Page 8 - aprl 2017 Voices

Some of the high points of being in people the importance of strategy. While writing
Toastmasters were being a District Governor and the book, I realized that a lot of what I was writing
achieving my DTM three times. and thought was “common knowledge”, wasn’t.
I recommend writing a book to someone who
How has Toastmasters impacted has something to truly teach or express. A lot of
your life? people regurgitate content. A book can be a great

Every single success I have accomplished in the source of credibility if done correctly.
last 14 years can be linked back to Toastmasters. On the other hand, I wouldn’t recommend
Toastmasters gave me the space and structure to someone write a book who is not willing to put
grow and refine myself as a person and profes- the proper amount of time and effort needed to
sional. I ended up writing a book that won a create something worth reading.
prestigious award and then I was sought after as a
speaker on the book. Then I ended up becoming Why did you become a professional
a TEDx speaker and coach. All of this would not speaker?
have been possible without the path I walked with I didn’t choose to become a professional
Toastmasters. speaker. It chose me. I became a Toastmaster in
I even started a youth Toastmasters 2003. I quit my job in 2010
club called Future Stars as part of the and wrote my marketing
requirements for my first DTM. The book. It won a national award,
club is still running almost a decade and then I got asked by
later. And 2 of the original members companies and organizations
have become world famous in their to speak.
fields. One in the tech industry and Nike is my favorite place
the other in filmmaking. to speak. They are very

What’s your favorite progressive, and I love the
Toastmasters experience? company vibe. They are my
people. My favorite place
I have a great story about how I beyond that was Portoroz,
ripped an earring out of my ear while Slovenia where I spoke at the
speaking at an open house as a newer largest media trends confer-
Toastmaster. It was a turning point for ence in Europe.
me because in any other situation I My message has gotten
would have probably picked up my stronger over time. My
earring and ran out of the room. I advice about being in the
realized I was in a room full of people speaking/training/expert
who were supporting me and truly had my best
intention in mind. field is this—put in the work. It takes more than
raw talent to make it. And PLEASE have some-
What’s your greatest lesson learned thing worthwhile to say. People aren’t attracted

in district leadership? to the same old clichés being used and reused.
One of the best lessons that I learned from What is a TED Talk?
being in district leadership was that you really TED Talks are short talks about great ideas.
need to be a great motivator. People will go to They are very different from all other kinds
the ends of the earth for you if they feel needed of presentations as they focus on a single idea
and appreciated. I really learned that I needed that is presented in a fresh new way, or from a
to motivate people to lead them. different angle. Something we’ve never heard

What prompted you to write a book before. TED Talks have become the most watched
about marketing? presentations in the world. And for good reason.
They take a lot of hard work and preparation.
I decided to write my first book on marketing One of my marketing clients was asked to
when I started my business in 2010. I wanted a give a TEDx Talk after one of his videos went
way to capture my marketing methods and teach viral. He and his business partner were my first

8 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 10 APRIL, 20178