1. I don’t believe in resolutions, I set goals.
2. I don’t believe in resolutions, no one keeps them.
3. I don’t believe in resolutions.

Why do you limit yourself?

Let me rephrase, why do so many people consider the word resolution so toxic? Is it really because you don’t want to change anything, improve, or get better at something? I can’t believe that.

Is it because so many resolutions seem to fail? What about goals? Promises? I wonder if there’s a stat to tell us what the best word is for resolution.

What’s the best word for you? That’s the real question. Don’t get stuck “being cool” by not having a resolution. Pick the goal, plan, outcome, resolution, or whatever your favorite word is and do it.

Now’s the time of year when we look at where we are, where we’d like to be, and why did my mother do this to me???

Ok…Freudian issues aside, how can we look forward to a positive 2012?

Start with a look at yourself. Look at these categories and ask yourself, “Where am I?”

1. Education - do you have the degree you want, the skills you need or the abilities that will get you ahead? How can you bridge the gap in 2012?
- Take a class. No you don’t always need a degree to make a difference. Pursuing a degree puts you ahead of your peers, plus as you finish each class, you know new stuff. Yeah, it’s pretty cool.
- Read. Find your pace and bump it up a notch. Read a book once a year? Now read one every three months. If it’s already once every three months, up it to every other month. When you can, go with one a month. Look at “My Favorite Books” on the right side of this page for some ideas, or just browse your local library and/or Barnes & Noble (where I am right now).
- Join Toastmasters. Yeah, you saw it coming. No better way to improve your speaking, leadership and networking skills.

2. Job - I lovw the quote that 20 years of experience is usually just one year repeated 20 times. If you find that you fit into a similar category, what are you going to do about it?
- Take some additional training at work. Online or in person, most companies offer classes that can improve your skills. Take advantage of them.
- Look at the education options above. They apply at work in many ways.

3. Family - If you could make one change that would make your family life better, what would it be?
- Be specific! Don’t say “spend more time with the kids.” Try, “dedicate one hour on Mon/Wed/Fri to teaching my daughter to speak French.” or “Take my family out to a movie at least twice a month.” You get the idea?

2012 doesn’t have to win any awards for “best stresser” if you take a reasonable approach to setting that next resolution. You don’t have to bridge that gap from where you are to where you want to be in just one year. Take a look at wh

As the holiday season really kicks off today, maybe it isn’t a bad idea to look to where you’ll be in just 5 short weeks. What resolutions will be swimming around in your head and what can you do today to get started without “giving up the fun”?

1. Fun – who says food and sitting around is the only way to have a good time? Take a short break between games and walk around the block with the family. Then do it again before dark. Or, play some football in the yard. Do something!

2. Weight/Fitness – Don’t wait for the first of the year! This coming month, the gyms are almost empty. Get started now on a limited basis. Get used to going, get used to a routine, and get used to succeeding. Then in January when all of the 2-month wonders start their program – and get discouraged by the crowds – you’ll be in a routine and you can keep it going for the long hall.

3. Work – Have you read the statistic that for most people, 20 years of experience is really just one year of experience repeated 20 times? Think about it. Do you see that example proven every day? I do. Now is your chance to get a jump on that next year.
- Read a book (you have some spare time over the holidays, right?)
- Look at getting a new certification
- Join Toastmasters (if you’re already a member, schedule a speech and start on your next goal!)

No matter what your resolution may be, getting a jump on it now is a better deal than a $974 45.7″ LQD Panel TV. And! It’s easier than standing in line for 5 hours just to witness the last one snatched right before your eyes.

Happy New Year!

So, what’s the trick? How do you keep doing what is important, while also getting in some “fun” time?

1. Multitask. Wait, don’t hit me with those studies about the degraded effects of multitasking. I’m talking about using dead time wisely. For instance, listening to a book on CD while driving, or typing a blog post while BBQing chicken.

