10 Ways Toastmasters Can Boost Your Career

 

An excellent article on the benefits of joining a Toastmasters club 

https://www.livecareer.com/resources/jobs/search/boost-career

Public Speaking, Content, Structure and Toastmasters

An October 2021 interview on public speaking, content, structure and Toastmasters 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYaHngJE6ak&t=670s

Get To The Point - Establishing The Point of Your Presentation

The link below provides access to an excellent article I discovered.  Often when I coach speakers, they struggle defining their purpose or their point. There is no need to overthink this, but a speaker needs to have a point and be clear about it. 

Here’s a quick exercise to define your purpose;

1. Why were you selected to speak to this audience on this subject? 

2. Decide what you want this audience to understand or do as a result of hearing your presentation.

3. Once you've decided this, make sure you communicate your purpose at the beginning and end of your presentation.   Everything you say in between best support this purpose. 

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/19/stop-rambling-use-this-easy-trick-to-get-to-the-point-faster-says-public-speaking-expert.html

16 Minute Podcast Interview On Communication and Leadership

 

Below is a link to a 16 minute interview with Elton and Rita on their SpeakUP podcast primarily about my personal experience in Toastmasters here in Saint John and worldwide.  

https://www.buzzsprout.com/811460/9496856

Working Outside Your Comfort Zone - Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers

 

You might enjoy this article about Steve Rogers, a very successful starting pitcher for the Montreal Expos back in the 70s and 80s. He was a dominant pitcher on the club and as this article states he had won three games in the 1981 playoffs.  That’s impressive.

However, in the playoffs when teams face a win-or-go-home scenario players are required to step outside of their comfort zone and fill an unfamiliar role.  Rogers the starting pitcher was asked to become Rogers the relief pitcher during the deciding game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  This interrupted his routine of starting a game, then having a few days of rest and recovery before starting another game. 

The Expos sent Rogers, their best pitcher, to the mound as a reliever for the ninth inning in the deciding game and he delivered a home-run pitch to Rick Monday of the Dodgers, who would then go on to win the World Series versus the New York Yankees in six games. Expos fans like me remember this well.   Rogers won three games in the 1981 playoffs yet this is what we remember.

It’s an interesting story and read when thinking about how we respond when we are outside of our comfort zone.

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/former-expo-rogers-relives-blue-monday

Comfort Zone - Talk About What You’re Working On

This week I had a lesson about taking my own advice. I’ll often advise people on how to speak publicly and/or privately about things they’re working on because listeners might connect you with a helper, or may directly lend a hand.

At the end of September one of my excellent tenants vacated a small apartment building I’ve owned for over twenty-five years.    One of the tasks that I don’t enjoy as a landlord is finding new tenants as the vacancy rate is low, demand is high, and landlords like me get lots of phone calls and email from ‘tire kickers’ and people who don’t bother to read the ads, they just phone or email. So conversations like this are not uncommon;

“Where is your apartment?’

“West. Like it says in the listing.’

“Oh I’m looking for something east.  How many bedrooms?’

“One. Like it says in the listing.”

“Oh I’m looking for a two bedroom. Is heat included?”

“No. Heat isn’t included as it says in the listing.”

“Oh.  Well thanks anyway.”

Then it happened that I was outside getting some exercise cycling and I saw a friend walking down the street. I stopped and we chatted. I mentioned I had an empty apartment. He said he had two acquaintances who were looking for an apartment.  Right then and there I had two quality leads with a reference I trusted. And now I have a great new tenant.

While you do need to choose your time and place, make a point to be open about goals you’re considering or working on. Be prepared when someone asks ‘what’s new?’

 

 

 

Ask For The Sale

 

Over the past couple of years I have written two books.  One book is on public speaking and the second about my experience on a road trip visiting hockey towns during a Canadian winter.   For reference the books are available here amazon.com/author/jimkokocki

I’m delighted that I’ve produced these books, but I don’t enjoy marketing and selling the books. This is ironic as I spent much of my career in marketing and sales, primarily to large business customers.

Nonetheless, this weekend while visiting family in Sydney, Nova Scotia I dropped into the local shop for the national Chapters Indigo to see if they’d stock some copies.  The manager wasn’t present but I emailed her and she is taking the books on consignment.   

I was in the mall.  Visited the store.  Sent an email.  Now will receive (relatively) passive income.

The lesson is ask for the sale.