Page 2 - VoicesFeb2015 .pub
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mpions Never Give Up!
Phyllis Harmon, DTM—District Governor
It's contest season again! Members are polishing their speeches, working on
stagecraft and delivery, and having a serious talk with their butterflies and
nerves. I admire all the courageous people who step up and challenge
themselves in this arena. I learned long ago, when I was a fairly new
Toastmaster, that competing was not one of my strengths.
It was this exact time of year in 2008. On a spur of the moment, I joined the club's evaluation
contest. The model speaker gave a riveting speech about her flight to Brazil. It was funny, full of
pathos, and ended with a call to action. It had all the ingredients of a well-crafted speech.
I sat in awe as the speaker's word pictures swirled around me. I was caught up in the cadence and
rhythm of her story. I was sitting next to her on that journey seeing what she saw. It's obvious to
me now, looking back, that I should have been jotting some notes on her delivery, her message,
how I felt, what I saw, and what I heard so that I could give her an outstanding, memorable,
actionable, first-place-winning evaluation.
There I was, sequestered with several very seasoned evaluators. As I was crafting my evaluation, I
kept thinking "what am I doing here?" I tried to quiet my nerves and remember the finer points of
the speech. Where were those pesky opportunities for improvement? What could I offer to take the
speech to the next level? I finally gave up trying to craft a reasonably structured speech and
decided to wing it. . .
Yikes! It was suddenly my turn! I faced the audience with trepidation and began to speak. I covered
the speech's finer points (at least those I could remember). The green light came on (oh good, I
thought, the minimum time had elapsed). I was partially through my evaluation, when I glanced
at the timing lights again. RED! RED! RED! my mind shouted! I quickly wrapped up and returned to
my seat. But you see, there was one eensy-weensy, tiny flaw with what my mind told me. The light
was not red. . .it was YELLOW! Think what I could have accomplished in that final minute! I might
have given the speaker that one nugget, that one recommendation that would have catapulted
her speaking career into the stratosphere. Oh well. We will never know.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Every champion needs a cheering section, someone who lifts
them up, encourages them to keep going—to never give up. I am one of those people. For me that's
what leaders do. They coach and mentor others. I believe that champions are champions because
they try. I was a champion that day. I plunged into an experience that was totally foreign to me.
Did I win the contest? No. But at least I tried. When you think like a champion you become one.
Never give up. Never let adversity, mind tricks, or lack of confidence keep you from pursuing your
next opportunity. Seize the day. Be a champion.
2
Phyllis Harmon, DTM—District Governor
It's contest season again! Members are polishing their speeches, working on
stagecraft and delivery, and having a serious talk with their butterflies and
nerves. I admire all the courageous people who step up and challenge
themselves in this arena. I learned long ago, when I was a fairly new
Toastmaster, that competing was not one of my strengths.
It was this exact time of year in 2008. On a spur of the moment, I joined the club's evaluation
contest. The model speaker gave a riveting speech about her flight to Brazil. It was funny, full of
pathos, and ended with a call to action. It had all the ingredients of a well-crafted speech.
I sat in awe as the speaker's word pictures swirled around me. I was caught up in the cadence and
rhythm of her story. I was sitting next to her on that journey seeing what she saw. It's obvious to
me now, looking back, that I should have been jotting some notes on her delivery, her message,
how I felt, what I saw, and what I heard so that I could give her an outstanding, memorable,
actionable, first-place-winning evaluation.
There I was, sequestered with several very seasoned evaluators. As I was crafting my evaluation, I
kept thinking "what am I doing here?" I tried to quiet my nerves and remember the finer points of
the speech. Where were those pesky opportunities for improvement? What could I offer to take the
speech to the next level? I finally gave up trying to craft a reasonably structured speech and
decided to wing it. . .
Yikes! It was suddenly my turn! I faced the audience with trepidation and began to speak. I covered
the speech's finer points (at least those I could remember). The green light came on (oh good, I
thought, the minimum time had elapsed). I was partially through my evaluation, when I glanced
at the timing lights again. RED! RED! RED! my mind shouted! I quickly wrapped up and returned to
my seat. But you see, there was one eensy-weensy, tiny flaw with what my mind told me. The light
was not red. . .it was YELLOW! Think what I could have accomplished in that final minute! I might
have given the speaker that one nugget, that one recommendation that would have catapulted
her speaking career into the stratosphere. Oh well. We will never know.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Every champion needs a cheering section, someone who lifts
them up, encourages them to keep going—to never give up. I am one of those people. For me that's
what leaders do. They coach and mentor others. I believe that champions are champions because
they try. I was a champion that day. I plunged into an experience that was totally foreign to me.
Did I win the contest? No. But at least I tried. When you think like a champion you become one.
Never give up. Never let adversity, mind tricks, or lack of confidence keep you from pursuing your
next opportunity. Seize the day. Be a champion.
2
