Page 18 - October 2017 Voices

Enlightened!

What made a Texas Toastmaster quit his job and become an entrepreneur
by Kaushik Valuri, CC - Guest Contributor

The 86th annual fluency increased dramatically in the comfort
Toastmasters International zone of the clubs. However, my stutter persisted
convention in Vancouver, and still wreaked havoc in day-to- day situations.
British Columbia, Canada That is when I joined a speech program called the
was the moment I had been waiting for. I was McGuire Programme, a life-changing program
at the convention to show my own invention, for people who stutter.
the AirTimer©, a first of its kind timing device
built for the 21st century Toastmasters meetings
and contests. It was a surreal experience. I got
to showcase it to some of the finest speakers in
the world, and was thrilled to hear them talk
excitedly about the simplicity of the product and
the value it could bring to Toastmasters clubs.
The AirTimer was sold out in less than 48 hours.
Over 100 toastmaster clubs signed up expressing
their intent to purchase. I felt my hard work and
perseverance was finally paying off.
But the journey to get here was a 1,000 miles
in the making. . .
For two decades, I struggled with an out-of
-control stutter. I could not do basic tasks that
most people take for granted such as order a
lunch item at the fast food counter, speak up
in front of a group, or introduce myself to
strangers. I always wanted to be a confident Turning Point
speaker, but didn’t know how—until I heard The Toastmasters platform augmented
about Toastmasters. by the McGuire mindset provided the magic
formula I had been looking for. Coupled with
My First Toastmaster Meeting Was a Dale Carnegie principles, I felt my confidence
Disaster coming back to life. I was finally winning the daily
One sultry Wednesday in the Summer of battles and my stuttering was fading. With the
2002, I summoned up all my courage and communication skills I gained at Toastmasters
accompanied a friend to the Smooth Talkers and leadership skills I gained on the job, I started
club in Austin, Texas. Now, this is something getting more clarity in life. After working in
I never imagined I would ever do in my life. corporate America for a number of years, where I
I could hear my heart pound as I waited to focused on solving problems to drive efficiencies
introduce myself. When my turn came, I stood for customers, I finally found the courage to quit
up trying to say my name but no sound came my job and jump into my first entrepreneurial
out. After an excruciatingly long time, I stuttered venture.
and mumbled my name: K—K—K—Kau. . .shik
before sitting down defeated. Then I got the The Idea

customary big round of applause but I left the I had been a time keeper in hundreds of
meeting feeling devastated. meetings and was frustrated by the time keeper’s
It took me a while to recover from that trau- incredible juggling act. The idea sparked in
matic incident, but get up I did. To conquer my my head over a decade ago. It was simple - to
fears of speaking, I joined not one—but three— allow the time keeper in TM meeting to enjoy
Toastmasters clubs simultaneously and declared listening to speeches yet not be bogged down by
war against my stutter. After about a year, my the time-keeping responsibilities. As we know,

18 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4 OCTOBER, 2017