Yeah! I won!
What do you do when you receive an award or special recognition for something you’ve done? Do you shout your news from the tree tops or do you just quietly continue about your day keeping your achievement to yourself waiting for someone to ask you about it?
In the past I’ve fallen in to the latter group. I would tell friends or family members that I was competing in a Toastmasters speech contest and then wait for them to ask me how it went. If they didn’t ask, I figured they didn’t care.
Well, I’m being proactive today. I want to let you all know that I’ve recently competed in two Toastmasters speech contests. The first was last Monday evening at my home club (Greater Portland Toastmasters, #9558). There were two contestants and I won first place.
Yesterday I competed in the Area 6 contest against the winners from 3 other clubs in southern Maine. I won first place again. Yeah!!
Next I compete against the top two winners (and the Area 6 second place winner) of three other Area contests from all of Maine and Southern New Hampshire. That contest happens on Saturday, May 6th.
It’s difficult to toot your own horn. But as I read on a bumper stick or kitchen magnet somewhere long ago… “Toot your own horn. No one better knows the tune!”
So what small or large success have you had lately? Who did you share your accomplishment with? Let your friends and family celebrate your accomplishments with you. Let them encourage and support you as you move forward.
And if you don’t have friends or family members who will sincerely honor and celebrate your achievements? Then it’s time to find new friends (sorry… you’re probably stuck with the family members) who will help you move closer to your goals.
One of my biggest supporters is Mike Harris. He was cheering me on from the audience and will help me improve my speech and presentation before the next contest.
Who can you call on to help you become better than you are? Find someone. It makes all the difference in the world–your world!
