Triumph is the habit for Roger Federer. He won 15 Grand Slams.he holds the World No 1 title for more than 237 weeks now. What is the reason behind his success?
Lets look back at his career.
In 1998 at the age of 17, he lost 3 times in a row in an ATP tournament
In 1999, He lost 8 times in first round and 4 times in second round
In 2000 he lost 14 matches and finished at number 28
In 2001 He finished at no 12. But still he lost 6 times in a year
In 2002 he finished at no. 6. He had some losses too.
In 2003 he lost in the finals against felix mantilla
But now, he is No 1.
His failures could in no way stop him. The past does not affect the future unless we decide it to do so. Roger ensured that he can play any strategy that his opponent may plan.
He focuses on what he wants. Triumph. When he starts playing, all he wants goes to the subconscious mind and starts driving him. He plays in the present. He just focuses on how to strike the ball. He neither thinks about the past nor about the future during the game. However, He plans when he is out of his court. He does not let his past affect his future. His positive thinking has always lead him to the front.
I.e. Big thinking calls for planning
Big planning calls for preparation
Big preparation calls for hardwork
Hard work calls for achievement.
Fellow Toastmasters and guests,
Each one of us here want to conquer the world. Each one of us want to be the best speaker and a humble listener, be a leader and also a follower. Paradox in thoughts should not anchor us at a point, instead help us move forward.
Taking on the role of Vice president Education, I intend to highlight a few needs of the club.
Committee plans to work towards DP by dec 09.
We must have 6 CC’s and 10 CLs in next 6 months.
We must have 4 AC’s and 3 ALs in next 5 months.
I believe membership will flow in automatically to a successful club. When the quest to perform is high, everyone would like to have the readymade information available to them from the district training programs. To fulfill their wishes, they ensure to follow the guidelines and naturally induct the new members too.
I have an added challenge placed before me by the executive committee of our club. We want each member to move up by 3 speeches. We want each member to be educated about the club roles and also about their opportunities in Toastmasters.
I sat down and started looking out for show stoppers.
1. I sensed that the burden on mentors was not equally distributed. Some mentors were loaded with mentees while some were not.
2. Absence of prescribed schedule based on which each member can Plan, Prepare and Perform.
3. An online tracking system to track member’s progress.
I started with a clean slate. I quickly tried to gather the data. Thanks to my term as a secretary last term where I had the Minutes of the Meeting consolidated in a single workbook. I down loaded the member list from Toastmasters site and consolidated the data. To my astonishment, I found that the activity was easy as there were only 12 members who has renewed the membership and the rest 28 were new ones. Shock of my life was that only six out of the 12 were regular. The statistics tweaked my brain’s grey cells. “Membership retention should be the main goal” said my conscious. I quickly tried to get a snapshot of member records. But none were available except one. I decided to collect the goals individually. I made calls to the mobile numbers registered in the site. I was correctly directed to 25 calls. 15 calls either lead to a voice mail or was switched off.
I now consolidated the data for this 25 members and started the term. I still have a big challenge ahead. The challenge as to how to get the complete data. Challenge as to how to accelerate the growth. Growth of the individual. Growth of the club.
When I put my points straight, I was offered support. Today, I stand before all of you bringing in the members equally distributed among the mentors who have been certified as competent communicators or advanced communicators. Each mentor assured that their mentees will be given equal attention and support. Mentors also assured to train and increase the number of mentors by educating them on mentoring.
The next step was to get the plan in place. I sent out mail to you all asking for your goals. I received immediate replies from most of them. This provided me the input for scheduling roles and your speeches. There too I had a starting trouble. I circulated the draft for a month. I am happy to have most of the scheduled speeches in line with the plan.
My next plan is to extend this for the term. I am in the process of creating the same. I have some new challenges where I need the schedule to be flexible to accommodate opportunities for new joinees and ensure their growth too. I plan to come with that flexible plan by the end of August 2009. Plan, Prepare and Perform has been addressed through the schedules and mentors. How about tracking?
I want all your views and thoughts for an online tracking system.
With this plan and preparation, I am sure we will raise to the sky and go beyond. After all what is sky. It is just a few miles from here.
Mr. TM
Monday, August 3, 2009
Hobby Please…
Every interview has some common questions like “Tell me about yourself”, “What are your dreams” and “What is your hobby”
Hobby…. This question was a night mare to me.
Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmaster and my dear friends,
During my childhood, my hobby was the same as my friend. She too had trouble. But watching realty shows has given her some inputs. She always picked the one which could not make the opposite person ask questions. However, I could not easily lie. When I was a child, I forcibly collected some stamps and purchased a set from an exhibition. I used that as my hobby. But when people asked as to what is my aim and what did I learn and what I plan to do with it, I did not have an answer.
Sooner, I found that this was not what I wanted to do or get embarrassed with. I conducted a survey on various hobbies.
Some of them were Watching TV, reading book, collecting coins or stamps, eating, roaming, gardening, cycling, dressing, singing, dancing, eating, sleeping, painting, playing cricket based on the thirst. None of the answers satisfied me nor suited me. My problem remained. One day , My aunt came down to my house.
Aunt, what is your hobby?
“Cooking, cleaning house” was her immediate reply. “What do you want?”
“I need a hobby”
The laughter took time to settle.
“Do you know what is a hobby?”
“Aunt, I know. A constant question asked by a person to whom you get introduced.”
“ My aunt took me in her hands and said, What do you do in your free time?”
“I walk behind my mother wherever she goes.”
“ Do you play?”
“No. Not much. I play when my mother is next to me.”
“ Oh.. So, walking behind your mother is your hobby?”
I felt relieved then. Later, when I grew up, I found that my hobby was just whiling away time. i.e. Laziness.
But how do I say that. Nobody will respect me, talk to me. I started playing tennikoit. Thanks to the physical training hour in school. They trained me in wobbling, smashing, serving.. I learnt it thoroughly. However, diminishing eyesight did not allow me to continue. Now I had to say hobby with an excuse. Those days spectacles were made of glass instead of plastic or high index lens.
I was in search of a hobby again. I tried reading books, however, I could not compete with book readers. My confidence started going down and I feared to meet people. Solitude hurt me.
I visited my aunt’s place. I talked continuously, when she said, “Latha, talking is your hobby. “
I was happy to find an unquestionable hobby. Then on I stuck to my hobby. Sooner, people started to analyze what I say. I was in trouble. Accidental gossips led me to trouble. I sooner had suggestions to learn what to talk, where to talk, when to talk and how to talk.
So, finalized hobby was in trouble again. But I was already in danger that if I stop talking, I may end up badly. Unable to catch up with what is required and I started changing my styles based on the listeners.
Sooner, I lost track on patterns. Thanks to age, that my grey cells had no place to store. I was worried. I wandered and bought books after books. My laziness never allowed me to read even a chapter. My mother worried more as it required greater effort to pack while shifting.
I was then in a job by then, safely settled. I had a great relief. If I do not opt to participate in reality shows, I will never be asked that question. I had created an end to a daring question.
Happiness did not lost long. Pavitra my colleague in office met me over coffee. “ How do you spend your time ? What is your hobby?”
Now Back again. The Deadly devil is here again. I quickly thought and said, “Chatting with friends.”
Name your friends was her next question. “ You…” was my immediate reply.
Now I can safely say talking, chatting, working and sleeping as I do all of them regularly. Chatting with my office colleagues on technical issues, working longer hours, talking continuously for 5 mins and sleeping when I do not do the other three.
I now have 4 Hobbies. How many do you have?
Mr. TM
Hobby…. This question was a night mare to me.
Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmaster and my dear friends,
During my childhood, my hobby was the same as my friend. She too had trouble. But watching realty shows has given her some inputs. She always picked the one which could not make the opposite person ask questions. However, I could not easily lie. When I was a child, I forcibly collected some stamps and purchased a set from an exhibition. I used that as my hobby. But when people asked as to what is my aim and what did I learn and what I plan to do with it, I did not have an answer.
Sooner, I found that this was not what I wanted to do or get embarrassed with. I conducted a survey on various hobbies.
Some of them were Watching TV, reading book, collecting coins or stamps, eating, roaming, gardening, cycling, dressing, singing, dancing, eating, sleeping, painting, playing cricket based on the thirst. None of the answers satisfied me nor suited me. My problem remained. One day , My aunt came down to my house.
Aunt, what is your hobby?
“Cooking, cleaning house” was her immediate reply. “What do you want?”
“I need a hobby”
The laughter took time to settle.
“Do you know what is a hobby?”
“Aunt, I know. A constant question asked by a person to whom you get introduced.”
“ My aunt took me in her hands and said, What do you do in your free time?”
“I walk behind my mother wherever she goes.”
“ Do you play?”
“No. Not much. I play when my mother is next to me.”
“ Oh.. So, walking behind your mother is your hobby?”
