Comments on: Is it Hard for a Toastmaster to go Pro? http://mytoastmastersblog.com/2008/07/04/is-it-hard-for-a-toastmaster-to-go-pro/ Helping Toastmasters and Speakers Improve Everyday Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:38:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Rich Hopkins http://mytoastmastersblog.com/2008/07/04/is-it-hard-for-a-toastmaster-to-go-pro/#comment-1057 Rich Hopkins Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:54:30 +0000 http://mytoastmastersblog.com/?p=52#comment-1057 I am a firm believer that marketing plus great speaking skills can create a superior professional. Marketing the dickens out of 1-4 messages is the business side. Great marketers with mediocre speaking skills are everywhere. Toastmasters, used properly, can turn you into a great speaker - by giving constant practice, diverse audiences, and constant feedback from newbies, experts, and supposed experts. Combine the two - and great success lies within your grasp. I am a firm believer that marketing plus great speaking skills can create a superior professional.

Marketing the dickens out of 1-4 messages is the business side. Great marketers with mediocre speaking skills are everywhere.

Toastmasters, used properly, can turn you into a great speaker - by giving constant practice, diverse audiences, and constant feedback from newbies, experts, and supposed experts.

Combine the two - and great success lies within your grasp.

]]> By: James http://mytoastmastersblog.com/2008/07/04/is-it-hard-for-a-toastmaster-to-go-pro/#comment-934 James Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:42:03 +0000 http://mytoastmastersblog.com/?p=52#comment-934 I've found that many people Toastmasters focus too much on style than they do on their content being of benefit to the audience. Also, too many Toastmasters feel that the communication and leadership manual is the be all and end all of speaking. For example: when I used to be a member of Toastmasters, I gave a speech on this exact subject and the incoming District Governor gave me a scathing evaluation because she disgreed with me saying that just because you win a speech contest doesn't mean you can be a professional speaker. My advice is to get out and speak to non-Toastmasters audiences. Rotary clubs are great for this (as are student groups). James <a href="http://blog.jvf.com" rel="nofollow">blog.jvf.com</a> I’ve found that many people Toastmasters focus too much on style than they do on their content being of benefit to the audience.

Also, too many Toastmasters feel that the communication and leadership manual is the be all and end all of speaking. For example: when I used to be a member of Toastmasters, I gave a speech on this exact subject and the incoming District Governor gave me a scathing evaluation because she disgreed with me saying that just because you win a speech contest doesn’t mean you can be a professional speaker.

My advice is to get out and speak to non-Toastmasters audiences. Rotary clubs are great for this (as are student groups).

James
blog.jvf.com

]]> By: Rod Sloane http://mytoastmastersblog.com/2008/07/04/is-it-hard-for-a-toastmaster-to-go-pro/#comment-926 Rod Sloane Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:50:21 +0000 http://mytoastmastersblog.com/?p=52#comment-926 Toastmasters is not a preparation for being a pro. If you want to be a pro then you need to quit Toastmasters. The competitions are fun. The key to being a pro is marketing yourself, you don't even need to be that good a speaker. Being a pro is all about being able to reproduce high quality day after day. Toastmasters is not a preparation for being a pro. If you want to be a pro then you need to quit Toastmasters. The competitions are fun. The key to being a pro is marketing yourself, you don’t even need to be that good a speaker.

Being a pro is all about being able to reproduce high quality day after day.

]]> By: Michael George Erwine http://mytoastmastersblog.com/2008/07/04/is-it-hard-for-a-toastmaster-to-go-pro/#comment-885 Michael George Erwine Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:20:41 +0000 http://mytoastmastersblog.com/?p=52#comment-885 & this goes for training, too. Maybe double. Toastmasters want to talk, talk, talk when they need to get their participants to do, do, do. Even such training companies such as DDI or Franklin-Covey, which offer off-the-shelf courses, usually employ a small suite of central insights that are used to frame several workshops and seminars. (i.e. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). Speaking professionals too have core themes that they repeat whether they are talking about sales, or leadership, or communication, whatever their subject they often return to the same core theme. & this goes for training, too. Maybe double. Toastmasters want to talk, talk, talk when they need to get their participants to do, do, do.

Even such training companies such as DDI or Franklin-Covey, which offer off-the-shelf courses, usually employ a small suite of central insights that are used to frame several workshops and seminars. (i.e. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People).

Speaking professionals too have core themes that they repeat whether they are talking about sales, or leadership, or communication, whatever their subject they often return to the same core theme.

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