2. Keep a to-do list, but make it fresh each day. Nothing is more demoralizing that a to-do list that looks like the US Constitution (i.e. old paper). Start a new list every day and get ‘er done.

3. Recognize the dry spell, and recover. Sometimes no effort or planning will help you completely avoid the dry spell. Just make sure you see it for what it is and move on. No need to beat yourself up of linger on “if only…”

Life happens. Don’t miss it while you’re living it…

There are a few of the elements of deliberate practice that apply well to any of us trying to get better at something, and especially to becoming a better (or professional) speaker:

1. It is designed specifically to improve performance.

2. It can be repeated a lot.

3. Feedback on results is continuously available.

4. It’s highly demanding mentally.

5. It isn’t much fun.

The interesting thing is, the first 4 of those 5 clearly describe the Toastmasters educational system. So, is the author right? Does it need to meet all criteria to really make you a better speaker?

Here’s one theory – Toastmasters isn’t specifically designed to make you a pro, it’s designed to help you overcome your fear of speaking in public. To do that, you can get by with 3 or 4 of the above criteria, and have fun while doing it.

But to really see improvement, do you have to give up the fun? I think that this is true, but that doesn’t mean 100% no-fun.

The Toastmasters meeting – Fun

Giving your speech – Fun

Real practice and preperation – not so much fun

Receiving candid feedback – not so much fun either

Taking that feedback and using it in the next speech – kinda neutral

Using the manuals to track progress, feedback, and keep moving forward – fun (if you’re a bit of a psycho)

Completing Toastmasters awards (CC, ACs, etc) – Fun

The question you have to ask yourself is, what is your goal? If you just want to be comfortable and stay “in practice” then you can stay on the 100% fun track as a Toastmaster. That is, keep giving manual speeches and getting stage time.

If you want to see real improvement, and even be a pro-quality (or contest-quality) speaker, then your practice should be more deliberate and focused, and that means that some of your work (preparation) will not be fun.

Giving those impromptu manual speeches can be good for your comfort and keeping you in practice, but there’s a reason that you don’t see much improvement that way. Only through deliberate effort can you make the improvements you want to be ready for that contest or that pro career.

I think that approaching this a lot like a physical workout method makes sense too. Bodybuilders have what they call periods of growth and maintenance times. During the periods of growth they are doing the harder bodybuilding work, and during the maintenance times they are making sure that they maintain their muscle mass but not pushing themselves as hard.

To be a better speaker, give that a try. One CC manual is total prep and hard work. The next one is maintenance – off the cuff or other low-prep speeches. Don’t just blab, but do enough to give a good speech and get some quality feedback, and still have fun. Then, back to the high-prep CC.

By adding some Deliberate Practice to your existing routine, you can prove that Talent is Overrated and you to can continue to become a better speaker. If you want more info on deliberate practice, I totally recommend that you read the book. I’ll have the review posted this Sunday.

Once again, I went off and read a blog that made me think. This blog, called The Fluent Self is written by Havi Brooks, who has a really cool writing style. Beyond that, you may want to check out the page yourself because it might be a bit risky for me to try to describe her further (read her about page and you’ll see why).

Back to the blog entry itself.  Titled Exit the Middle, the discussion is (like all good points) a really good, brief story. This story is about a yoga class, but it was pretty easy to see some direct correlations to some examples for speakers.

Last week, a Toastmaster member asked why members would work on a second (or more) Competent Communicator (CC) award? What is the value to completing what is considered the basic manual?

In the example in Havi’s post, there is a yoga class that was taught in a way that was difficult for basic students, but not so tough for more seasoned people. At the end of the class, the newer students were sweating and so were the really advanced ones. Those in the middle were not only mostly sweat-free, but complaining about the lack of challenge to the class.

So why were the most advanced members sweating like newbie’s?

Newbie’s – Challenged by the relative difficulty of the class
Advanced – Challenged themselves to get the most from the class

And the middle? They were not challenged by the class itself, and not able and/or willing to challenge themselves.

