KSTMC you will be a better speaker compared to status quo.

Last but not least, I shall move on to the final number which is 6. 6 refers to the 6 ways of thinking.
1. Who/ What (draw a portrait)
2. How many (draw a chart)
3. Where (draw a map)
4. When (timeline)
5. How (flowchart)
6. Why (multivariate plot)

Which one you choose will depend on the issue on hand. Today, I shall demonstrate using the “why”, why you should join KSTMC. This calls for a multivariate plot which means you need to look at the various reasons which will entice you to join our club.

The reasons include,

- KSTMC is a warm and welcoming club. We provide a supportive and encouraging environment for you to practise your speaking skills. It is a laboratory for you to experience different ways to engage your audience.

- We have a good track record. Our club is chartered in Year 2000. This year marked the 11 year that our club has been around. We have helped many people like myself to conquer the fear of public speaking. I used to be a very shy person who would fear even to talk among friends, but no more, thanks to KSTMC.

- We have a mentor scheme. When you join us, we will assign a more senior member to help you in your first few projects so that you know exactly what to do.

- Not only will you be a better speaker, you will also learn leadership skills by taking on appointment holders. You will learn time management by speaking within the allotted time.

- You will also learn new things such as the 3,4,5,6 code of thinking. You will be inspired by fellow toastmasters to continue in the journey to be a better speaker and leader.

And many, many more. If you are interested, I will strongly urge you to approach any of our club members later during tea break. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.

Back to you Toastmaster of the Day.

Quotes from Vince Lombardi

I enjoy good quotes. Below are some from Vince Lombardi (1913 to 1970) forwarded to me by a Toastmaster friend.

It has been used in the Table Topics Segment. Fellow toastmasters or guests are invited to pick a number from one to 10. Each number corresponds to a pre-designated Vince Lombardi quote. Thereafter, they are to talk for about one to two minutes on whether they agree with the quote.

Vince Lombardi Quotes
1. Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.
2. Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.
3. Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.
4. It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.
5. Winners never quit and quitters never win.
6. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
7. Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is.
8. Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is everything.
9. The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.
10. We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.

Vince Lombardi was an American football coach. In a sense, good sports encapsulate the best of human values. That of consistent hardwork, persistent perservance and pursuit of perfection. That is why sports captivate the hearts and souls of the spectators. They cheer and cry for the athletes who have pushed themselves beyond the shackles of ordinary human beings to achieve the extraordinary.

I believe that such power exists in each and everyone of us. What we need to do is to first believe and set a goal for ourselves. The process of working towards the goal will make us a better person.

Enjoy and believe :)

Notes from a Friend (II)

Below is the script of the project which I will be presenting at the coming Toastmasters Club meeting.

In a sense, I am killing two birds with one stone - below is a book review of the book "Notes from a Friend" by Anthony Robbins and also the script of my Toastmasters project.

"Notes from a Friend" is a very uplifting and good read. I strongly recommend that you head down to your local library or bookstore, grab the book and read. It may just be the book that change your destiny.

Enjoy!
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Three years ago, there was a lady who was at a low ebb in her life. She was preoccupied by thoughts of why life was unfair to her, of what she did not have, and of God’s denial.

Then destiny intervened. She walked into this room and found this group of well-meaning friends. They gave her the encouragement to face whatever challenges, not just speaking, that faced her.

This lady is me.

Greetings. In the Toastmasters journey, I learn not just the skills of public speaking. More than that, it opens my eyes to read extensive, to read with an open mind and opens the door to self-improvement. I learn that what happens to me is not God’s denial, but God’s delay. And I am grateful for the detour. Because of that, today I am a Toastmaster and also a wiser and happier person.

Tonight, I will like to pass the Toastmasters’ gift of sharing on and share with you three golden lessons to live our lives to the fullest. And I have used the book title “Notes from a Friend” written by the world renowned success coach Anthony Robbins. Like Anthony Robbins, I hoped my little speech today could encourage you to press on despite the many vicissitudes of life.

Golden Lesson Number 1. [Draw a curve line on the whiteboard]. Is this line concave or convex? It’s both depending on how you look at it.

