A valuable idea I came across in the August 2026 edition of the Toastmasters magazine is that when preparing a speech, you need to start with your audience, not yourself. Don’t start by asking what you want to say. Instead, ask: Who is my audience and what do they need from me? This is a…
This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Jerome Maben. Jerome is a fellow Toastmaster, and he served as District Director for Toastmasters District 28 for the July 2025 to June 2026 Toastmasters term. During that time, he was a dedicated and supportive leader, and I enjoyed working with him while serving on the District…
I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrew Horberry, a Toastmaster and leader from Toronto Ontario Canada. I first met Andrew when he reached out to personally invite me to be a Toastmasters Area Director for District 60 when he was serving as District 60 Director. Stepping Into Leadership In our interview we discussed leadership and…
John Maxwell teaches that experience is not the best teacher. What he says is the best teacher is evaluated experience. I believe in this lesson. What it means to me is that you need to reflect on your experiences to learn from them. I do this by writing in my journal every evening. Every Day…
Most people focus on achieving goals, but lasting success comes from becoming the kind of person who naturally produces those results. Instead of asking, “What do I want to accomplish?” ask, “Who do I need to become?” Goals Set Your Direction, Identity Shapes Your Actions A focus on goals drives outcome-based thinking while a focus…
I believe in the power of self-directed leadership and working to master yourself. I have also learned that are six key areas where you can set goals what will transform you into a more effective leader. These areas are the following: In this article I will explore each of these areas in more detail. Character…
What motivates you to take action? Why do you pursue your goals, work hard, and continue moving forward when challenges arise? Motivation generally falls into two categories: extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation comes from external rewards and incentives. These are benefits that originate outside of yourself, such as money, bonuses, promotions, vacation time,…
I asked ChatGPT what kind of leader I am becoming, and it identified 7 mindsets that I am embracing as a leader. These mindsets are: These just don’t apply to me. You too can embrace some or all of these mindsets, which will shape and impact how you lead your teams. And in this article,…
Something I believe in is continuous learning and self improvement. In fact, my core values include continuous learning and Kaizen. Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy and business concept that means “continuous improvement.” The word comes from two Japanese words: Together, Kaizen refers to making small, ongoing improvements over time instead of relying on dramatic overnight…
One of the greatest benefits of being a member of Toastmasters is the opportunity for growth through leadership service. Over the years, I have served in a variety of club and district leadership roles, and each role has helped me grow both personally and professionally. Through these experiences, my confidence has increased, my communication skills…
