As of two days ago, I am the District Governor for Toastmasters District 74, Southern Africa. Geographically, we are one of the largest districts in the world, covering 9 countries in Southern Africa. I am also the youngest District Governor in D74
ever, but I feel ready for the challenge.

I joined Toastmasters in 2000, with the aim of simply becoming a better public speaker, but it did not take very long to realise that Toastmasters is not just about public speaking. It is about learning to become an effective communicator and leader, and I have been on a remarkable journey
of growth. Through Toastmasters, I have

• Trained in South Africa
• Trained in Malawi
• Trained in Namibia
• Travelled three times to USA, each time carrying a flag of our District
• Spoken in the four largest cities in South Africa
• Opened conferences
• Emceed meetings, conferences and events

Holding the Zimbabwe and Zambian flags at the International Convention in Calgary, Canada

Now, please don't think that I am bragging, because I am not. I am showing
you this list to demonstrate that I have learned to do things that I would never
been able to do in the past, both through the acquired skills, and through self
confidence that I have developed.

Whenever Toastmasters has provided me with an opportunity, I have grabbed it,
which is why I have got so much out of it.

Our district theme this year is "Toastmasters – Growing People". And the more
that I am involved, the more I realise that the best way to grow is help others
to grow. By giving, you receive back tenfold. So, it is with great excitment, a
little nerviousness, and hugh anticipa……..tion that I look forward to the
next year!

In this message, presented to District at Toastmasters Club Officer Training, held on 20 June, 2009 I discuss how the young average in Africa (19), and the troubling economic times provide a huge opportunity for Toastmasters in Africa, and in particular in Southern Africa. It is a message of growth for our organisation.

Download the podcast.

Excuse the background – the training was in a ballet hall! I guess I have spoken in strange venues. Anyway, the main thing is to listen to the message, and not to watch the background.

Do you give your own memorable messages, or do you sound just like everybody else? Here is an interesting lesson from Darren LaCroix, the 2001 world champ of speaking. He tells an interesting story:

Never use someone else’s story. This is a small industry… it won’t take long for the ‘owner’ to find out. After doing my “Ouch!” speech at NSA a few years ago, it was copied by somebody overseas just a couple of months later. One of my mentors happened to be in the audience, and called the speaker on it. At first, he denied it. But later, he admitted it. As speakers, we can be inspired by others — but it’s important that we be original in our own messages, techniques, and stories.

As Darren would say “Ouch!”

You can read the entire article on Darren’s website.

Whammey Bar Gig

Before I started getting stage time giving presentations, I spent many years on the stage as a musician. In fact, you will still see me occasionally playing a few tunes in a restaurant or pub. One of the things that I learnt from playing and from listening to live music is to leave them wanting more.

I have heard great bands that just don’t know when to stop planning, or that insists of playing every song they know. What happens? Everybody gets board, and leaves before the band has finished. So when they do finish, they end to a lukewarm applause from the few people still there.

I have also heard bands finish their set with the entire audience is on the dance floor, while everybody is having a party. They end the gig with a bang, to huge applause. When this happens, everybody remembers a great party, and is back next week.

Why does this happen? Simple – the last impression is what people remember. The same applies to speaking.

If you speak for too long, people will get board and loose interest. If you finish on time, and with a strong finish, they will remember how great you were, and will want more. Next time they hear you speak, they will wait with anticipation for your presentation, and not with dread as to how long you are going to speak for.

Leave them shouting “encore”, and not “thank goodness its over”.

By the way, if you want to listen to some of my music, go here.

1. Be on time for meetings. If you are late, you show a lack of respect and self-organisation.
2. Respond to messages. Even if it is just a one line to say that you received the message, let the sender know that you are onto it.
3. Dress for the occasion. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie, but dress appropriately for the occasion. Whether you like it or not, first impressions count a lot, so make a good one.
4. Only make commitments that you can stick to. If you cannot stick to a commitment, don’t make it. Have you ever been promised that a job will be completed by a particular date, and being annoyed that it is a week late? Have you ever overpromised. Rather under-promise and over-deliver.
5. Smile
6. Greet people by name. It shows an interest in others.
7. Always have business cards with you. They should neat and presentable. Simple cards are not expensive to print, and home-made cards can look tacky. Get them professionally printed.
8. Be positive.
9. Listen. People like to listen to themselves. Let them, and they will think how great you are at conversation. Understand your customers’ needs before responding with a solution.
10. Remember rule #6 – don’t take yourself so seriously (there are no other rules).

Hi all

I have just upgraded this site to the latest version of wordpress – version 2.8. Everything appears to be fine, please let me know if you find any funnies.

thanks

Craig

A new public speaking website has just been launched – Speaking Pro Central. They describe themselves as “a community that collects and organizes the best information on the web around the business of speaking.”

Anyway, I was having a look on their site today, and I discovered that I am featured on their website. Just visit the site, and have a look at the featured links on the right.

Go and check the site out – there are some great resources and some fantastic public speaking websites to explore.

Humour tips from Bo Benet of Talking Toastmasters – you can listen to the podcast here.

1. Never take credit for somebody else’s joke
2. Don’t tell the same joke over and over
3. Be appropriate to the audience
4. Keep it short – long jokes are confusing, and prone to mishaps
5. Be smooth – delivery is as important as the content (if not more so)
6. Timing is important in delivery of humour
7. Make sure the humour is relevant to the situation and occasion
8. Do not make jokes at other peoples expense
9. Don’t overdo it. Be fully, but you don’t need to be a stand-up comic
10. Don’t be corny

Talk about being economical with your words! Speakernet news have created a contest to find the best six word speech. Each speech is exactly six words, and is assigned to a particular category,  such as “Advice to speakers”, “About Life”, or  “Motivation”

You can vote in this fun contest here.

Professor Vijay Mahajan (author of “Africa Rising”) will be in South Africa in June for the World Economic Forum and he has agreed to do 2 business briefings.

CAPE TOWN
Date: Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Time: 08:30 – 11:00
Registration: 07:30
Investment: R 950.00 + VAT
Early Bird: R 750.00 + VAT
Venue: Market Hall, GrandWest
 
JOHANNESBURG
Date: Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Time: 08:30 – 11:00
Registration: 07:30
Investment: R 950.00 + VAT
Early Bird: R 750.00 + VAT
Venue: Vodadome, Vodaworld

Early Bird Special for bookings made and paid before 8 May 2009. 10% discount for teams of 10 or more.

To book, contact Johleen van Dyk on 021 913 3507 or email johleen@symphonia.net. I will be attending in Cape Town, and I hope to see you there.

Indian-born American professor Vijay Mahajan is author of Africa Rising. He holds the John P Harbin Centennial Chair in Business at McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, US, and was previously Dean of the Indian School of Business. Mahajan’s ten books include The 86 Percent Solution (Wharton School Publishing), which received the 2007 Book of the Year Award from the American Marketing Association. He has received several lifetime achievement awards.

For more info, go to: www.africarisingbook.com