You are what you believe. That is the easy part. The hard part is that you have to take absolute responsibility. For example, my dear friends, you can believe with all your heart that you are a fantastic public speaker. But would that belief alone make you a fabulous speaker? [Pause] No, you need to take responsibility. Taking responsibility will give you the power to be in control. By giving excuses such like I have no time to attend Toastmasters’ meeting or prepare speeches, this power will be taken away from you slowly and surely. By taking responsibility, you acknowledge that it is your action that determines how good a speaker you are. It gives you back the power to be in control.

A good example is Roger Bannister. At the time when people believed that it was not only impossible for a person to complete one mile in less than four minutes but also dangerous to the health of those who tried to do so, he chose to believe otherwise. He not just believed in it, he took responsibility for it. Roger Bannister was then a 25-year old medical student at Oxford. He trained hard and he approached his belief scientifically using his medical knowledge. On that fateful day, May 6, 1954, he raced and crossed the finish line with a time of 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds. It was his moment of vindication. The psychological barrier of 4 minute mile was broken forever.

Golden Lesson Number 2. Persistence pays. In whatever field that you may be, the key to success is to take consistent action every day, every minute, every moment. Every time you do something you learn from it and you will find a way to do it better next time. Doesn’t that sound familiar? It is just like doing our Toastmasters’ project.

By using this same formula, we have Colonel Sanders who built an empire of KFC restaurants all over the world. At the age of 65, Colonel Sanders’ one and only restaurant failed due to the opening of the new highway, Interstate 75 which diverted customers’ traffic from his restaurant. He took a meager $105 dollars from his first social security check. He then decided to sell his secret chicken recipe. He was a very, very, very persistent man and he stayed true to his path even after 1,009 “no”s. He succeeded eventually because he focused on the solution and not the problem. With each “no”, he learnt how to win a potential franchise in his next encounter.

The third golden lesson is the most important. It is to have goals in our lives. There are some people whom we all know who seem to be constantly lost in a fog of confusion. They go one way, then another. They try one thing, then shift to another. They move down one path, then retreat in the opposite direction. Their problem is simple, “they do not know what they want”. You cannot hit a target if you do not know what it is.

We need to set goals is to give our lives focus and to move us in the direction we would like to go. Ultimately, whether or not you achieve a goal is not half as important as the type of person you become in pursuit of it.

So my friends, I urge you to set goals in your life. Believe in yourself, take responsibility for your action and be persistent. I believe you will achieve a more fulfilling life with these three golden lessons.

To your success.

Back to you Toastmaster of the Evening.

Secrets of Speaking Success

After a hiatus of a few months due to a change in work portfolio, I have finally managed to wrestle some semblance of control. I have resumed my favorite pastimes - reading, writing and yes, speaking.

I booked a speaking slot in my Toastmasters club and delivered the promise to myself - to keep my journey of self-improvement. I deeply believe in the Toastmasters program of learning by doing. It has been a life-transformational journey which is still evolving.

Tonight, I will like to share with my readers the "Secrets of Speaking Success" which I have delivered for my first advanced project for Speaking to Inform. I hope you too can benefit from it.

The Secrets of Speaking Success

Greetings,

There once was an eight-year old girl who was extremely shy and reserved. Alas, she was thrusted into limelight when her teacher signed her up for a story telling contest. She chose the option of avoidance - not to think about it until that fateful day. She stood on stage, froze with fear. In the end, the teacher had to lead her off stage. I was the girl.

By a show of hands, how many of you are currently having or used to have phobia speaking? [Pause] I see that almost all in the room raise their hands.

Fret not, help is at hand. This is the Competent Communicator Manual that you will have when you join any Toastmasters Club. It is in the welcome package sent right to your doorsteps.

Today, I will like to share with you on how this manual will make you a better speaker. There are 10 projects in the guide and you can divide them into three levels – beginner, immediate and advanced.

Beginner level projects are projects 1 to 3. 1 is on Ice Breaker for you to know the speaking skills you already have and what are the areas to improve upon. Thereafter, you will move on to Project 2 and 3 to learn about structure in a speech – opening, body and ending; and what you want your audience to do or to know at the end of the speech. For example, in my case, I will want my audience to have an overview of what the Competent Communicator manual covers.

