What is one thing that is a very common fear that most people hate and avoid?
Shitting your pants in class?
Showing up at school with no pants at all like in dreams?
Being eaten by wolves in the forest?
Public speaking?
Yes.. public speaking. (Toastmasters is an international public speaking club)
At primary school (elementary school for us) I used to love speaking, I remember doing a speech about Ned Kelly, a well known Australian outlaw from the past and I had got my friends in on it. I come into the room and jumped in front of them and went “bang bang” with my fingers and they both fell of their chairs. I was experimenting with creative things in my speeches all the way back then, which I now take to toastmasters.
However in high school, I hated and would do anything to avoid public speaking. I refused to do it in front of the class several times, and it was bad enough just doing it in front of the teacher. This was likely because I was picked on alot.
However now I love public speaking. I first joined toastmasters when I was 18 as I lost weight and started to become much more confident in myself, and get into self-development. And now at 40 it’s my 3rd time back at toastmasters, this time is the longest i’ve been at the club.
Why The Fuck Should I Take Up Public Speaking When I’ve Spent My Whole Life Avoiding It?
Toastmasters has helped alot with my confidence, and my presentation and speaking. Sometimes it attracts people from an office environment who need to do speeches or present at work, but don’t think that if you aren’t in that environment that it’s not useful.
I work from home, and it’s also helped me with my teaching combatives (martial arts), in running a men’s group with my friend for quite a while, and also during covid when I did speeches at a local gathering of people who could use their own brains and make their own choices against all of the totalitarian bullshit that was being thrown at us. I wouldn’t have done this if it wasn’t for toastmasters. I’ve also run a couple of ‘improv’ type days based on whose line is it anyway and I thank toastmasters for helping me develop the ability to run things like this.
I’ve learnt leadership, I can run a meeting comfortably which we each get a go at and i’ve taken on a role preparing the agenda and it feels good to take on the responsibility to do so, even with annoyances as some members not replying to emails.
It’s also a very fun night, social, and lots of laughter. This could depend on the group, but we’ve got a good group where there’s alot of fun, playfulness and humor. I also especially during covid brought them some controversial speeches, which I do less of now but sometimes just a little but and it has helped me to get more used to putting potentially unpopular ideas and opinions out there.
Why is that important?
Because as a man we have to know what we believe in, what we will tolerate and not tolerate. As I have written in a past post “Tolerance is NOT a Masculine Virtue” (specifically tolerance of the woke bullshit causing massive destruction in the world).
Obviously you may have different tastes and find a more corporate meeting suited to you. I haven’t been to many other clubs only 2 others in our extended area but i’ve heard they can vary quite alot, so find one that suits you.
One big benefit of toastmasters is that the main speeches are evaluated. You get feedback of what you did well and what you can improve. And everyone is friendly and welcoming and they all genuinely want you to get better.
A Summary Of The Benefits Of Toastmasters –
-Confidence.
-Fun (Yes once you get used to it and your confidence increases, it really is fun!).
-Better speaking and presentation.
-Learning leadership skills.
-Help to teach better, whatever it is that you teach.
-Learn to run groups of your own.
-Increase creativity.
-Positive social outlet.
-Challenge yourself.
-Helpful if you’re in an office job where you have to speak or present.
-Helpful if you ever have to speak at a social event such as a wedding or engagement party.
GO AND FIND A TOASTMASTERS GROUP NEAR YOU NOW!
No responses yet