The Best Darn Self Improvement Hack Ever

If you have any personal growth goals, you need to join Toastmasters.

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

Whether the above quote originated with Buddha or someone else, I have found it to be true in my life, over and over.

In 1985, my boss gave me Earl Nightingale’s mega-successful self-improvement program, Lead the Field. That was my introduction to the field of personal growth. I have been on a journey of self-development ever since.

I always wanted to be a professional speaker ever since my 7th-grade teacher voluntold me to participate in a debate competition.

In 1989, I got serious and bought a franchise for the Success Motivation Institute. It was a costly mistake. You might say it was an investment in Self Improvement because I realized that there was more to being a professional speaker than just standing in front of an audience and speak.

Later, I bought How to Make a Fortune in Public Speaking: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, by Robert Anthony. No, I didn’t make a fortune, but this time I didn’t lose one either. Not only that, using just one idea from it has changed my life.

The book recommended that I should join Toastmasters. It took me 13 years to join. Yes, I have been a Master Procrastinator for most of my life.

What makes Toastmasters so special?

I am surprised at how few people know about Toastmasters.

Toastmasters was established by Ralph C Smedley in 1924. He had been experimenting with it for twenty years in different places before it became a reality.

According to the Official Website of Toastmasters International,

Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 358,000 in more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.

My Toastmasters journey

I have been a Toastmasters for almost 18 years. I have grown tremendously in those 18 years, not only as a speaker and a leader but as a human being.

When I first became an officer for my club back in 2002, I attended what is known as Toastmasters Learning Institute. This is the forum where incoming club officers are trained to carry on their responsibilities.

The gentleman opened the training session with “Toastmasters changes lives.” I thought to myself, what a Salesman! I came to know later that it was an understatement.

I joined Toastmasters because it was recommended in a book about becoming a professional speaker. But I am here to tell you that it is the best self-improvement program available anywhere, at any cost.

The average semi-annual dues are around $75. That translates to monthly dues of about the cost of a lunch.

Educational program

First and foremost, it offers a world-class interactive educational curriculum called Pathways, that enables you to learn at your own pace in any or all of the 11 different Paths ranging from Presentation Mastery to Engaging Humor and Innovative Planning to Motivational Strategies and everything in between.

Table Topics help you fine-tune your listening skills and teach you to think on your feet to respond to a question posed. This is a skill that will help you during any interviewing process.

If you’ve ever attended a Brian Tracy Seminar, then you have seen his 15 minutes long hilarious monologue on Table Topics. He is a big supporter of the organization.

Evaluation is what sets Toastmasters apart, and places them above any and all other self-development programs out there. The instant feedback that you receive on your work and progress is absolutely invaluable.

Not only that, but the ability to provide effective feedback is an essential skill necessary for becoming a great leader.

Secondly, it’s an ongoing continuous education model that is supported by friendly and nurturing fellow members who provide encouragement and feedback throughout your journey.

In addition to all of these, you receive mentoring and have the opportunity to mentor other members. You can learn and grow to become a leader as you first serve your club, then your district, and all the way to the International Level of leadership, if you so desire.

It is truly a remarkable organization, where you are nurtured to grow out of your comfort zone to reach your true potential in a friendly environment. As Darren Lacroix, the World Champion of Public Speaking, 2001, and a Certified Speaking Professional with the National Speakers Association, puts it,

“Toastmasters is the best place to screw up.”

Darren started out as a stand up comic before joining Toastmaster.

Some Famous Toastmasters

The reason I said that I am surprised that so few people have heard of Toastmasters is that Toastmasters has a list of Alumni that reads like a Who’s who in almost every endeavor of life.

Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich)
Tim Allen (actor, Home Improvement)
Debbi Fields Rose (founder and CEO of Mrs. Fields Cookies)
Harvey McKay (author, Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive)
Leonard Nimoy (does Mr. Spock really need an introduction?)
Peter Coors (beer anybody?)
Cavett Robert (Founder of National Speakers Association)

Conclusion

I joined Toastmaster to improve my public speaking skills and I wasn’t disappointed. I learned more about it in the first year as a Toastmaster than I had in the previous 35+ years of doing it.

In the past 18 years, I have learned about running a meeting, parliamentary procedures, project management, being a mentor and a leader, and so much more. I have become a better person because of it. Yes, it changed my life in more ways than I can count.

If you can get all you can get out of Toastmasters, you will never get out of Toastmasters.

Toastmasters is the best self-improvement program in the world, bar none. Period. End of story.

If you are looking to develop yourself into a better leader, a more effective communicator, and just an all-around better human being, I recommend that you join Toastmasters.

It is very simple to do. You visit the Toastmaster International website and click on find a club. The drop-down menu will give you an option to put in your ZIP code to help you find a club that meets in your area.

Pick out three to five clubs and visit them to see which one fits you the best. If you do, you will be amazed at what you can learn and how you can grow.

The ball is in your court now.

As always, thank you for reading and responding. You might enjoy these related stories as well.

Rasheed Hooda is a published author and a regular contributor to ILLUMINATION, a writers’ community on Medium where writers support each other.

He is a self-proclaimed weirdo who lives a Freedom Lifestyle and writes about related topics — Travel (a top writer), Personal Growth, Freedom, and entrepreneurship. (Get the Newsletter)

“You can let others tell you what it means to be successful, or you can decide it for yourself.”