After the basics are the in place, you will move on the Immediate stage in Projects 4 to 6. In project 4 we learn to use vivid and expressive words. For example, when I say, I stroll, I walk, I sprint, I zoom. The words, stroll, walk, sprint, zoom refers to moving from one place to another using our legs, but there is a different speed associated to each word. You will also learn to create music using words. Eg, I zoom and zonked out. Zzzzz… Project 5 is on body language – a confident person is confident because he is congruent in his action. How would you perceive a speaker who say yes and do this (shaking the head). But these are the things which we do subconsciously when we are nervous. Project 6 on vocal variety, so when you talk be careful of not doing this “I am going to share with you on the ten projects in the Competent Communicator manual.” This is a sure way to get people to go to sleep. By the way, vocal variety also includes pauses. [Pause]. I pause because I want to STRESS that having pauses are important. So we can pause before we say something important.

Finally, after completing these projects, you will find yourself several notches up in your public speaking skills. Then you can proceed to the Advance stage in project 8 to 10, whereby you will learn how to use different visual aids in project 8, learn to persuade others and finally, having inspired in the Toastmasters journey, it is your turn to inspire others in finale project – project 10.

Before embarking on the Toastmasters’ Journey, I was groping the dark before any business presentation. And because, it was so dark, I could not see, there was a lot of fear. Then there is light and the secrets of speaking success are revealed to me.

Learning public speaking is like learning swimming. Can you learn swimming just by reading books or attending a 3-day crash course? [Pause] Naturally, I was crashed.

The magic of the Competent Communicator module is that you do not need to complete all the 10 projects to be better. After each speaking assignment, you will be better. That is the law of nature. It is just that we have to battle that lousy feeling of defeat initially especially when we are no good. But in the Toastmasters’ Club, we provide a safe environment for you to practice. Remember successful people do things NOT because they are good. They DO, SPEND TREMENOUS AMOUNT OF TIME ON IT TO BE GOOD.

I hope to see fellow toastmasters to register for their next time speaking slot. For guests who are looking to improve their speaking skills, hesitate no more, sign up with our club today, reward is within your reach.

Back to you Toastmaster of the Evening.

Tips on Public Speaking

Due to a change in work portfolio, I have not been able to find time to do my Toastmasters' project for two months and counting. Many thanks to my fellow club members who have been so understanding and helped out in the club activities.

As I find time to tidy up my messy abode, I found previous Toastmasters' Club programme sheets which I had then frantically scribbling my notes. Each meeting was jam-packed with so much information that I tried to record down what I could take home as much as possible.

Here are the notes for sharing:

- an atmosphere of ...
- an aura of handsomeness
- redundancy, verbosity
- elicit
- logic tells emotion sells
- there is music in language (wishy-washy, topsy-turvy)
- success will not elude you
- ... refreshed my memory
- enchanted/ smitten
- reproach
- pillar of strength/ support
- mould a person's character
- full-house effect
- gratification was like reaching the sumit
- out of comfort zone
- scan around to survey the area
- not a single soul
- heartbeat skipped once whenever a canine barked.
- eyes sparkled
- aim too high is akin to shooting at the moon
- life is a sum of missed opportunities
- a blanket of darkness
- a river that flows
- never show all your cards

Triads:
- inspiring, educational, entertaining
- blood, sweat, tears

To my club members, I am trying very hard to find time to continue my toastmasters' journey. I believe this is a only a passing phase and as I learn more I will become more proficient and productive. This is just like when I learn to be a better public speaker. See you people real soon.

Honestly speaking, I never lie

Below is a very recent article on public speaking.

It strikes a chord with me and I believe also with other fellow toastmasters. Enjoy.

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Honestly speaking, I never lie

MANOJ VASUDEVAN

MY SKILLS at public speaking were evident at an early age.

At my high school, the teacher asked each student to tell the class what they wanted to become when they grew up.


When my turn came, I knew exactly what I wanted to say.

But as I stood in front of my classmates, my mind became my master.

It said: "What if you sound stupid? What would your friends and teacher think?"

I stood scared stiff and silent.

Nevertheless, I learnt three lessons that day.

