These are notes I took at the Toast Masters’ conference. I thought I’d share. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

• A good speech can raise you higher and a bad speech can drop you lower.
• Fear is the four letter word that we face throughout our lives.
• Meaning of FEAR: False evidence appearing real.
• We fear people won‘t like and judge us. They feel we look foolish. Not being prepared or your mind goes blank.
• Speaking is you either. Use it or lose it.
• In the Wizard of Oz: the wizard is not to be feared. It’s an old man with a microphone.
• As you work on finding your fear is the way to push through the next level. You need to tell your real story.
• We usually like to tell things that are going well in our lives.
• When you have a detachment from the hard thing in our life and process them and put them into a speech, it can move your speech to truly finding your voice.
• At every opportunity to advance in speech or leadership say yes.
• Take the next step. It may create anxiety. Toastmasters stretch our potential.
• TM stretches comfort zone but never your hazard zone. You will always have people encourage you and support you.
• Many toast masters use their skills for business and community work.
• President of General Electric said: take control of your destiny or someone else will.

Do you have something to add? Please do so in the comment section of this blog.