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P. 14
FROM THE DESK
CHANGE YOUR APPROACH
Lorri Andersen, DTM
Program Quality Director
Recently, I thought about Chris Hodges who enjoyably and steadily, and my goal is to give
was the instructor for a class I participated in back and pay it forward. I thought about this
a couple years ago. On the first day, he said, as I recently reflected on Chris the instructor
“the approach you take in this class is much and that class..
more important than the material itself” Consider your Club’s Distinguished
He encouraged us to build good daily study status along the lines of approach. What is
habits, watch our attitudes when studying the your thought process on the approach to the
material, and to take the time to build a desire Distinguished Club Plan? The approach I took
within ourselves to really learn rather than just in my beginning days of Toastmasters was to
studying out of a forced, self-made mandate finish as many goals as fast as I could. I still
and memorization. I took his encouragement think finishing goals in a timely manner is a
to heart, and began to study as he suggested. great and necessary thing to do although my
Halfway through the course, I realized I thoughts on the subject have changed. The
was falling back into a habit I had developed Distinguished Club Status is more than just
when I was busy and tired, I’d cut corners on a number. It shows that Club officers may be
studying and wouldn’t give it my best. After building other skills such as leadership and
some self-reflection and introspection, I got team dynamics. People may be completing
back on track. I ended the course feeling like projects for the experience of learning rather
it was one of the best I had ever taken. than for the numbers. I like the Distinguished
I remember when I first joined Club Plan because it is often a stretch goal, and
Toastmasters, I wanted to finish speeches as it helps me improve and keep learning.
fast as I could. Now with my Pathways journey, A few weeks ago, I listened to a speech
I have developed a different attitude. I want to on project management presented by Linda
experience learning the speech material and Holden.Although I have studied project
lessons as much as I can. My approach and management, this speech commanded
goals are different. My approach is to learn my attention. Interested and inspired, I
14 ONE COMMUNITY