One, the meaning of the word petrified.

Two, what butterflies in tummy feels like.

Three, never try this again.

Lack of public speaking skills didn't bother me much.

Sometimes, it was surprising to see how people who have little to say can speak loudly for so long.

Most of them prospered well and some of them became my bosses.

I have heard peers commending my bosses by saying "boss, you speak well!"... which was another way of saying that they were good for little else.

Public speaking is for people who do not know how to speak quietly in private; smart people listen, think and act... these self-serving thoughts were always handy.

Fortunately, the mind has the amazing power to provide plenty of reasons to prove that you are right, under all possible circumstances.

But, why is it that most people are afraid of public speaking?

It did intrigue me; but that was nothing to lose sleep over.

Things started to change after my son was born.

To start with, I was no longer the most important man in my wife's life.

It suits me to believe I had that honour before.

The arrival of our daughter 1 1/2 years later changed things even more.

I was not important anymore.

Whoever said "child is the father of man" might have been a father.

Just that it really means children control fathers' destiny.

When our son was four, we trained him for days for a "show-n-tell" session.

After persistent practice through pushy pedantic procedures, he could deliver every line with energy and enthusiasm in his cosy home.

On "show-n-tell" day, daddy and mummy accompanies him with Handycam in tow.

I am convinced that my children will be famous one day.

In the distant future, when the media throngs our home, we should be ready with their childhood videos.

See, I am a practical parent with significant foresight.

Lights ON, camera rolls, my prodigious son walks up on stage.

He freezes up on seeing the audience.

Oops! This was not his cosy home anymore.

He repeats everything vividly and accurately, but it was only in his mind!

What bliss of silence!

What a brutal assault on parental ego!

At that instant, I clearly understood my parents' past predicaments involving me.

Lights OFF, plight ON.

On our drive home, there was lots to express and discuss.

Emotions varied from anger, sadness, frustration, sympathy, contemplation and fault-allocation to the appropriate parental genes.

A series of similar episodes prompted me to be a positive example for my children to look up to.

I took up public speaking and got associated with Toastmasters.

While I learned the ropes, I fumbled and faltered, but persisted.

Public speaking soon became a solemn diversion for engagement and expression.

That also improved my communication with my wife - yes dear, I learnt that eye-contact and listening is also an essential facet of communication.

I felt tempted to volunteer for every opportunity to speak, whether it was to deliver a talk, be an emcee, do stand-up comedy or speech contests.

It was never easy, neither was it as difficult as it once seemed.

As Madame Curie once said: "Nothing in this world is to be feared... only understood."

The cynical among us may add "except for marriage".

Public speaking is not about speaking, it is about communicating.

It is the ability to communicate our thoughts, clearly, concisely and convincingly.

Needless to say, folks who are able to clearly and convincingly communicate their ideas get noticed and listened to.

They progress faster in their careers and life.

Some become bosses.

It does not make them smarter, but it just makes them more self-assured and acceptable.

When I speak in public, I still have butterflies in my tummy.

But the more I speak, the more the butterflies fly in formation.

But when people tell me "boss, you speak well", I scratch my clear head and think... are they making fun of me?

tabla@sph.com.sg

The Three Great Forces that Rule the World

This is the script which I have written for the Humorous Speech Contest. I have prepared it to fulfill Project 2 "Resources for Entertainment" of the Advanced Communication Manual, The Entertaining Speaker.

I like the topic as it marries my two passions of my life - my professional knowledge and my role as a mother.

Enjoy.

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The Three Great Forces that Rule the World

“Ka-Ko-Ko-Ko, Ka-Ko-Ko-Ko, the sky is falling!” Henny-Penny, a farm chicken shouted at the top of her voice as she raced down the road. “Run, run for your life!”

“Henny-Penny,” Goosey Loosey, the goose living in the farm next to Henny Penny stopped her and asked, “Why do you say so?”

“H..rrr…H..rrr…” Henny Penny panted and tried to catch her breath before she let out in bullet-train speed, “See this bump on my head. I was having my lunch when a piece of the sky hit me. The sky must be falling. I need to hurry to alert the King of this critical information.”

