My Journey to Becoming a Distinguished T/M

Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Rome was built by improving itself each and every day. - Author unknown

I was invited by the World Mosaic T/Ms Club to deliver a DTM's ice breaker speech. Since I finished the script, I thought why not share it with more T/Ms? Hope by delivering the speech I can help persuade more T/Ms set attaining The Distinguised T/M recognition their goal.

Please lend me your ears.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” I’d like to say, “A DTM is not made in a day".
"Haste makes waste, slow and steady wins the race" may often be true, but may not be ideal for Toastmaster members who seek to improve effectively. Actually being overly casual in T/Ms may often leads to lack of improvement, loss of interest and ultimately resignation of membership.

Tonight I’m going to talk about my journey to becoming a Distinguished T/M. Why did I join T/Ms? How and how long did it take me to attain the DTM recognition? What I gained in T/Ms? What has kept attracting me to stay in this big family?

I used to listen to ICRT while driving to work and back home. One day in 1996 I heard the host say Toastmasters provided a good environment for people who would like to enhance their English speaking skills. I was not very concerned about leadership I was only interested in strengthening my English language capabilities. My children were growing up and they didn’t need my full time attention, my job was becoming stagnate and I felt like I was on a dead end road, I had the urge to improve and accomplish. I needed to make a change in my life and a breakthrough with my career. I summoned up my courage and made a few phone calls. I visited three Toastmaster meetings before I chose the China Club Toastmasters to join because of its quality meetings and friendly atmosphere.

At the first meetings I was a little mouse in the corner. I had never been an aggressive person, and this was the first social group I had joined. I didn’t know what coaches were for, and my quiet personality stopped me from asking. I was just attending meetings regularly as I needed the practice and training. I took whatever assignment given to me and I strove to do my best. Eight months passed, it was time for election of the new officer team. My regular attendance and responsible attitude received the club officers’ attention. I was recruited into the new club officer team. It changed my Toastmasters life drastically. Suddenly I was involved in the club affairs; regular officer meetings, frequent phone calls with my club members and more speaking opportunities. I took an officer role year after year. I made more and more Toastmaster friends, I became more open and more active. Receiving recognitions one after another was meant to happen according to T/Ms training program. My career soared, too. Three years after I joined T/Ms, I dared to take a higher position job as manager. It was all because of the confidence I built in T/Ms. Another three years later, I switched my sales job in business field to educational field and became a teacher. It was a family call. I made it with no sweat at all thanks to my T/Ms training.

How did I attain my DTM recognition? What am I doing? I simply followed the two tracks that T/Ms designed; communication and leadership tracks and executed them. IN 2004 after I finished my service as AC2 governor and High performance leadership, I got my DTM recognition. I said to myself enough office role for me because of my job. Yet approaches kept coming that I agreed to take Div. C Governor role three years later.

I’m a living example of how effectively and successfully T/Ms works for people. In addition to confidence, I made a lot of wonderful friends, I embrace challenges and I’m not a quiet mouse anymore. You may call me a chatting bird, DTM’s weakness. Actually it may work better and faster with you if you act a little more aggressive and active than I did. Right now the mentor system works much better, and more and practical officer trainings help new T/Ms get a better picture of how T/Ms works for us. In addition, there are a lot more advantages we can benefit from it like friendship, better job and promotion, even your Mr. or Ms. Right. too. How much we can benefit from T/Ms depends on how much work we do and efforts we make.

I haven’t given any speeches lately. I’ve become lazy as an old house cat. So I thank you for the little push today. Actually DTM should be another beginning for me. "When we stop improving, we stop being good." No, Rome wasn’t built in a day, Rome was built by improving itself each and every day. After reaching one peak, I must try a new one, after accomplishing one challenge, I must look for another. I have several pictures in my mind; a second DTM and probably District office again after I retire . I am sure I will stick to T/Ms as long as my health doesn’t fail me.

Trini Ding, DTM