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Because Communication

Isn’t Optional

by Peggy Boheman

A few years ago I made the leap into self mulling over whether to
employment. I began doing the usual things join? I took it as a sign
advised for people marketing their own that I should sign up—and I did.
business. I joined networking groups. I set I joined Evergreen Toastmasters in the spring
up a social media profile. I started blogging. of 2015. Over the past year and a half, Toastmasters
However there was a wall I was hitting—that has increased my confidence and my speaking skill
of my great resistance to speaking in front to the point where I found myself up on stage at
of others, even if it was just a 30-second a Division level contest, having placed 1st in the
introduction. Table Topics area contest!
I’d heard of Toastmasters and even checked In the last couple of years my business has
a couple of meetings. However I rationalized changed, and I’ve joined and let go of other
that my plate was too full and decided
Toastmasters wasn’t for me. activities, but Toastmasters has remained a part
Several months later, while sipping coffee of my life.
with a networking colleague, he said, “You To be honest, I wondered whether I imagined
should really consider Toastmasters. I went that sign on the bus. I hadn’t seen it since that one
for a few years and it was great. In fact I need time. Until one day when I was feeling overwhelmed
to get back to it.” I told him I’d think about it. and exhausted, with both my business and personal
Should I do it? I went so far as to check online life. I started thinking I should cut back on my
to find out where the local clubs were, but then activities, and maybe I should quit Toastmasters.
put it all in the back of my mind. THAT VERY DAY I saw a bus with the same sign
Just a few days later, as I was driving back again.
from a shopping trip, a bus pulled up in front Peggy Boheman joined Evergreen Toastmasters in
of me. Plastered on the entire side of the bus 2015. She is the founder of Technically Done, which
was a sign: “Communication is not optional. focuses on helping their clients with the technological
Toastmasters is the answer.” challenges associated with running a business. Contact
I’d never in my life seen any kind of Peggy and her team if you need assistance with email
advertising for Toastmasters, much less a marketing (setting up email autoresponders), social media,
huge sign on the side of a bus! What were the video creation/editing, and website updates through her
chances that I’d see this sign when I was still website at http://www.technicallydone.com/.

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