Meet our featured Royal Oak Toastmaster for the month of October... Colette Hughes, ACG, ALB
Q: How did you hear about Toastmasters? How long have you been a member of the club? I happen to hear about Toastmasters through a friend but didn't really listen to what it was all about. I saw another Toastmaster talk about the benefits on social media and decided to attend a meeting. I have been a member of Toastmasters since April 2013. I belong to 2 clubs. I've been a member of Royal Oak Toastmasters since July 2017. Q: What objectives do you hope to accomplish or what are you working towards as a member of this club? There's a quote by an unknown source: "Whatever you feed will grow. Faith or fear. Worry or confidence. Doubt or belief. It's your choice what grows". I hope to always grow personally and in business due to the results of my involvement with Toastmasters. I also want to help, inspire and encourage others with their growth, confidence, public speaking and leadership skills that I learned in the Toastmasters Organization. Q: How have Toastmasters helped you in your professional or personal journey towards becoming a better speaker? I use to be the shyest person in Michigan (as I always say). I would go to networking events late so that I wouldn't have to introduce myself in front of others. Due to owning my own real estate brokerage, I have to be outspoken, network and talk to others to make a living and be successful. Being in Toastmasters and using all the skills that I have learned allows me to be free from shyness and being afraid to speak in public. I am free because of my journey in Toastmasters. Q: Share a fun fact about yourself I have a fun "alter ego". Her name is 'Coco'. Since being involved with Toastmasters, I'm not afraid but confident whenever I want to be 'Coco'. Q: Who would you most like to have a conversation with? Why? I don't have a specific person that I want to have a conversation with. I use to go to dinner with family and friends and be the quietest person at the table. Now I join the conversation. I'm no longer fearful to speak up and speak out. Q: What is the best public speaking tip you've received? Toastmaster Martin Johnson told me: "Don't be afraid of people. They're just people." Some of them are focused on your speech. Some of them are not. Be prepared and say what you need to say. Q: What is a tip you'd like to share "with" others? My tip to share with others is what I have learned from DTM, Craig Fulton: "Don't be nervous about giving a speech but be excited". Exchanging the word "nervous" for "excited" changes the whole feeling and mindset of the speech for me.
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Meet our featured Royal Oak Toastmaster for the month of October... Steven Pollman, VC1
Q: How did you hear about Toastmasters? How long have you been a member of the club? I heard about Toastmasters by searching online on how to become a better at public speaking to prepare for my first speaking event. Like so many other people I get very nervous speaking in front of a crowd and knew I had to prepare for it. I’m glad I made that choice as it made my speech so much better than it would have been and I owe it to what I learned at Toastmasters. Q: What objectives do you hope to accomplish or what are you working towards as a member of this club? I’m working at learning how to make speeches that have good flow and convey my ideas as best as possible. I’m also working on getting used to being nervous in front of a crowd and still giving a good speech. It’s always a work in progress! Q: How have Toastmasters helped you in your professional or personal journey towards becoming a better speaker? Toastmasters has helped in my personal life by giving me more confidence in doing other things that I’d normally be really nervous about. Public speaking is the biggest and most common fear for most people and if I can do well at that who knows what else is possible? Q: Share a fun fact about yourself I’m Buddhist and am friends with some really cool monks! Q: Who would you most like to have a conversation with? Why? I have two people that I’d have to flip a coin to decide which one I would most like to have a conversation with and that would be either The Buddha or Jesus! Q: What is the best public speaking tip you've received? One of the best public speaking tips I got was that if I’m stuck in the middle of my speech because I’m nervous or forgot the next part is to move. Literally move your body by taking a step and it’ll help you get unstuck. Q: What is a tip you'd like to share "with" others? You almost never look as nervous as you feel! |
We Are Royal Oak ToastmastersWe provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. Archives
May 2021
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