Now I have to admit that cell phones have a purpose, when you are lost, when others are worried about you etc.
But nothing beats the personal touch! I will trade 100 texts or email for an hour with a friend in a coffee shop, medium roast coffee scent in the air and a sticky cinnamon bun; or maybe a poppy seed muffin.
Besides the sticky bun, you can see the person’s face, the nuances in their voice, and (ta da) give them a hug and show them the visit was meaningful. Electronic visits are easy to be misunderstood, and teflon clean. Each person probably typing or untyping what they are nervous to share.
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Keep the electronics devices sure but for me they will never replace the face-to-face meetings and hugs shared with family, friends and others whom make life so real, and special.
Do you remember a year ago? What were you worried about then? Did you have a goal for the summer? What was your vision, and your plan to succeed?
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I know a year ago I was concerned about taking a new post as an executive in my Toastmasters Club. I was elected VP Education and then circumstances resulted in my also taking on the President’s role as well. My vision was to see the Club grow, and to have a Club where people challenged themselves and felt recognized for their achievement. My plan to succeed was to try and coordinate the vision of the executive, and to personally connect to as many of the Club members as possible.
My year is up, I didn’t achieve everything I had a vision for; and I know I could have done better, but I did try. I have to accept that.
I also was involved in a successful conference committee last year. In May 2011 the Spring conference was held in Osoyoos – lots of posts here about that conference. Once again I was part of a strong committee where I learned a great deal, wonderful people. I know I could do better next time, but I learned, enjoyed myself and I am at peace with that.
Now another year beckons and new challenges, new goals. As I step into the shoes for Area Governor for Toastmasters, I am reassured that I can meet the challenges head on.
No need to worry about challenges in my vision, and a year hence I may not even remember my hesitation or worries taking on the role.
Fortunately Toastmasters is very supportive at every level and although the past Area Governor is finished her term. I succeed her knowing that she will be around and available to make certain I don’t flounder.
As you look ahead to the summer, and maybe the fall; consider what you would like to do, not the problems that might crop up. Have a vision, and make a plan to succeed; some guidelines to implement your vision.
Whatever happens is up to us, even this blog is just an exercise. If I fail then I will still benefit from the lessons learned; if I am successful a little I have accomplished what I could not have had I not attempted. My blog goal is simply to attempt to communicate, entertain, and maybe – just maybe something more. You tell me if I did more.
Now I understand the value of a photo. This picture is from about 1963. Our family lives in Quesnel then I would have been about 5. The good looking guy in the picture is Tiger. A great friend when you get scared at night because he sleeps at the foot of your bed, and thumps his tail to reassure if you wake up to strange sounds.
A Priceless Moment
The cowboy boots are a gift from Guido. Guido was my grandfather on my Mom’s side. He was born in 1901 and was a gentlemen in every respect. He loved his gardening, his family, his accordion playing, his church and was a wonderful host at all times. If this picture was in colour the vest was the colour of light brown, the boots dark brown, the shirt was white with a black tie.
spiffy eh?
A wonderful picture and it brings back memories of that house. It was across the street from a junker car, in a little turnabout. I had so much fun playing there. My Dad made me an ice rink one winter in the front yard. We could toboggan down the hill beside our house. I lost my thumbnail when I tried to help get potatoes out of the cellar and my little brother accidentally dropped the lid. We used to tunnel under the snow in the winter it was so deep and I learned to ride a two-wheeler there. A small town but it was plenty big enough in my memory, there were blueberries we used to pick out of town and my Dad was kinsman. My Mom baked bread in the little house and I remember laying on my stomach watching Secret Squirrel & Morocco Mole. I had a happy childhood.
How to give praise? My next Toastmaster manual speech requires me to give someone praise. An interesting process began in my head as I thought of eulogies. I would much prefer to praise someone while they are alive so that they know how I felt, how they had inspired me, taught me and what a gift it is to be in their circle, how important those memories are.
Not a family portrait
What a waste to share that message only after they can no longer hear the words that would mean the most to them.
I have a person in mind to talk about but I realized quickly I was thinking about how they had affected me. How their example I carry somehow by osmosis, how by watching them since I remember they showed me how to live, work hard, to give,and how to respect others. So many lessons I learned, others I have yet to master.
My Dad is the person I want to speak about. I can not help but to relate from my point of view but I want to show that he is that person all the time.
