Last updated on October 2nd, 2011 at 02:59 pm
Have you ever felt like a”poser” when you are attending something where you feel everyone else is better, smarter or more cleaver than you and you hope no one notices your awkward participation?
I feel like a poser when I attend Toastmasters and one of the members stands up and delivers an amazing speech. I then attempt to fade into a chair, hoping no one notices my presence.
There’s just one problem with this way of thinking of mine:
ME.
Or I should say, my personality.
Make me stand up and talk, even if it is only to introduce myself and I suddenly behave like the latest contestant on American Idol. It isn’t enough for me to say what I am suppose to say, I must be one of the best – the funniest – the most animated. The next thing I know my arms are talking and my body starts wiggling as I wait for my well-earned applause.
Which means by attending Toastmasters meetings I am most likely where I was always suppose to be: right in the middle of a bunch of story tellers and performers.
I haven’t made my “ice-breaker” speech yet. I am still waiting for my Toastmasters manual. Part of me is relieved. Sometimes it is all I can do to drag this blog post out of me once a week. I can imagine what it must be like to write a 7 minute speech, memorize it and then deliver it to a group where someone is taking notes to tell you about how well you performed while everyone watches.
Public speaking does take bravery.
And -persistence.
Hooman Hamzehloui saysthat we should follow these steps to achieve better persistence and get better results –
1. Know exactly what you want to achieve.
2. Your desire to achieve must be nuclear hot. If you have no desire, turn up the flame.
3. Believe in your abilities to achieve. You will have to believe it, before you see it.
4. Your strategy for achieving must be sound.
5. Will Power, Will Power, Will Power. Do I need to say it again? Will Power. The ability to keep on, keeping on when others would quit. Never quit trying until you achieve your impossible dream.
But he forgot the most important step:
Form or join a support group – a team – a supportive group of people to hold you accountable to your dream or goal.
Successful dreamers have their own mastermind group or team of people to support them and bounce ideas off. A Mastermind group will help to keep you accountable to take the necessary action required to reach your goals and achieve your impossible dream.
What can you persist through this week to get one step closer to your dream?
Catherine
Catherine Hughes is the founder, content director and editor-at-large of 8WomenDream. She is passionate about helping women step out of their own way and strike out into a world waiting for their special talents. She’s a published author and a former award-winning mom blogger. Catherine has helped companies both large and small create engaging web content, social media narratives, and unique blogging platforms. She claims to be a redhead, but don’t hold that against her.
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