Ice Breaker Speech

The first speech in toastmaster is termed "Ice Breaker Speech". The peculiarity of this speech is that you need to introduce yourself to every body in 7 minutes.
After few weeks of the inception of the club, on August 26Th 2009, I gave my Icebreaker speech.

I spent days thinking what to include, how to format and to keep the flow. After long hours of preparation, I came up with my speech. Here it goes!!!
"
Good Evening Everybody... I invite you all for a short and a wonderful journey of my life. My life revolves around the theme, Live in the Present, Learn from the Past and Hope for the Future.
I am a simple, down to earth yet confident, philosophical sometimes, enthusiastic and a cheerful individual. I am friendly person. I am a hard worker and a workaholic. I have a positive outlook towards life. Whatever I am today is the blessing and upbringing of my family. I think every body is special in their own way.

Now, let me introduce to my family. Family is my world. I come from a small family of four. My father is a simple and a humble person. He is a banker and his passion is writing. My mom is a homemaker. We as a family traveled along with him to many towns and cities with him. I was born in M'lore, did my education till my SSLC in Madars, now known Chennai. I completed my Pre University study in a small town in Karnataka named Sirsi. I did my engineering in M'lore. Worked in B'lore for some time. Got married and settled in Delhi for about 3 years. My husband is also an engineer. After my son was born, I, again, shifted back to B'lore.

Now, let me take thru various glimpses of my life.

I can divide my life so far into 3 phases. Full on was my schooling time in Chennai. I was a typical tomboy. Through out my school life in Chennai, I was a good student who the teachers and my parents were proud of. I was an all rounder participating in all the extra curricular activities and representing my school in various inter school competition and national level sports. To sight a few, in arts section, I am a classical singer, I used to participate in many competitions, as an actor and dancer, I acted in musical dramas, in literature, I used to participate in Essay , Elocution competition. I won many prizes too. And in sports, I used to be a athlete, badminton, tennikoit player. And more importantly, I represented Tamil Nadu in the National Level Soft Ball Tournaments several time. As you can see, I was always good in multi tasking. I got my first salary when I was in 10Th grade. Even when I was studying and preparing for my board exams, I gave tuition to few kids from 4Th - 7Th Standard and gave Hindi tuition to few more. As I said, I was full on in life... Living life in my own way. Wanting to everything in life, every possible thing. Yeah.. also I still, am a great movie buff.

My next phase, of my life is titled mediocre .... Most of you must be knowing the popular tele serial, Jassi Jaisi koyi nahin.. I was like the Jassi in that. With thick glasses. New places, new friends... I could only study. But still used to participate in few competitions like quizzing and social activities like NSS. I passed out my engg in flying colors. Out of College, but no campus interview, as it was recession at that time. Still, I was the selected few who got a job soon after my college. Worked hard.... Got married and went to a new place. Started a new life. In this phase, I learnt a lot. I learnt the term ‘adjustments’

The next phase of my life, which I am still in what I term, "Back in action... Full on".. I have been gifted a darling son who recently completed 3 years. I manage office, home, and spend quality time with my son. We play together, we fight. I enjoy his company. All in all, I am rediscovering my childhood days with him. In spite of my busy schedule, I have learnt tennis, swimming.

Well, my philosophical side. I have been greatly inspired my Mahatma Gandhi's and Swami Vivekananda principles of life. I believe that, any good thing, a charity or any thing starts from one's own house. Of all, we should first be good human beings. Spreading happiness in the smallest form. One of recent instance, I want to share. I was driving down in my car in IndiraNagar in mid afternoon. I was waiting in the Signal. A bunch of small kids in school uniform, thronged me. One of them asked me if I could give them a lift to the nearest Bus Stand. And I happily agreed. Lo…all the kids jumped in the car happily. I dropped them to the NGF Bus stand. Looking at their smiling faces, made me happy through out that day.

Well, with the good principles, and great aspirations, I hope one day I fulfill all my dreams and ambitions in the entirety.
As Swami Vivekananda had said, "Arise awake and stop not till the goal is reached", with this saying I Thank you all for listening patiently and giving me an opportunity to share my life’s journey with you.

"
My experience on delivering the speech. After long years, I had stood in front of a audience to give a speech. I was really nervous.... After the first few seconds, I gained control and then nobody could stop me...... :) Needless to say, I had lot to talk. The feedback was good and encouraging. :) But I was happy that I broke the ice.

Being a Toastmaster!!!

Being a core member of Women Business Council of my company, we had a survey done from the women employees to get to know, what do they really want to improve on. As expected, a lot of feedback from leadership to work-life balance. We decided to take upon the majority ones and work on them.
I was involved in on one of the prominent feedback, "Developing Communication Skills". My friend knew somebody in our company who was a Toastmaster. A new word for me. So then on, the events preceeded to coin a new Toastmaster Club for the company.

Henceforth, after spending 3 months of discussing and planning, Crystal Talk Toastmaster Club was born. The club has been chartered with the Toastmaster International and since Aug 1st we have our meetings every Thursday. I was offered the role of VP Membership for the club. For me, from being a person who went to promote communication skills to become the VP of the Toastmaster club was really an achievement. I was in zenith. And now, I am in the thick and kin of the role, which is a huge responsibility in itself.

Well, I have to men ton about the women percentage in this club, currently it is hardly 25%. Those women, who voted for Developing Communication Skills....? Though the club is still naive and it is gaining popularity and interests company wide.

For people who don't know about toastmasters. Toastmaster International is an organization meant for developing public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback in local clubs. Speciality in this club is, there is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved. Manuals are given by Toastmaster International. The first project is "Competent Communication" which is made up of ten speeches of distinct and varying difficulty level. For more information on toastmaster, do visit: http://www.toastmasters.org

From now on, I shall post the speeches that I have given in my toastmaster club. Do read them!!!

Well, I want to add some wise saying :) ,

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more”