New Beginning
It is a new year. A new beginning for many. This is the time for people to set goals and have a chance to achieve success. However, this should also be a time to look back and see what you achieved in the previous year. This should also be the time to look back and see what you did not achieve.
You should look at the new year as an opportunity to grow. There is no such thing as a perfect person, but there is such a thing as becoming a better individual. There is nothing wrong with failing, but the question should be: “Can I get back up?”
The first thing you should do to reach your goals is to write them down. By writing them down, you will have the ability to keep track of your goals and where you are throughout the year. One of the biggest fears in the world is failing. Remember that the race is long, so don’t be afraid to fail, but be afraid to give up.
Personal Goals
You should have three areas of focus in your life: personal goals, and how to keep track of them. You should use your Toastmasters experience as a way to reach your personal goals. You can use the leadership skills that you learn in Toastmasters and use them in your personal life. Toastmasters is not about achieving your Toastmasters goals; it is about you growing as a person. You should review your goals weekly and determine where you are at with them.
If you fail this year with your goals, don’t look at it as a disappointment, but look at it as a way to learn. The more that you learn, the better off you will be. Never give up on yourself and always remember that the race is long.
Toastmasters Goals
The beginning of the year is also an opportunity to look at your Toastmasters goals. When you are a Toastmaster, you have two “New Years”: July 1st, which is the beginning of the Toastmasters year, and then you have January 1st. As a Toastmaster, you should ask yourself what you have achieved. Did you achieve educational awards? Did you overcome your fear of speaking? Did you take on a leadership role? Did your club become a Distinguished Club?
In Toastmasters, you should never be afraid to fail. If you set a Toastmasters goal and you do not achieve it, don’t feel bad. Get up and try again; remember it is not over until it is over. What is nice about Toastmasters is that it is a positive learning environment where you have members and mentors that can help you. You should look at Toastmasters as a tool to succeed in life.
Relationship Goals
If there is one thing that we learn in Toastmasters, it is the importance of relationships. I have learned how important relationships are. What type of relationship do you have with your family? What type of relationship do you have with your friends? What type of relationship do you have with your fellow Toastmasters members? When it comes to these answers, everyone’s answer is going to be different.
Your relationships should be stable and strong. Remember there are going to be moments in your life where you are going to feel alone, and you will need people to uplift your spirit. Your family, friends, and Toastmasters friends can help uplift you. It is important to realize that relationships are just as important as achieving goals.
When I ask people why they have stayed in Toastmasters for years, it is always the same answer: it is because of the relationships that they have developed throughout the years with other members. Relationships are important in Toastmasters, and having strong relationships can help you achieve your goals. If you do not have a mentor, make sure that you find a mentor who can help you with your goals.
Remember that the race is long, and the only person you have to compete against is yourself.
Randy Casarez
Blog Editor & Media Coordinator
View other blogs: https://aztoastmasters.org/blog/
More Information about achieving a DTM: https://toastmasters.org/Magazine/Magazine%20Issues/2022/Nov/Path%20to%20DTM