“Wah, your bump is certainly big and bloodshot.” Goosey Loosey’s eyes widened as she examined the swell. “We should quickly tell the rest. Let me join you in this noble quest.”

Soon, two became twenty, and twenty became forty. Everyone was panicking.

En route to the King’s palace, the farm animals met Foxy Loxy, the fox who invited them to his cave which according to Foxy Loxy would protect them from the falling sky. Of course, that was not true, the farm animals became Foxy Loxy’s meal.

***
Greetings.

I have just shared with you an English Fairy Tale, Henny Penny. Of course, the sky was not falling, Henny Penny was hit on the head with an acorn while eating her lunch. There was a lot of fear and panic in the Henny Penny’s crowd. And the crafty Foxy Loxy took advantage of it.

Here it is the first great force that rules the world – it starts with the letter “F” and ends with the letter “R”. FEAR that’s right.

There are many people in the world just like our Henny Penny. They panic when they listen to the news. They think the sky is falling and we are all about to die. And this is precisely what happen what the stock market or property market crashes. This just happened as recent as in around March 2009. Everyone was dumping their shares, selling their properties at fire-sale prices. And no one was interested to buy. But now when prices are high, people are busy chasing these assets.

Why is this so? These people believe that well if they buy high, they can sell even higher. But why is there any sucker that is willing to pay a higher price for the same asset? [Pause] This is irrational right? But this is how the stock market works. It thrives on greed.

There is a story about a dog biting a piece of meat in its mouth. He was on the bridge when he saw another dog with a big juicy piece of meat in the river. He was greedy and wanted to snatch the meat as well. “Woof” he barked and opened his mouth, dropping his meat into the river. He then realized that the dog he saw was his own reflection. So instead of two pieces of meat, the dog was now left with none.

I would say many people remembered this lesson well. In around April last year, the market rallied. Some were tempted to go in to take a position while many waited. Then the many heard about their friend, Freddy making a bundle from the stock market. They wished they were Freddy but then they told themselves “better be saved than sorry”, wait a little while more to confirm that the coast was clear. Soon, every Tom, Dick and Harry in the coffee shop and even taxi drivers were talking about how much they had made in the stock market in early this year. Then many decided that this was the time. They took a huge position but then market headed south. This is a very familiar story. What happened?

This is the third force that rules the world. It is ignorance or stupidity. It is no different from believing that the sky is falling when the acorn hit Henny-Penny in my first story. Many believe that money too will fall from the sky. Like sheep, they find safety in numbers. There is no alternative to hard work. If you want to be a good public speaker, you have to practice the craft. If you want to win a speech contest, you have to invest time and effort to craft a good speech, prepare and practice. So if you want to make money from the stock market, you have to study the market, the asset that you are buying and not merely following what others are doing.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have shared with you what Albert Einstein has once said about the three great forces rule the world. They are stupidity, fear and greed.
Conquer them and you will be the one who would rise to extraordinary heights amongst the sea of ordinary men.

To your success.

Back to you Toastmaster of the Day.

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Time Management and Toastmasters

Tonight, I will like to share with my readers on time management. I have a time log which I record down what I do at what time. It depends on which aspect of time management one intend to improve. For example, I always wonder why is it that I have so little free time after work. So I record the way I "spend" my time from the moment I wake up till I turn in.

We all have 24 hours each day. I used to think that I have to forego my sleep to do more. Not anymore. Yes, the formulae "there is no such thing as nothing for something" still holds. But we can learn to be more effective and efficient with our time.

Recall - To be effective is to do the right things and to be efficient is to do the things right. To be effective, we need to know what we want in life. We need to set goals. To be efficient, we need to keep our eyes open on ways to improve our productivity. That is one of reasons I join the Toastmasters Club. In fact, I found that through diligently doing the projects, I have not only improved my speaking skills but also my writing skills - vital skills for my job.

In closing, I will like to share a very meaningful quote which I read in Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill, the best way to conquer fear is courage. So if you fear to speak, you have to conquer this fear by courageously taking the stage. We need desire - it is like the fuel that will propel the rocket. That is why mothers are the greatest beings on earth is our love for our young ones, this love gives us immense courage to surmount the seemingly unattainable.

To Your Success in Time Management
AC