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tried to focus on your topic when your audience our customers and distributors. The curriculum
is 50 Israeli soldiers and each one has an assault included several courses on making public
rifle leaning against his leg or resting across his presentations, which were pretty lame compared
lap? Try making a presentation after corrupt to my real-world experiences. I am reasonably
customs officials confiscate your equipment, certain that I could have done a better job
AND you have to use the restroom every ten teaching those courses than any of the professors.
minutes. Yes, I forgot that “don’t drink the water” Then came Toastmasters, which I found to be
also means to keep your mouth shut when you’re more effective than any of those college courses.
taking a shower. I think the primary reason is that Toastmasters is
Then there was the time we introduced a new experiential learning. We practice, get feedback,
product. I had just finished press interviews with and practice some more, instead of just mulling
thirteen trade magazines when my cell phone over a bunch of academic mumbo jumbo in our
rang. The caller informed me that the project head. I joined Toastmasters toward the end of my
was cancelled and we would NOT be selling 40+ year career, and I often wonder how my life
the product after all. As a new player in this would have been different if I had discovered it
particular market, a great deal of my presentation earlier. I believe I earned the right to call myself
focused on our investments and commitment to a professional speaker, but what if I had joined
our potential new customers. Toastmasters in the beginning? I could be selling
Unfortunately, I had to speak with these same DVDs with such fascinating titles as Speaking to
editors again when we introduced other products. a Room Full of Assault Rifles and Putting Out the
Can you say “zero credibility”? I never said that Fires—Literally! Alas, I’m retired now so my public
being a professional speaker was going to be easy! speaking days are over, with the exception of
Somewhere along the line, I went back to Toastmasters. Which reminds me – it’s time to
school and earned a business degree, which was work on my next Pathways project.
helpful when discussing business issues with
VOICES! | AUGUST 2021 21