I felt relieved then. Later, when I grew up, I found that my hobby was just whiling away time. i.e. Laziness.
But how do I say that. Nobody will respect me, talk to me. I started playing tennikoit. Thanks to the physical training hour in school. They trained me in wobbling, smashing, serving.. I learnt it thoroughly. However, diminishing eyesight did not allow me to continue. Now I had to say hobby with an excuse. Those days spectacles were made of glass instead of plastic or high index lens.
I was in search of a hobby again. I tried reading books, however, I could not compete with book readers. My confidence started going down and I feared to meet people. Solitude hurt me.
I visited my aunt’s place. I talked continuously, when she said, “Latha, talking is your hobby. “
I was happy to find an unquestionable hobby. Then on I stuck to my hobby. Sooner, people started to analyze what I say. I was in trouble. Accidental gossips led me to trouble. I sooner had suggestions to learn what to talk, where to talk, when to talk and how to talk.
So, finalized hobby was in trouble again. But I was already in danger that if I stop talking, I may end up badly. Unable to catch up with what is required and I started changing my styles based on the listeners.
Sooner, I lost track on patterns. Thanks to age, that my grey cells had no place to store. I was worried. I wandered and bought books after books. My laziness never allowed me to read even a chapter. My mother worried more as it required greater effort to pack while shifting.
I was then in a job by then, safely settled. I had a great relief. If I do not opt to participate in reality shows, I will never be asked that question. I had created an end to a daring question.
Happiness did not lost long. Pavitra my colleague in office met me over coffee. “ How do you spend your time ? What is your hobby?”
Now Back again. The Deadly devil is here again. I quickly thought and said, “Chatting with friends.”
Name your friends was her next question. “ You…” was my immediate reply.
Now I can safely say talking, chatting, working and sleeping as I do all of them regularly. Chatting with my office colleagues on technical issues, working longer hours, talking continuously for 5 mins and sleeping when I do not do the other three.
I now have 4 Hobbies. How many do you have?
Mr. TM
CC Project 10 : Be the change
What comes to your mind when I say diwali?
What comes to your mind when I say Christmas?
What comes to your mind when I say New year?
Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmasters and guests.
The new year is just round the corner. I am sure each one of us will have our resolutions to take!!!???
How many of us have made a new year resolution at the beginning of this year? 2008
Have we tracked them to check if we have achieved it? At least started it?
A recent research done in United states of America says that 52% of participants in a Resolution study were confident of success with their goals. However, 12% of them actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more than that of others when they engaged in goal setting. A system where small measurable goals are used (lose a kilogram a week, instead of saying "lose weight") was set by participants, women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.
Each one of us here would have taken resolutions and achieved them. I wish to quote a person whom in out midst, from our club, took a resolution to reach the top of Everest. We all could see that she has been successful in her resolution. I wish to share the 2 main learning I learnt from Shrilatha in her journey as president for past 6 months.
1. Single Minded Focus – i.e. Spending time, effort and imagination to work on the committed task.
2. Sharing with friends i.e. likeminded people – This helps in achieving a common vision
While Shrilatha may normally come across as a carefree person, she strongly displayed these two factors: single minded focus and sharing it with friends.
India's first-ever individual Olympic gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra took a resolution amidst press reporters on his return to India that he would find energy and motivation to repeat his feat again and hold it on for a while.
This year I took a resolution to spend more time with family and friends and enjoy life. I decided to make it public by registering in Keith’s website. I logged in and entered the resolution. The portal was designed intelligently that it tried to details on how resolutions will be turned to reality and not left as a fantasy. I took it as a challenge and started thinking. I finally came to some tangible activities which I could measure.
Calm down in temper, find ways to get out of it. Ensure good relationship with friends and family.
Spend weekends and holidays at home, avoid business work.
What a magic it was..
I have been successful in my journey to date.
Let me share an instance in these lines.
Recently I attended a family gathering. I wished my aunt whom I am seeing almost after an year.
“Aah.. You found your way now and had time to come down. Not bad that I am still in your mind.” My mother who was with me did not know what to answer as it was most embarrassing.
I did miss to meet her when she lost her daughter in august. She had been hospitalized for some time. I did make calls to enquire her health. I could not meet her personally.
Aloud I replied, “Yes. Though the road leading to Ramamurthy Nagar has lot of diversions and potholes, I did find the way this time. I ensured not to disturb you by my calls asking for directions”. I sat next to her and added “ I drove 10 Kms at one stretch in 20 minutes. I am a great driver. Isn’t it ?”
