Focus on the Possibilities, and Then Act on Them!

by Lt. Governor Education & Training
Celly Feraren Adamo, DTM

Celly Adamo Just a few more months to the end of this Toastmasters’ year, and your club still has not achieved its Distinguished Club goals. What are you going to do?

Do you give up and say it’s too late, or do you become energized and focus on doing whatever is necessary to achieve your goals?
The success of your club depends upon the commitment of your members. The key is to go back to your goals. What were your goals in July 2005? Where is your club now? What are you doing to achieve those goals? Ask how your situation would be different if you stopped paying attention to perceived limitations, problems, and the reasons the club can’t move forward. Ask what you can do instead to achieve your set goals. Stop paying attention to limits, and start thinking carefully about what will replace them. What is preventing you from achieving your goals? List all the reasons. Now, how many of them are excuses?

When we focus on new possibilities, the possibilities grow. It is infinitely more productive and exciting to focus on what you can do to make sure that you meet your club goals.

Take each of the goals that you set at the start of the year and determine which ones need focus.

Goals 1–4: Have you met your CTM and ATM goals? If not, which of your members are committed to completing their manuals? Have you submitted them to headquarters? (Reminder: You can also input them online.)
Goals 5–6: Have you met your CL, AL, or DTM goals? If any of your officers completed their term in December, got trained, and participated in executive council meetings to map out the success of the club, all they have to do is give two modules from the Successful Club Series or the Leadership Excellence Series before June 30 and they can apply for the CL award.
Goals 7–8: Membership goals–are your club members actively pursuing bringing in new members to the club? We have programs with added incentives when you bring in new members. Take advantage of them. Check the website for more information, or contact your Area Governor or our Lieutenant Governor of Marketing, Alanda Dyer, at adyer@foundersdistrict.org.
Goal 10: Make sure that you submit your semis on time (by April 1). If you submit your officer’s list by June 30 (or submitted it by December 31 last year), this goal is achievable. Do not wait for members who are late sending in their dues.

These are the goals that you can affect directly before June 30. Do not wait until the last minute to meet your goals. Focus on the possibilities, then act on them. Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. Questions? Contact me at cadamo@foundersdistrict.org.These are the goals that you can affect directly before June 30. Do not wait until the last minute to meet your goals. Focus on the possibilities, then act on them. Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. Questions? Contact me at cadamo@foundersdistrict.org.