Stepping into the Unknown

I do not know if I had a choice to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in getting here when I was born. Did I know everything when I was born? Did you know everything when you were born? Fellow Toastmasters in District 6, you will be getting something so valuable that will change your perspective in anything that you may have been thinking about doing after reading this post from me.

Let me share with you about the first time I went to visit a Toastmasters club meeting. I did not know what to expect. I don’t even recall if I knew what Toastmasters was all about, except that it was some sort of a club. I am glad I made the visit, because when I attended the meeting that day, it gave me a clear picture of a well-structured meeting: a meeting that had an agenda, individuals filling out different roles ensuring the objective of the meeting was met, and met timely. The meeting started on time and ended on time. The Toastmaster during the meeting was constantly facilitating and letting all of us know what portion of the meeting we were in; if it was the prepared speech portion of it, if it was the impromptu speaking portion, or the evaluation section of the meeting.

My professional career during that time was filled with meetings that always went off agenda, with difficulty in even trying to figure out why the meeting was called in the first place. Here, at this particular Toastmasters meeting, I knew exactly why the meeting was being held; and not just that – I knew exactly why those three segments of the meeting were held, also. The prepared speeches section was structured so members could practice speeches that they could present anywhere outside – for their celebratory moments such as wedding parties, or a presentation to executives. The impromptu speaking section, also known as Table Topics, was structured for members and also guests to participate in thinking quickly and giving answers that made sense, at least most of the time. Finally, the evaluation portion, which we could apply anywhere and anytime – was for individuals to practice how to effectively make a point ensuring people will still have a relationship with you after you provide feedback. There is a certain trick to getting your message across still maintaining a good relationship with people, and that is something you can learn and practice in this evaluation portion of the meeting. Was I glad I stepped into the unknown? What do you think?

Soon after I joined the club, I was offered the opportunity of being a Treasurer for the club. With a little knowledge of exactly what I needed to do as a club Treasurer, I accepted to serve the club members as the Treasurer of the club. This opened my eyes in learning more about the Club Executive Committee. It gave me the chance to practice preparing a budget for the club and present that as well. It also gave me new insight into what a club success plan is all about. Let me remind you, being a part of the club success plan, preparing a budget, presenting, being on a committee – I could relate all of this to my professional career where I could be presenting an implementation plan or a project plan for any company. I could be preparing my own budget to improve my finances or to get more in our department’s reserves so I could increase the pay of my team members and even inspire our team members in implementing ideas that would add value in our client’s operational duties. Was I glad I stepped into the unknown? What do you think?

… the importance of having a good support structure around you.

A situation presented itself mid-year through during which our Club President had to step away from the role due to unforeseen circumstances and the position opened up. Anyone of our club members could have volunteered, but for some reason, seeing no hand being raised during the meeting, mine went up. I wanted to make sure all the hard work that our Club President had started was carried through to the end of the Toastmasters year. I think that was the only thing that was on my mind during that time. I had no clue how to be a Club President or what it even entailed. But you know what? I realized the importance of having a good support structure around you. Everyone from the club was supportive of the things I did that year. I understood that mistakes are inevitable. They are learning opportunities for us to make things better the next time. No one is perfect but what matters is we try to do our best for the good of everyone. As I served the members of the club that year, I got to educate myself on what a distinguished club program meant, why it was regarded as the scorecard for all the efforts that were put in by the members of the clubs. I got to chair a speech contest for our club, got to update our website with fresh information and even practice parliamentary procedure. As I mentioned before, it was possible with the positive and encouraging support I had from our club members. Was I glad I stepped into the unknown? What do you think?

During the same year, I found out about the Triple Crown award, and the Distinguished Toastmasters recognition. Simple, I thought. There were a bunch of items that I needed to fulfill to get the Distinguished Toastmasters recognition, and along the way I would also receive some Triple Crown awards. Our club was a healthy club and always had speaking roles filled. I needed to have a strategy to get my speeches done. “Where there is a will, there is a way.” I found out that our district had numerous clubs with few members that always had slots open for speakers. I did a little research on those clubs and reached out to ask if I could attend as a speaker. The answer was always a “yes”. Visiting those low member clubs gave me the opportunity to present my speeches to a new audience every time and get different versions of evaluations. I even got to discover something about myself when a district leader then shared with me that simply my presence in the meeting boosted people’s energy and morale. I will remember that. Sometimes, when you say things it can change people’s perspective. Totally. Hence, it is always important to watch the words that you let go from your mouth. That small statement is all it took for me to look at visiting clubs with a whole new purpose. I was making a positive impact on peoples’ lives. That realization made me want to visit clubs even more. Was I glad I stepped into the unknown? What do you think?

“Where there is a will, there is a way”

Have you ever realized that sometimes you do things because you want to simply do them, without expecting anything in return? It is just that you feel good and you keep doing them. Those things that you do sometimes are the same things others do for a living. That is when you realize it is your calling. I didn’t know where I was headed when I visited the Toastmasters club that year. I stepped into the unknown only to find out what I could have missed otherwise. I cherish each and every one of those moments, good or bad, because they have made me who I am today.

The following year, I got to serve the Toastmasters community as an Area Director. With the official title I got, it opened up more doors for me to connect with more individuals. This time around I got to act as an advisor to the clubs in my area. I got to conduct Area Council meetings where club officers from different clubs got the opportunity to create new friends outside of their clubs. I was fortunate enough to see individuals become confident leaders. With the organic growth from an Area Director and being promoted to a Division Director the next year, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew it was double the pay. $0 times 2. Quite a few years passed and a few significant events happened along the way. Today, I have the privilege of serving our District 6 members as the District Director overseeing the operations with the help from all of our District Officers. One team “working together – celebrating excellence.” Was I glad I stepped into the unknown? What do you think?

… a way to experience what we can be.

I have shared quite a few experiences with you from Toastmasters. Let’s see if these things I am about to share with you will resonate. The first day I went to school, I did not know what I was getting myself into. Yes, of course, I was sent to school to learn and graduate. But was that all I got from going to school? There is so much more. When I made friends with the folks I met at school, did I know what I was going to get myself into? Talk about stepping into the unknown. After I graduated, I started looking for jobs. When I applied and got the job, did I know everything I was getting into? You know, there is a fine print that reads for a reason: Responsibilities include but are not limited to. Most of the things fall under the “but not limited to” category. And I think that is what adds spice to our lives. That is what moves us forward. One last thing, for those of you who are married and/or are in a relationship. Did you know everything you were getting into when you stepped in? Talk about stepping into the unknown. Ups and downs are there; joys and sorrows are only two sides of the same coin. Stepping into the unknown is only a way to experience what we can be.

You, my friend, are a leader waiting to step into the unknown to make an impact in anyone’s life you are going to come across. Our Toastmasters clubs are just that. This is where you want to step in to create that environment to encourage the growth of leaders to see what you can foster and grow. It is only the beginning of the unknown. Just like Amazon which started off as an online book seller to now be the biggest online store – your club might just be the venue where you may inspire someone or get inspired to go out into the world and present the next big thing in the world. The door is wide open for you to step right in and stay engaged with the endless possibilities and opportunities. No one knows the future no matter how much they may say they do. Please take that step into the unknown because the world is waiting for you.