Page 2 - 2017 August Voices

EDITORIAL Publisher

Leveraging the Past Phyllis Harmon, DTM

by Phyllis A. Harmon, DTM Associate Publisher
Editor/Publisher
Brenda Parsons, ACS, ALS

It seems to me that people spend too much time
reflecting on the past instead of planning for the future. Senior Editor
And, while planning for the future, they forget to keep Phyllis Harmon, DTM
moving forward in the now. How many times have you
heard the could’ves and should’ves of regret instead of Associate Editor
people getting on with the business of living and planning
for the future. Leanna Lindquist, DTM
I have a theory that the best way to leverage past
failures is to use them as springboards for future actions Layout/Design
and goals. The business, legal, and medical fields use Phyllis Harmon, DTM
case studies to review outcomes while the military uses
after-action reports. The purpose is to review what went 2017-18 Officers
well and identify areas that could have gone better. Once District Director
the problem areas are identified, they then use them as Donna Stark, DTM
lessons to improve future outcomes.
Here we are at the beginning of a brand new Program Quality Director
Toastmasters year, with the possibilities of a successful John Rodke, DTM
year ahead of us—ours to mould and shape as we wish.
Let’s do so with plans and goals to assure the outcomes Club Growth Director
we desire. Emilie Taylor, DTM
Do you remember that the definition of crazy is doing
the same thing over and over again and expecting a Finance Manager
different outcome? Well, it’s time we broke that pattern. Karen Sempervivo, DTM
Now’s the time to do something totally, mind-blowingly
different. Let’s perform after-acton reports or case studies
in our clubs. Let’s look at our bumps and warts, talk about Administrative Manager
what could have gone better, changes that need to be
made based on the past, and plan for a different future.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to leverage Public Relations Manager
the past so that the future marches to my tune, and not
the other way around. Join me. Let’s stride confidently
towards June 30, 2018 armed with a plan for a better Voices! is published monthly by
tomorrow. District 7 Toastmasters. First issue
published August 2014. Submit
articles or contact contributors at
voices@d7toastmasters.org

2 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 JULY, 2017