PERSONAL EDUCATIONAL GOALS

Fourcaster: Volume 69, No. 1, Winter 2004

Yoga Berra once said, “Without knowing where you are going, any road will get you there.” January is the time of year most of us set “New Years Resolutions” – goals for the things we want to achieve: Lose 10 pounds, create a budget and stay on that budget, include your Toastmaster’s educational goals. Advance to the next level in either the Communication or Leadership track. Complete that CC; AC; CL; AL or DTM. Tom Richardson, DTM PIP during his presentation — “Coaching for Peak Performance”—at the International Conference in Atlanta, GA, August 2004, talked about the 4 Ds—Desire; Direction; Discipline; and Determination. I applied these 4 Ds to Personal Educational Goal.

• Desire – You need to want to it … everyone in Toastmasters has proven that they have the desire to improve their Communication and Leadership skills. The main reason people join Toastmasters is that they have the desire to improve there speaking skills. Once in Toastmasters they also learn about the Leadership track and some tackle both tracks at the same time.

• Direction – Goals … set your Personal Educational Goal. Write it down with a date - an example would be: I will complete my CC by date. The next step is to tell your Vice President of Educational (VPE), fellow Toastmasters, your Boss, everyone who will listen. They will help you, and this adds to your commitment to that goal. Review your goal every 30-days -- do you need to make adjustments?

• Discipline – Develop Habits … work on doing things on becoming habits. Give one speech a month. A speech a month soon becomes a habit and before you know it, your have your next educational level completed. These do not need to me at your Club meeting. They can be at other Toastmasters Club meetings or outside of Toastmasters provided that you have a Toastmaster at that presentation to give you the evaluation both written and orally. Your VPE and Area Governor can help you.

• Determination – Attitude … by applying the first three Ds, your personal attitude and confidence will soar. You will grow and develop your potentials to the maximum. Determination will bring results. If you slip, determination is needed to get yourself back on track.

These 4 Ds will work with any Personal Goal. When setting your goals look at the total YOU. How many aspects do you have in your life? I use these eight aspects of my life for balance—Spiritual, Career, Community, Education, Family, Financial, Leisure, and Physical. Set your goals for a balanced life, review monthly where you are at and apply the 4 Ds.