Have you ever stopped to consider the value of your Toastmasters membership? With the dues renewal cycle among us, I took some time to do a little soul searching. To ponder exactly how much my Toastmasters membership means to me. And I determined that the value of my membership to me, is significant.
As a Toastmaster, I have access to ongoing opportunities to practice my speaking and leadership skills. In any given club meeting, I have the opportunity to fill one of nearly a dozen meeting roles. My home club, meeting weekly, offers me the opportunity to fulfill four to five of these roles each month. I always have the opportunity to practice my skills of speaking, listening, and leading. At a cost of $7.50 per month, I have decided that I am worth it.
As a Toastmaster, I also have access to a network of mentors that starts in my home club, but stretches to all corners of the state – and even across the globe. Because I have chosen to embrace the learning process, I have mentors in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Fort Dodge, Des Moines, Chicago, North Carolina, Washington, Canada, Sri Lanka, and more! I have mentors who help me with my speaking skills. I have mentors who guide me with leadership. I have mentors who challenge my thinking and planning. At a cost of $7.50 per month, to have access to this level of mentorship, I have decided that I am worth it!
In my reflective thinking, I also started thinking about why I joined Toastmasters. Did I join just so that I could be better at being a Toastmaster? No, I did not – and I suspect that you did not, either. I joined because I wanted to improve myself. I wanted to be more confident as a speaker. I later learned that I wanted to inspire others to be their own best selves. And, as I was working so hard to learn the Toastmasters program, I slowly started to transform. I walked with my head held higher. I spoke with greater confidence and conviction. And, my co-workers and supervisors started to notice.
It’s true – Toastmasters is helping me to develop skills that have led me to more opportunities in the workplace, and more are on the horizon, as I continue to proactively gain more confidence in my ability to lead successful teams, inspire my team mates, and develop a path to success. Many of the great things that are happening for me in my career can be traced back to my ongoing involvement in Toastmasters. By investing $7.50 per month into my own development, I have access to promotions and raises that I would not have otherwise qualified for. As I look at that investment I am making into my future, it is clear to me that I am worth it.
In addition to the club meeting roles, the mentoring relationships, and the professional development I have experienced, I also have created so many lifelong friendships because of Toastmasters. I have the opportunity to see my friends at area and division contests, TLI’s and the district conferences. We share a common bond – the desire for personal development, and the willingness to help others set goals, and achieve their own success.
I would venture to say that there are many other things that we all spend at least $7.50 monthly to enjoy or utilize – the daily latte at $4 each, Cable TV at over $100 per month, dining out. And yes, we are worth those expenditures, as well. But are those things providing with as much value as your Toastmasters membership offers? The value and experiences that I gain from my Toastmasters membership far exceed the $7.50 that I pay each month for the opportunities to be part of such an enriching program, full of wonderful opportunities, and amazing people. I am worth it. So are you!