That’s the answer to the public speaker question. Newer Toastmasters are challenged by improving their speaking skills with that first manual. Advanced members (sometimes DTMs, but not always) have found ways to use that manual to challenge themselves and continue to improve.

Those in the middle? Havi says that you are stuck in the middle for as long as you choose to be. You have to be the one that decides to get unstuck. Of course, it will take a little more than a decision, it will take work. That is true whether you’re stuck in yoga-middle, Toastmasters-middle, or any other middle in your life.

Maybe the question isn’t “are you stuck in the middle?” I think the question is this: in what part of your life are you stuck in the middle, and when are you going to decide to step out?

While I work on getting that on a T-shirt, read Havi’s post and think about how you can make that change. If you are in that middle, then you are at a point where the external challenge is no longer a challenge. Look at how you can challenge yourself. For ideas, look at how others challenge themselves. Example, when I wanted to challenge myself to be a better speaker, I started a blog (yeah, this one).

I hate to sound like an 80′s business book, but think outside the box.  You could go in a totally different direction, like yoga. And after you sweat, you can write a really great speech about getting out of the middle…

Imagine yourself at a running track, and all of your Toastmasters club members are there too. You are there to improve your communication, leadership and running skills. You join at the starting line, and you receive your CC and CL manuals. Around the corner of the track is a finish line, with your Lt Gov Education & Training (me) holding the tape out for you. Off to the side, our District Governor stands holding a cartooninshly large megaphone and periodically yells “Keeping the Promise!”

A little confused? Think about running the track as completing your next CC, AC, CL, AL or DTM award. Think about your fellow members running at different paces, some looping back once in a while to encourage (mentor) newer members to move forward. Imagine Paul McDonald lapping us all every few minutes.

Now, let’s use that visual to imagine a couple of typical types of clubs:

First, the President’s Distinguished club – all of the members are making progress toward the finish line. Every now and then, someone crosses the line and you hear “Keeping the Promise” come from the megaphone. When a new runner steps up to the starting line, another member loops back to encourage and support them as the begin their run. There are signposts along the path – 3 speeches to go! - to let members know where they are in their progress. No two members are running at the same pace, but everyone is cheering each other on. From time-to-time, club leaders pull off to the side to stretch (officer meetings) and learn some new running techniques (TLI). Twice per year, a few members go back to the starting line and the club president holds up a flashy and colorful finish line for the fall or spring contests. Throughout the year, members work their away around the track and cross that finish line. Ding! The DCP status is updated.

What about the club that doesn’t believe in turning in awards? This club has a group of member all near the starting line. Some of them are jogging in place. Some of them are even sweating pretty hard under the workload. There is lots of talk, and they are having a good time (like the other club). But no one is moving toward the finish line. When a guest comes, they see nice people who seem to be doing good work, and they join. Then, as they finish a few speeches, they wonder why no one seems to be crossing the finish line. While some of the members seem to be in good shape, it’s confusing because they seem to be running in place.

Does running in place help you stay in shape, or get in better shape? Maybe. But running forward (toward your goal) does a better job. Translation: Just speaking in front of a group can help, but using manual objectives and practicing new skills really helps you to become a better speaker and leader.

Is your club running in place? Worst yet, are guests and new members seeing you running in place and getting confused by the message?

Here is the part people get wrong: The DCP isn’t a goal itself, it is a scorecard. There are two ways to improve your score:

1. Run up the score.  This works if getting a high score is your goal. But it doesn’t do much for the club (or members) overall.
2. Achieve your goals and support your fellow members in achieving theirs. Setting the right example personally and directly helping others will make you and your club successful. Plus, the score will take care of itself.

What is the downside of #2? You can’t wait to start that in March and make your goals in June. However, if you start now (in July) and work with all of your members  to find their goals (including the ones who need 12, 18 or 24 months for their next goal) then it will work for you and your club.