Calmness prevailed. I smiled and started boasting my driving skills, when my aunt interrupted, “Calm down. You are yet to drive back home.” With laughter, all of us settled down and we had our conversation on as usual.
I was happy to have changed myself. I was happy to note my words like fireballs did not hurt others. In deed mended the relationship.
If you wanted support to achieve your dream, you need to share your resolutions. I had completed project 9 in Nov 2006. I had been dreaming to complete my project 10 for more than a year. I tried doing a self assessment and repeated my speeches again and again to gain confidence. When I could sense my confidence, I started to draft my speech 10. I shared my resolution to complete my CC by this year to my mentor. It was with his help, I am here today standing before you.
Sharing helps in providing support to achieve your goals.
My dear friends, I could just think of Chendil’s quote here.
If you wanted to go fast, go alone. If you wanted to go far, go together.
1. If you wanted to go fast, Go alone – Single minded focus
2. If you wanted to go far, go together – Share your resolutions and get forward
We are all here to be great leaders. Leaders create a positive change. To create the change, we have to be a part of change. Take your resolution today.
Do you want to Be the change you want to see?
Mr. Toastmaster
What comes to your mind when I say Christmas?
What comes to your mind when I say New year?
Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmasters and guests.
The new year is just round the corner. I am sure each one of us will have our resolutions to take!!!???
How many of us have made a new year resolution at the beginning of this year? 2008
Have we tracked them to check if we have achieved it? At least started it?
A recent research done in United states of America says that 52% of participants in a Resolution study were confident of success with their goals. However, 12% of them actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more than that of others when they engaged in goal setting. A system where small measurable goals are used (lose a kilogram a week, instead of saying "lose weight") was set by participants, women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.
Each one of us here would have taken resolutions and achieved them. I wish to quote a person whom in out midst, from our club, took a resolution to reach the top of Everest. We all could see that she has been successful in her resolution. I wish to share the 2 main learning I learnt from Shrilatha in her journey as president for past 6 months.
1. Single Minded Focus – i.e. Spending time, effort and imagination to work on the committed task.
2. Sharing with friends i.e. likeminded people – This helps in achieving a common vision
While Shrilatha may normally come across as a carefree person, she strongly displayed these two factors: single minded focus and sharing it with friends.
India's first-ever individual Olympic gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra took a resolution amidst press reporters on his return to India that he would find energy and motivation to repeat his feat again and hold it on for a while.
This year I took a resolution to spend more time with family and friends and enjoy life. I decided to make it public by registering in Keith’s website. I logged in and entered the resolution. The portal was designed intelligently that it tried to details on how resolutions will be turned to reality and not left as a fantasy. I took it as a challenge and started thinking. I finally came to some tangible activities which I could measure.
Calm down in temper, find ways to get out of it. Ensure good relationship with friends and family.
Spend weekends and holidays at home, avoid business work.
What a magic it was..
I have been successful in my journey to date.
Let me share an instance in these lines.
Recently I attended a family gathering. I wished my aunt whom I am seeing almost after an year.
“Aah.. You found your way now and had time to come down. Not bad that I am still in your mind.” My mother who was with me did not know what to answer as it was most embarrassing.
I did miss to meet her when she lost her daughter in august. She had been hospitalized for some time. I did make calls to enquire her health. I could not meet her personally.
Aloud I replied, “Yes. Though the road leading to Ramamurthy Nagar has lot of diversions and potholes, I did find the way this time. I ensured not to disturb you by my calls asking for directions”. I sat next to her and added “ I drove 10 Kms at one stretch in 20 minutes. I am a great driver. Isn’t it ?”
Calmness prevailed. I smiled and started boasting my driving skills, when my aunt interrupted, “Calm down. You are yet to drive back home.” With laughter, all of us settled down and we had our conversation on as usual.
I was happy to have changed myself. I was happy to note my words like fireballs did not hurt others. In deed mended the relationship.
If you wanted support to achieve your dream, you need to share your resolutions. I had completed project 9 in Nov 2006. I had been dreaming to complete my project 10 for more than a year. I tried doing a self assessment and repeated my speeches again and again to gain confidence. When I could sense my confidence, I started to draft my speech 10. I shared my resolution to complete my CC by this year to my mentor. It was with his help, I am here today standing before you.
Sharing helps in providing support to achieve your goals.
My dear friends, I could just think of Chendil’s quote here.
If you wanted to go fast, go alone. If you wanted to go far, go together.
