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Christmas & Toastmasters International
Posted on December 5th, 2009 7 comments
I remember a long time ago in a Toastmasters meeting I made a mistake.
Toastmasters International?
Toastmasters International is an organization that helps people to speak in public. Public speaking is a great fear most people have, next to death. So, you could say that most people would prefer being in the casket at the funeral than speaking at it.
At this meeting I was appointed the Table Topics Master for the night. I always loved that task, mostly because it would break things up and it would always bring out the good stories and the creative side of all the speakers involved.
The Table Topics Master is in charge of the portion of the meeting that concentrates on speaking off the cuff. My job was to pick a topic and ask a member to give a talk for 2 minutes on that subject. We had enough members to ask 3 people per meeting to speak on table topics.
This meeting was the last meeting of the year and it was a few days before Christmas, so I thought I would stay with the theme and do topics around that subject.
I looked around the room at all the members I could call on. I picked Ernie. Ernie was a cool cat with a New York way of speaking. He was in sales and was a good speaker.
I looked at Ernie and motioned for him to come up to the lectern and then I asked him to tell us all about a special Christmas he had when he was a kid. He smiled and walked up beside me and I walked away and waited for a great 2 minute speech.
Ernie takes a deep breath and looks at me and he starts to speak. “Well…….I never had a Christmas with my family.” I thought oh no! I’m going to feel bad about this. All the other members looked and listened to find out more. Then He said; “I never celebrated Christmas with my family because…..I’m Jewish.” I can still see his big old smile. “I did have Christmas sort of. I would go to my friend’s house and enjoy Christmas Day with them. I also had Hanukah at my house.”
Ernie did a great job and finished his 2 minutes without missing a step. And he made me look like a winner. I’ve lost touch with old Ernie some years ago. I hope to laugh about that meeting again with him one day!
My Lesson:
So, what did I learn from that other than Ernie was Jewish and never celebrated Christmas with his family?
1 – Never assume that you know people until you really know them.
*** That is one communication and success tip that will take you far in business and in your relationships of any sort.
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Merry Christmas to you all!
Happy Hanukah, Ernie!
Embrace the challenge & enjoy the journey.
Visit A Toastmasters International Meeting Near You.
Lynn Lane
Lane Resources Inc.
7 responses to “Christmas & Toastmasters International”
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Lyn,
You remind me of the “true meaning” of the word “assume” – making an ass between you and me.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion -
What do you have to know before you can assume you really know them?!
Martin Wright
Impact, Poise, Presenting -
No matter how much you think you know someone you never really do. i imagine most people don’t even know themselves.
Don Shepherd
Central Oregon Expert -
Christmas is one of those things….
Here in NZ we are in summertime. Because of the influence of others overseas who dream of a white Christmas, you can bet that the fake snow arrives in both spray can and cotton wool, the suspiciously over dressed for the temperature Santas, and the reindeer pics (we HAVE NO REINDEER!) come out. This is due to many decades of entreprenural selling of this stuff that is suited to the other hemisphere.
Only in the last couple of years have we seen more realistic NZ versions of cards, decorations, etc and attire.
If only someone didn’t assume…
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Sounds like something I would’ve done! I’m glad Ernie had a sense of humor. I don’t know how you have so many wonderful stories to tell but I love them.
Lisa McLellan, Child Care Expert
Babysitting Services, Babysitting Tips, Babysitters, Nannies -
Mazel tov to Ernie and his wonderful good humored approach to the topic.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Boomer Dating Expert -
Toastmasters is an awesome club! All people that want to learn to speak in front of people should attend Toastmasters regularly.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
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John Ho December 6th, 2009 at 11:11