Toasties Get Coveyfied

Last April 2, BnT launched a new series of meeting themes that highlight Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Effective People. This Leadership Handbook is an excellent learning tool for communicators. At BnT, we will apply these habits to becoming better speakers.

We kicked off last meeting with the first habit, Be Proactive. Tonight, we talk about the second habit, which is to Begin with the End in Mind. This is about having a clear understanding of your destination, whether it's to become a Competent Communicator in 2009 or to achieve a major life goal. Knowing where you are going translates to taking the steps towards the right direction.

Watch out for the next meetings as we build up the habits to becoming an effective communicator:

April 30- Habit 3: Put First Things Firts
May 14- Habit 4: Think Win/Win
May 28- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
June 11- Habit 6: Synergize
June 25 - Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
July 9 - Bonus: The 8th Habit

One of the things that set Butter N Toast TMC apart is the way we use our meeting themes as tools for continuous learning. We've had series of themes that celebrate our values and highlight mentoring. We will continue to find better ways to help the Toasties become even better leaders and communicators.

Toastmasters Speech No. 6: "Listening to Your Voice"

By Christopher Siena, TM

If there is one big thing I learned in the course of life, it’s that I’ve learned to listen to my inner voice. Everyone has one. We call it different things: our moral compass, our instincts, and our conscience. Whatever we name it, we should always pay attention and listen to it. It makes us who we are.

Several years ago when I was in school, I came under intense pressure to from my teachers and fellow classmates to join the chorale. I was even “bribed” extra credits for joining the team. Another benefit was a chance to be excused in attending some classes. I badly need credits so I said “yes.” And in that moment, I knew I should have said “no.”

Deep down, I knew I didn’t want to join the chorale. I’m bad at singing. I hate the songs they sing. I hate the costume. I hate everything about it. My inner voice was nagging me loud and clear, “Chris, don’t do it. You’re not a singer. You don’t like the chorale.”

I didn’t listen.

It was only after a few practice sessions, when I realized I couldn’t fool myself anymore. So, I left the chorale. I dodged awkward glances from my classmates and received reprimands from the teachers who recommended me. And I must say, those were not the best days of my academic life but it reaffirmed my belief in following my inner voice.

A far more personal moment came when my inner voice told me to do something and I didn’t listen. It was the day my brother was about to undergo a brain surgery. After some light talk and a few minutes, it was time for me to leave. As I saw him lying in his hospital bed I had an overwhelming urge to give him a hug and wish him well.

My inner voice was telling me, “Chris, do it. Hug him. This could be the last.”

“But, that kind of emotional display was out of character for us and we’re not really that close even though he’s my brother. So, I didn’t do it.

He didn’t survive the surgery. He died the next day. I could remember his last words, “See you on Monday.” Now, I will be waiting for that “Monday” the rest of my life…

My inner voice was telling me loud and clear, “Chris, do it.” Why didn’t I listen?

As I look back I realized that most of the mistakes came when I didn’t listen to myself, when I didn’t trust my instincts. If you think about it, there are many voices coming at us every day and from different directions. Sometimes Internal – Voices inside your mind telling you to become someone else. This should not be mistaken to your inner voice because your inner voice upholds your values and not be guilty or ashamed of your own values. Sometimes External – People are telling you what to do, what to like or what not to like.

With all these voices, life can be very confusing. But, as I believe, there is only one person who really knows who you are and what you want, and that is you.

Sometimes we stop listening. I believe we should. And we should listen very carefully. Only then will you be able to hear our inner voice. And after that – do what it says. Just do it.

Toastmasters Speech No. 5: " We Don't Need to Save the Earth"

By Christopher Siena, TM

It’s annoying. It’s annoying when people talk about “saving the Earth.” Those so called “environmentalists” really did it. They brain-washed the population into thinking that the earth needs to be saved. Stop for a moment and think. Do we really need to save the earth? I don’t so and here are my reasons:

1. We can’t. When we pollute the air around us with toxic gases or dump garbage in the rivers, will the earth die? No. But we will…

The earth will continue living with or without us. Simply said, the earth does not need us. Thinking of saving the earth is an arrogant attempt of man to “control” the environment. But the truth is we don’t control the environment. We simply can’t.

2. The thought of saving the earth is not just arrogant, it’s also insincere. Think about it. If an incineration plant (which pollutes the air) is constructed near our homes, we suddenly become vigilant environmentalist lobbying against incineration and its dangers to the earth’s atmosphere. But, if a golf course is constructed near our homes, we welcome it with open arms thinking that it will increase the land value of our properties. However, when you think about it, golf courses like incineration plants pollute our environment. The fertilizers used in making the grasses green are dumped in the sewage system causing abnormal growth of microorganisms that cause water pollution in rivers and seas.

Bottomline – if the pollutant decreases the land value of our properties, it’s bad but if the pollutant increases the land value, we welcome it with open arms. How insincere can we get?

3. It’s not about salvation. It’s about novelty. We don’t want to save the earth. We want the earth to be our personal theme park. We want to save endangered species because it’s the novel thing to do – it gives us bragging rights to say that “we have this species of bird and you don’t.” We brag about the majestic and endangered monkey-eating eagle but we don’t give a hoot about the lonely, fat pig. When, in fact, pigs are one of our staple foods.

When you think about it more than 90% of extinct species of animals in the world is not caused by humans. The dinosaurs became extinct. We didn’t kill them. It’s normal for animals to become extinct due to their inability to adapt to the changing environment. It’s just how things work. We want to preserve these animals not because we care about them but because these animals are collections that boost our ever-growing egos. Imagine yourself owning an endangered species of bird – you can brag about it, saying that your bird is big and majestic. Most importantly, it’s endangered. You can charge tourists to view your bird. If you think about it, it is just another arrogant and insincere attempt to think highly of ourselves. Plus, it a money maker.

I have a theory. If we kill 99.99% of the population of fat and lonely pigs in the planet, we will think differently of pigs. We will give more importance to pigs than we give to eagles. Think about it. If there’s such a thing as “animal racism” that’s one perfect example. It’s arrogant and insincere. It’s narrow and unenlightened self interest – nothing else.

Fellow toastmasters and guests, don’t get me wrong. I am not against environmentalism. I believe that we should stop pollution or at least minimize it because we want to survive. . Let’s do it for the right reasons. Let’s not save the environment. Instead, let’s save ourselves. Only when we acknowledge the fact that we are dependent on the environment instead of thinking that the environment is dependent on us, will we be able to truly understand – the earth does not need salvation but we do…