Transitioning from the club I started at to a new club, I came to a realization about my development as a speaker. As I worked to get better and better, I found that I was only becoming as good of a speaker as the best speakers in my club. That is what makes Toastmasters so powerful, but it was contributing to a slowing of my development as a speaker that connects people and empowers change.

As Toastmasters, we correct people through evaluations. The Toastmasters in my first club were amazing Toastmasters, and that is one of the things that was holding me back. They excelled at speaking to Toastmasters, but to take things to the next level, I needed to speak with the audience, be motivated by the people I was around, and feel that there was a connection, empowerment, and a drive to succeed in speaking. In many meetings at my old club, I felt like we were doing a great job of just going through the motions.

So I moved and it has been the best thing for my speaking. I am in a club with at least four speakers who are better than me and that motivates me to be better. Also, my previous club was attended by many people who worked for other people. My new club has many small business owners who bring an amazing level of excitement to developing my speaking into a business.

So I ask you, are you feeling stuck in a rut? If so, then I encourage you to find the place where you feel you will best succeed. It might be the best thing that happens to you.

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