Toastmasters can be a fun place when you are running in place, but it can be more fun and beneficial to you when you lace up those shoes (open that manual) and start moving toward the goal. Be realistic, support your fellow members and see yourself improving. Remember, focus on your gaols and those numbers take care of themselves when you are Keeping the Promise!

A case for a strange idea - this post describes an idea to support low-member clubs and help some clubs make distinguished status this month

The Club VP of Education: Key to Membership Retention – this describes how the VP of Education can (does) play a critical role in member retention

Making the visit – Spring 2010 - Although it’s dated for Spring 2010, the thoughts about Area Governor visits apply to any visit – spring or fall

Area Governor Expectations - This was surprisingly popular. There are some useful myth-busters here to help Area Governors understand their job expectations

Who’s the Coach? - This posts had two purposes. One was to advise members on some methods to coach thier own club. The other was to solicit volunteers to volunteer to be official club coaches for clubs in our district.

There are other posts about membership and PR subjects that will apply again this year and can apply to your club, area or district.

The fact is this: there are no shortcuts to success. No matter how you define success, whether it’s all about the money, happiness, position, or even health. You can’t get anywhere worthwhile in life unless you do the work.

What you may not expect is, the work doesn’t always have to be hard labor. It’s okay to enjoy your efforts. Case in point: I actually like writing. Sure there are times when I get writers block or just don’t feel up to typing anything today. But the truth is, you can find satisfaction in a job well done.

First, identify the main goal and visualize your success. Creating a post on this blog is a goal of mine that takes work. I need to decide on a fresh topic in an area I believe will be of interest to my audience, and see it published in my mind. Your goal may be to start a business, find customers, or create a presentation. Once you have that goal and can see it’s result mentally, you need to move to the next step.

Second, act on that next step to move you toward your vision. For me, open WordPress and start typing. You might want to start with a Google search about your topic, or draft out an idea for how your business will work. Don’t try to make all of the steps at once, just pick that next step and go do it. Once you are done, then look at where you are and prepare that next step. Note: Some steps will be harder than others. The trick is not to let that difficult step #9 (you foresee) stop you from doing step #1 right now.

Third, ignore the shortcuts. In so many cases, including yours, those shortcuts will result in a lower-quality product, or complete failure. I’m not suggesting to ignore new technologies or superior tools. I’m saying that get rich quick ideas aren’t quick (unless you count failing fast), won’t make you rich (even if you see short term gains) and really aren’t even ideas (they are schemes).

The opening quote was simple, yet clear. If you don’t do the work, your idea, plan, or strategy won’t work either. The first habit was to find out what your customers want, then give it to them. When it’s time to provide the product or service they want, you are going to have to do the work to make sure they are satisfied.  – Make that your next habit to success.

Here is a thought: Pick an hour to block out one evening a week. Call it your “get a new skill hour.” You may be asking, “What is the point?” Simple: to take some time to look into something you hadn’t tried before, read something new, or try out a new “fad” you have been avoiding for a long time.

For example, those of you without LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) accounts, spend an hour setting up your on-line professional contact/networking page on LinkedIn. You don’t have to put very much personal information out there, just your name, job title, and some info about your current job. Then search for some coworkers or business friends and link up with them. Take a look at their pages and see what you can do with yours. You won’t have the perfect site in just an hour, but you will be there. When you do need it (layoffs, just looking for work or opportunities, etc.) you’ll already have a head start.

Other ideas?
- Pick up a “Italian in 10 minutes a day” book and do an hour a week (any language)
- Pick up a business/writing/leadership book and read an hour a week
- Pick another networking site you’ve never used (Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Squidoo, etc.) and spend an hour learning it
- Pick something related to your job, like MS Office 2007, and spend an hour learning some tips and shortcuts (check www.customguide.com for some free Quick Reference Cards)
- Spend that hour teaching something to another person

As we move through February, you’ve probably dumped that whole resolution thing anyway, and with the Heroes season finale behind us you should have a free hour to spare. Give it a shot for the next few weeks and see where it takes you!