Thank you – this was one speech I almost didn’t do when the contest started at the club level but I’m glad I did. The experience was almost surreal. I heartily recommend TM for anyone who desires to become a better public speaker. It’s a great confidence booster especially for those who have difficulty speaking in public.

It’s funny you say that I raised the bar because when I was in the 2nd or 3rd round, I picked the #1 draft card, which meant I had to go first. Normally when that happens, the judges have no way of comparing the first person with the rest of them that went afterward. But one of the judges came up to me and told me privately that I had set the bar quite high from the get-go. I’ll have to remember that going forward in anything I do.

I am humbled and grateful to have you among my “fans.” Thanks!

I know I’ve been MIA (missing in action) but I wanted to celebrate this victory with you. I am so happy for you and proud of you!

You’re in the zone now and in a league of your own…keep going…YOU WILL WIN THEM ALL, hands down!

Not only do you knock it out of the park…everybody else has to come with their “A game”. You raise the bar for everyone everywhere. You inspire, empower, and cause everyone to dig deeper within.

As MC Hammer used to say “can’t touch this!”

I’m always in your front row, one of your raving fans!!!!
Sharmaine

For some reason, I thought I already responded to your comment since I remembered what you wrote. I must have seen a preview on my Blackberry but did not follow up on the computer.

Well, thanks for not only commenting for the first time but also sharing with me your Toastmaster experiences and fear about Table Topics. I also fear them too – LOL. But I’m learning how to embrace them, especially when I get called on. The secret?

I allow my inner child to come out and play. When that happens, I think of wonderfully funny stories from my imagination that I would never have dreamt of had I gone in there afraid to be called on.

Granted, Table Topics can be scary but when you realize everyone is in the same boat as you, you’re in good company!

Congratulations on your win! Very impressive.

I haven’t been to my Toastmasters meetings in a few months… I KNOW I need to start going again. Your club must be interesting with so many professional speakers. Mine only has about 20 members, none are professional, but some are aspiring to be a professional speaker someday. A couple of them are pretty good. However, I am the person who sits in the back of the room and hopes to not get called on for the Table Topics…. I am definitely impressed with how some people get up there and can just start talking about anything.

Rhonda

Wow! Just before going to bed, I get this ultimate compliment from you, detailing exactly why I continue to blog so that I can somehow make a difference through my articles.

I am simply beside myself with this detailed comment about how you first found me through that video and how you didn’t make the connection until just now. AMAZING!

This truly capped off the day for me – thanks so much! I have a wide smile of gratitude.

It’s true – if you want something badly enough, it is indeed possible and that’s exactly my message. I’m thrilled you caught onto the message along with others who frequent Adversity University. Isn’t it amazing – the power of the Internet? Imagine how much harder it would be to spread my inspirational messages if it hadn’t been for this powerful medium?

WOW – I can’t get over it. THANKS.

Congratulations man! I loved reading your stories about advancing, and I’m really happy you won – unlike some other writers out there who talk about improving, they never put themselves out there. You on the other hand, do – you don’t just talk about losing weight, you tried a couple different approaches. And this isn’t another “How To Give a Great Speech” article – it’s a play by play of how you did it.

Amazingly, though we’ve been interacting on your blog and on facebook, somehow I didn’t make the connection until today when a friend forwarded me you Next Best Selling Author video from YouTube that I had seen you before, months ago! I’m of course talking about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuqlVivegXg

At the time, I sent emails to dozens of my friends, as I first saw the video right around May or June, and people were talking about how hard it was finding a job out of college etc. I thought it was a great story and hit home the point that if you want it badly enough, you can have it.

Funny what a small world it is, isn’t it? I don’t even remember how I first came upon this site – I think it must have been through one of the other blogs I read no doubt, but now it’s one of my “A-List” blogs – my personal folder in google reader, with a handful of blogs that I always read – I may go on vacation and ignore TechCrunch when I come back, but I always catch up on yours!

I love the part where you said, “I’ve discovered that by “coming down from the podium” and allowing my inner child to come out to play works wonders.” When listening to others speak, or even write, it makes all the difference in the world when they show their playful side. This is a good reminder for me to do more of it in my writings.

Thanks Stephen.

It’s funny you would ask me about the issue of having an interpreter because one of the members asked if I would be open to having a student interpreter from the University of Akron come in to help me out.

I was quite surprised and said, “Sure.” You are right on the nose when you asked me this question because I DEFINITELY miss out on a lot throughout the meeting. There are speakers I can hardly understand and then there’s the way things are situated in the room that makes it impossible to even see their lips.

But that will soon change. We’ll see what her inquiries at the University brings us.