by Terry Bay DTM Division A Director
In thinking about this year with Toastmasters, and especially my role as a Division Director, I am surprised at how fast this year has passed by. With a little more than two months left, I began to think about goals, and achievements, and if I had made an impact on my life and in the lives of others. The short answer is yes, and I will follow up with the rest of the answer shortly. What does it look like to reach goals and achievements? Often for me that starts with “beginning with the end in mind.” This is number two on Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I quote what he has shared, “that this habit is about identifying where we want to go and who we want to be.” Having a defined, vivid view of an outcome serves as a compass that gives us direction as we work on a project, or flow through life. Being recently retired, I have found this helpful and gives me something to look forward to each day. Whether it is training for an upcoming race, going to the gym to sustain my health, or working with my Toastmasters team to achieve a goal, focusing on the outcome keeps me centered and moving forward.
To answer my previous question for myself, I believe I did reach most of my goals, and achievements. Some of those were about achieving certain Toastmaster metrics, and some were more personal. But most importantly, through this process, I have been inspired by hearing great speeches, and seeing individuals grow in their own personal journey.
Now as this Toastmasters year closely approaches the end, it is a great time to evaluate if you accomplished all that you attended. The good news is it is never too late to start. Our new Toastmasters year begins on July 1st. Will you set your goals and achievements by “beginning with the end in mind?”
