Did You Make Your Toastmasters Resolutions? (By Phyllis May)

As we begin a new year, it’s the appropriate time to feel pressured…feeling like you’re un-American If you don’t make some pesky resolution. Yet, how many of you make the same, or a variation, resolution every year? Yet, within a short time, most of the resolutions are forgotten until the end of the year when they ceremoniously re-surface.

According to AARP, women are more likely to make a resolution but men are more likely to stick to it.

I am not one of those women. It’s been many years since I made a NYR.

Why? After so many years, I was pretty sure that it was just an exercise in doing what was expected but I was pretty sure I wouldn’t accomplish it.

But, I constantly set goals and I constantly accomplish most goals I set. It doesn’t have to be at New Years but whenever you do it or whatever you call it, there are certain keys to successfully accomplishing your outcome.

• Be realistic and practical. Know that what you’re hoping to achieve is doable and reasonable for you so that you’re not defeated before you start.
• Identify the big goal but you’ll be overwhelmed if you don’t break it down further
• Break down the goal into smaller ones and then break those down even more. The smaller you can break things down, the more likely you will accomplish the big one.

Rory Cohn, author of “Take Ten”, says that only spending 10 minutes a day on your mission is a commitment that will ultimately lead to the completion of your action.

How does all of this affect you as a Toastmaster? Our Toastmaster year is now half over. Our club has set goals so that we will continue to receive the Distinguished Club recognition. Our club goals, however, are dependent on your personal Toastmaster goal(s). We can’t achieve our club goal unless you carry through with what you indicated you would do. Meeting your personal goal give you personal growth…the reason, I assume, that you joined. But meeting your personal goal then helps out club (which helps our area, division and district). Every level has a goal but they all begin with YOU.

How are you doing with your goals?

There are only 12 meetings left for you to finish.

Have a plan. When that clipboard comes around, sign your name in a place that will help you. I, for example, set the goal of completing the CC manual again and another leadership manual. I have 4 more speeches to give and looking on my grid inside my leadership manual, I know exactly what roles I have to do in the next 12 meetings.

I will accomplish my goals. They’re doable, realistic and can be broken down into smaller “chunks”. Checking off the “chunks” will eventually mean I accomplish my goals. Those goals then help the club become a Distinguished Club. Our club’s success helps the area success and on and on. But it started with me setting two personal Toastmaster goals.

What about you?