1. If you wanted to go fast, Go alone – Single minded focus
2. If you wanted to go far, go together – Share your resolutions and get forward
We are all here to be great leaders. Leaders create a positive change. To create the change, we have to be a part of change. Take your resolution today.
Do you want to Be the change you want to see?
Mr. Toastmaster
I Know everything
“I know everything. Just take it as is. I can get it done in this period by sonia.” said Mr. Ambu a senior manager of a company. His juniors were not just confused, but also irritated as their manager snubbed them in front of the other department managers.
Sonia a new entrant to the office was shocked. She was brought up in a middle income group family. Her parents ensured that she incorporated respect in her communications. In return they too followed the same. She practiced the same in school, college and now in her job, she could hardly digest the fact of her manager snubbing her in front of people. She just walked to the rest room where she could just have her space. She cried aloud, washed her face when Sreeja joined her. Finally, she got out and drank three cups of water.
She went back home and again could not digest the fact that she was just ripped in front of people. She shared this with her parents.” Ma, I am the person who is working on it. I know the product and the work. I feel bad on hearing those words from my manager.”
Her mother calm’s her down and says, “ Sonia, “ I feel you have to tell this to your manager. However, you cannot be direct as I feel he would not have known the impact. Many people are more direct and curt in communication as they talk to computers and machines. People may not have the human touch. Find a way in which you will talk to him personally about this. Also, I do not want you to carry it in your heart. Communicate , but in a way in which he could get your feelings”.
Sonia felt good. She did not forget her mother’s words. She was also wondering as to how to communicate. Finally she got up to meet her manager. She saw that he was sitting alone reading his mails. She excused herself and said, “ Sir, I wish share what I felt yesterday after the meeting. I felt that I was ripped off by your words. But after your meet, Sreeja, the other manager contacted me. She analyzed the scenario and accepted that this wasn’t possible. I hope that she would have communicated that to you.”
Mr. Ambu smiled. “I am sorry Sonia. My thought that I know everything made me speak like that. When Sreeja returned to me on the same yesterday, I understood that I have overlooked on certain points. I wish I apologize to all.” Sonia smiled back and left the room.
Sonia, was happy that she could create an open atmosphere, to communicate her feelings. Ambu, charted out a plan to correct himself. He arranged for open discussions, where he shared his views and discussed them openly. This helped his team plan their work and achieve the goal. The Oneness feeling kept the team motivated which yielded laurels for the company.
MORAL OF THE STORY: “Communication can make or break relationships. Positive and open communication can help in building relationships.”
Sonia a new entrant to the office was shocked. She was brought up in a middle income group family. Her parents ensured that she incorporated respect in her communications. In return they too followed the same. She practiced the same in school, college and now in her job, she could hardly digest the fact of her manager snubbing her in front of people. She just walked to the rest room where she could just have her space. She cried aloud, washed her face when Sreeja joined her. Finally, she got out and drank three cups of water.
She went back home and again could not digest the fact that she was just ripped in front of people. She shared this with her parents.” Ma, I am the person who is working on it. I know the product and the work. I feel bad on hearing those words from my manager.”
Her mother calm’s her down and says, “ Sonia, “ I feel you have to tell this to your manager. However, you cannot be direct as I feel he would not have known the impact. Many people are more direct and curt in communication as they talk to computers and machines. People may not have the human touch. Find a way in which you will talk to him personally about this. Also, I do not want you to carry it in your heart. Communicate , but in a way in which he could get your feelings”.
Sonia felt good. She did not forget her mother’s words. She was also wondering as to how to communicate. Finally she got up to meet her manager. She saw that he was sitting alone reading his mails. She excused herself and said, “ Sir, I wish share what I felt yesterday after the meeting. I felt that I was ripped off by your words. But after your meet, Sreeja, the other manager contacted me. She analyzed the scenario and accepted that this wasn’t possible. I hope that she would have communicated that to you.”
Mr. Ambu smiled. “I am sorry Sonia. My thought that I know everything made me speak like that. When Sreeja returned to me on the same yesterday, I understood that I have overlooked on certain points. I wish I apologize to all.” Sonia smiled back and left the room.
Sonia, was happy that she could create an open atmosphere, to communicate her feelings. Ambu, charted out a plan to correct himself. He arranged for open discussions, where he shared his views and discussed them openly. This helped his team plan their work and achieve the goal. The Oneness feeling kept the team motivated which yielded laurels for the company.
MORAL OF THE STORY: “Communication can make or break relationships. Positive and open communication can help in building relationships.”
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