Speaking in 2010 took a very different turn for me. Instead of competing at the Region and World Championship levels in the Toastmasters' International Speech Contest for 5-7 minutes, I was on stage for an hour at a shot in such high-profile spots as Bemidji, Minnesota, Grand Island, Nebraska, and Mitchell, South Dakota, for a seminar job I toiled in for 9 long months.
I still spoke for Toastmasters clubs along the way, either as a guest speaker or just volunteering for table topics or evaluator in clubs in all the states I spoke in, as well as St. Paul's Club in London, England.
I joined SpeakEasy Toastmasters in Arvada, CO, and as mentioned in an earlier post, haven't been there as often as I'd like.
The final result of 2010 for me, speaking-wise, is that while I spoke more than I ever have before in a year (getting that valuable stage time), I spoke less about what I WANTED to speak about then ever before as well. That - above all else - will change in 2011.
So here's my list of Speaking/Coaching Goals for 2011:
1. Write my definitive keynote - and start giving it anywhere someone will listen.
2. Join the National Speaker's Association
3. Attend Toastmasters regularly - join an Advanced Club - and never give a speech that isn't lending itself to my ultimate goals of speaking.
4. Coach/Mentor more speakers in 2011 than I have over the last 5 years combined.
5. Use video, for speeches, marketing, and speaking tips on my blogs and websites.
6. Create audio products out of my speeches and coaching.
7. Compete in the International Speech Contest
8. Market & Network myself to a higher degree than ever before - this one is for all of us - nobody will hear or be helped by your message if they don't know who you are and where they can find you!
These goals are not reliant on Toastmasters, though TM can certainly be a vehicle for me this year to accomplish more of my professional goals. I'm going to use as many options as are available to me, and squeeze every ounce of value I can out of them, even as I stay true to my purpose this year - speaking to encourage the world to Live Their Self-Defined Success.
What goals will you make for yourself this year? Are they what you WANT to do, or what you THINK you HAVE to do? Are they financially-based, or client-based? Are they oriented to YOUR goals, or the goals of others?
I cannot declare 2011 the years of the speaker, I suppose - but YOU can declare for yourself that it will be the year you Speak...& Deliver!
Great goals. A good reminder to myself. I get to speak a lot but only on about 10% of the occasions I am speaking about what I really love speaking about. Good luck to you in 2011.
ReplyDeleteRich, I recall the humor and passion you brought to your speeches in WA. Your decision to hone and focus your considerable ability can bring you great things in the year to come. I'm glad I was able to see you speak live and I look forward to seeing more of you in new locations.
ReplyDeleteDave C.
Centralia, WA
My goals are three different ones this year.
ReplyDeleteOne is to be a good president of my original Toastmaster club, and help others discover themself, inside and outside the club.
Two is to give more personal storys, not only at the Theatre but find also different communities where I can tell them.
Third, is to create, like you did, a workshop on Personal Storytelling and go with it to different clubs or Areas to deliver them. Could you tell us more about how you created it? Ups and downs?