Okay La

Can you still remember a time in your life that you said YES to an invitation but you don’t know exactly what it’s going to be like?

 

 Fellow Toastmasters, I will share with you a few instances in my life that I said YES – yes to the things that I didn’t know they were going to be like and their results.

 

I mentioned this many times that the main reason why I joined Toastmasters 2 years ago was for my 201 file.  Since the 2008 economic crunch that I almost lost my job, I told myself that I will expand my qualifications and toast to success.  

 

I still remember in August 2012 when I became a member of South Horizons, I told VPEs Shivani and Hilda that I’ll speak in every meeting.  They must have thought I’m really into Toastmasters but they don’t know I was only after my Competent Communicator C certificate.  My plan back then was after receiving my certificate I’ll quit Toastmasters then learn Mandarin.  I got my CC certificate but why I’m still here.

  

May 2013 when I got a call from our Past President Iris Chong asking me to take an officer role next TM term.

The call went like this

 

Iris:  Shiela, I’m one of the Nomination and Election Committee members.  We think that you will do a good job as a VPE.

 

Shiela:  Huh?  Me?  I don’t even know what VPE does.

 

Iris:  No worries.  Toastmasters is learning by doing.  You will learn it and you will surely enjoy it.

 

Shiela:  I will learn and will enjoy..?.  Okay La.

 

Next was when I first joined the Club contest in February 2013.  I didn’t win in the Club level but I had the chance to participate in the Area level when our Champion PH chose to represent her other club, MDC.  I felt like I’m not really a winner and no guts to represent our club but PH, Iris and other SH members encouraged me to go.  I said, “Okay La!” I ended up joining the Area level competing with TGIT , ALE and other 2 club members in K2..  That also led me to a realization that a club is just part of an Area, Area is part of Division and so on.   That was the beginning of my participation in the Area and Division events.  In fact, I’ve been to two district conferences already and will go to KL Malaysia International Conference in August.  

 

Last and recently was when one seasoned Toastmasters approached me… As a VPE one of my tasks is to invite GE for our meetings.  I didn’t realize that this GE saw something in me.  Something means she thinks I can be of help in the Division Level.  I was so hesitant at first, I never see myself like that.  She inspired me to say Okay La when she said, “Shiela, those who were given much, much is expected."  I will be in-charge of the Newsletter production for the Division O every month for this TM year.  I would say the first issue was a success.  Aside from that, I delivered my 1^st workshop in Toastmasters. 

 

We all know being a yes man has its limits.  There are other components in it and factors that we need to consider.   Can you really manage?  Do you have time?  Can you still sleep?  Etc. etc.   These will be discussed in my next speech later. 

 

 

But in this speech, you all learned that me saying OKAY LA in the 3 invitations helped me discovered and developed my talents. 

 

How about you?  Is your manager asking you to lead a special project in your company?  Is Belinda, our co-VPE, asking you to take up a TME role for our next meeting?  Or, is someone inviting you for a dinner?  Follow your heartbeat – say Okay La!  You will be amazed that you are expanding your horizons and toasting to success.