I recently wrote a story about a man who when traveling through a desert saw a desert-dweller selling ties. The travel needed food and water and refused to purchase a tie no matter how hard the tie seller pleaded with him. However, this traveler learned his lesson when he was denied entrance to a restaurant because he didn’t have a tie.

Toastmasters’ is that tie that will give anyone entrance to the restaurant of success, both in personal and professional endeavors. Here are areas in which Toastmasters enriched my life in addition to being the catalyst for my career change.

Helping my children—the ability to communicate can be grouped with attitude, hard work and tenacity as the most important factors for success. Any skills that I learned in TM I tried to transfer them to my children. You can only imagine fatherly appreciation when my daughter, a junior, used a metaphor to respond to an impromptu question while contesting for Girls State. Not only was she one of the two students selected, but she also served as class president for three years.

Learning from other club members—I had never heard of autism until a friend and fellow Toastmaster shared the story of her own child. Another member shared what his father had told him about integrity and what that meant to him now as an adult and leader in public service.

Astonishing inspiration—in my first meeting, there was a lady who cried as she gave her second speech. I watched this woman develop in her speaking skills and witnessed her career change from a front desk receptionist to an executive assistant with unbelievable interviewing abilities.

Ability to speak to any group—I was able to speak at clubs and TM events where I sometimes knew no one. I became so used to speaking to strangers that I was comfortable in facing non-Toastmasters groups.

Impromptu thinking and speaking—It is not unusual for someone to ask me to say something at public gatherings even if I was not scheduled to speak. The mike is just passed to me. It’s always surprising when some in the audience comment how the unprepared statements mean so much to them. This is an area where 100% of the credit goes to Toastmasters.

Networking and profitable opportunities—A Toastmaster’s member organized an evening to teach us how to listen effectively. In my group there was a lady from Hewlett-Packard who was so impressed by my buffalo story that she went back to work and told her boss. He hired me to speak to his division. I still communicate with that lady—TM relationships endure longer than careers.

Development in other key areas—it was in Toastmasters that I first participated in preparing a conference. The leadership roles and the skills I gained have been treasures.

Fun—I know one or two other organizations where you can learn in a fun-filled environment. This is what I have incorporated in my seminars since learning mixed with fun work so well in TM meetings.

Career change—I was amazed how people would be moved to action by listening to inspirational words. I remember sharing about life with African buffaloes and how that relates to unexpected challenges and how to overcome them. People would later tell me that what I said helped them make decisions that changed their professional and personal life. Toastmasters’ is the vehicle God provided me with to find one of the most rewarding human endeavors—working with individuals and organizations to help them live up to their potential!

Let me conclude with provocative statements—Toastmasters (TM), if you join, learn, share and focus on your future goals, might be the best investment you have ever made for personal and professional growth. Toastmasters from my perspective, is probably the only learning organization where the Return on Investment (ROI) defies common sense.

You invest $25-30 for six months. You attend 1 or 1½ hour weekly meetings, and if you are from an area with several TM clubs you select the one that fits your schedule and taste (I am not a 6:00 am person). You have humble time to think, decide and prepare 3-10 minutes presentation on a topic you consider important. You are told what you did well and areas you can improve on by people who are there for the same reasons you there. Your success is their success.

By Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku
Author, Motivational Speaker and Trainer
P.O Box 7152
Boise, Idaho 83707
Phone (208) 376-8724
www.kituku.com