He was a fair manager at his work, but he is fair in all his relationships. He is fun to spend time with me, and fun! but hetelling stories and being light-hearted is part of his nature.
He is a rock of support to me and taught me, shared opinions about everything, and challenged me to develop opinions of my own but he communicates with everyone like that, well maybe not everyone to that extent. I think I am extra fortunate in how he communicates to me.
You see I have been blessed especially. Not only did I get to enjoy my Dad growing up but he has always remained close and supportive. A real special bonus came when I worked in the same office with him for 12 years. We had lunch and coffee breaks together and I count those times as priceless. Not tired of his company, I enjoyed playing golf and visiting with him and Mom on the weekends. Injections of memories directly to my heart arteries.
Thanks Dad for inspiring my speech to come, I hope I can do my Dad justice.
As I sit watching baseball with my son, I have to laugh when I see the signs made by the coaches and other players on the baseball field. I have to wonder are they really signalling?
I suppose it isn’t that different from the flags that ships use to communicate back and forth. You need to be initiated and practiced to understand, and respond.
My Dad was a telegraph operator for the CN railway back when he was in his late teens and early 20’s. He could be half-asleep due to long days of heavy work, and long dark nights alone but his practiced ear could still pick out the dots and dashes when a signal came down the line for him. These were the original party lines, and each person on the telegraph was half listening and half discarding the dot dash messages depending on whether the message was for them. Amazing how our minds work and how we can pick up signals no matter how indistinct !!
Five Seconds to Success
I was told by an instructor, that in the first 5 seconds of a phone call, you set the tone for the whole call. That first impression is 90%. That is huge!
When you answer the phone, how do you do it? Is it a grunt, do you identify yourself? Are you smiling when you say hello?
I have experimented with this first impression. In my mind, I am firmly of the belief, that I have more success with my phone calls by the impression I can create in the first five seconds. I don’t want the caller to be on the defensive, I want them to imagine an alert, happy person who is interested in their call, and (this is the point) I don’t want them to be defensive, or worse – on the offensive right at the onset.
Here is the challenge for you. Try for one day, just for one day to answer the call like you are expecting a call from the lottery corp. Your upbeat, and friendly tone will set the tone for great communication, and success.
Never a second chance to make a First Impression
Remember the key is how you answer the phone, try to smile :), be positive. i.e. thanks for calling and say it like you mean it. Remember you have five seconds at the beginning of the call to pile the chips in your favor for the rest of the call. I hope the effort, and experiment pays you big dividends.
I recently attended a meeting at the Osoyoos Toastmaster Club, I was fortunate to be there for a speech from Sean Wurz.
His speech was 7 minutes long, he removed the lectern away from his speaking area and did not rely on notes. All commendable attributes to make note of, but what really spoke was his inspiring message.
It all started in that place where most disasters are born. The circumstances around its conception remain unclear. Perhaps I was trying to impress a girl. Maybe I was trying to one up a friend. Or perhaps, I was just feeling a little too good about myself. Whatever its origins, I got it into my head that I was going to do a 360 (in the air) on skis. I practiced the move in my head, I imagined twisting my shoulders and making a clean landing. Splat. I didn’t quite make it. Not the first time, nor the second time, nor any subsequent time I tried it.
My idea did not translate to success.
Ideas are funny things. Sometimes they lead to success, and sometimes they don’t. So often we look at the latter as failure. But is it really? Ideas shape our world. We can see this clearly all around us. whether it be in trivial places like the world of sports, or in our own lives.
Ideas are funny things, and Sean’s opening about his failed 360 degree spin, or his successful 270 degree spin made me wonder where his speech was leading. He then spoke about sports, and he clearly knew more about sports than I did. He started to get to the heart of his speech. That every person needs to be willing to attempt, to risk failure, and to accept that you may not succeed, but that you should not allow that potential failure to block you from trying.
The greatest thing about accepting failure is that it guarantees that you will be upwardly mobile. There is a proverb that says God resists the proud but He exalts the humble.
Let’s face it, willingly embracing failure takes humility. Once again, the upside is that once you embrace failure you will be upwardly mobile. Let’s face it, when you’re wrong, or you’ve clearly failed, there is nowhere to go but up.
Like Sean and his 360 degree attempt while skiing, you may never realize success in one particular endeavor, but in embracing failure with a smile on your face you may encourage someone else to consider something or try something they never would have done otherwise.
Somewhere down the line, that person will realize success beyond their greatest dreams.
