From Afraid to Awarded — The path to public speaking success

The year was 2014; public speaking was the challenge. Sure there was this crazy group of locals who’d met EVERY WEEK and worked on public speaking, but just the idea of attending the meeting gave me jittery anxiety…. I attended the meeting.

The first speaker was giving an “Ice breaker”, which is this crazy cult’s code for “first speech”. The speaker was infinitely more confident than I could have been. I was nervous just knowing that person’s first time was right there. They didn’t freak out like I would have, and kudos to them.

The second speaker spoke about technology. I’m a nerd at heart, and I loved it, but I was surprised when everyone in this diverse room listened, too. They all enjoyed a tech talk, and even clapped and laughed at the right parts. “What kind of strange variety show is this?”

And then it happened….

The final speaker was introduced to the lectern (which I thought was called a podium but OK), and she was given the grande introduction of being a 20 year veteran of the club and sporting the honor of being a “Distinguished Toastmaster”. So I raised an eyebrow with expectations and sat back to see what this whole club was about.

When Julie, the Distinguished (aka DTM) spoke, the room disappeared. I don’t remember if anyone coughed, sneezed, or even if the room caught fire. All I remember was paying 100% attention to the speaker who commanded the room and lead her speech with ease. She looked us in the eye, she connected with us in her story, and when we laughed as she knew we would, she waited the perfect amount of time before continuing her speech. When she concluded, I clapped loudly.

I immediately joined the club.

So what is it to be a “Distinguished” Toastmaster?

What did Julie have to do to be called Distinguished? As it turns out, in this international group called Toastmasters who’s almost been around a full century! They revere the title of a Distinguished Toastmaster to be their highest degree. It’s the black belt.

To achieve Distinguished you have to:

• Deliver 50+ evaluated speeches
• Assist in running club meetings
• Serve in leadership at your club
• Attend Officer training
• Mentor your fellow members
• Help see a new club’s formation
• Serve at a multi-club leadership role (District leader)
• Plan and execute a professional goal (High Performance Leadership)

Effectively YEARS of public speaking training and service.

Wow! That’s a LOT…. It’s also something could never do…

- But I knew I should

Spoiler Alert: I write to you today as a Distinguished Toastmaster. It’s been a long and twisting road that’s helped me personally and professionally. In 2014 my club helped me with my fear of public speaking and even got me competing. The support of those wonderful people around me was a theme to push myself. As of today:

• 10 First Place Victories
• 8 Second Place Victories
• 2 Third Place Victories
• 50+ Club level victory ribbons

The carrots of Toastmasters are never-ending. More importantly, every time I filled a roll and attended a meeting, I got feedback, sometimes nice, and sometimes constructive. Our club has an anonymous feedback system, and I’ve kept every piece of feedback I ever received over the years in a fishbowl in my office.

Sometimes I’ll even pull a few out and read them for encouragement to make sure I’m still growing as a speaker and an individual.

So now that you’re Distinguished, will it will help you in your career?

It’s been helping me in my career since I started

In 2014, I got over my fear of speaking, and I spoke at my first conference. And then I didn’t shut up. I’ve spoken so much around the world, my original badge and medal holder broke! I had to get a wooden one.

I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am professionally if it wasn’t for Toastmasters. I’m also a Google Developer Expert, an Oracle Groundbreaker Ambassador, and If you’re interested in hearing me speak about fun technology, be sure to reach out on my website http://gantlaborde.com/gant-laborde-presenter-terms/

In 2018, a conference I was MC for had a technological hiccup, and I proudly took the stage to adjust the audience's attention. I even got to write about the whole thing and got published in Toastmaster’s Magazine.

OK, So now you’ve done Toastmasters. What’s next?

Nope, not done. Not even close. Toastmasters is a supportive and positive place for people who are working on self-confidence and personal growth. That’s not something you stop getting value from. I’ve learned so much, and I continue to learn. My sights are set to be the next 20yr veteran who inspires others. Neither failure or success if final, we are what we continually do.

When I started it was all so confusing. Over the years I've spoken, I've been lead, and I now lead. A big part of what Toastmasters teaches is Leadership. When I started I had no idea how that’s in any way related to public speaking. Now I see they are two sides of the same coin. The speaker and the leader’s power come from the same place.

So here’s to you leaders who inspired and challenged me along the way. Co-workers, conference friends, and eager audience members. You continue to inspire me. To the DTMs who motivated, helped, and guided me. To the talented and engaging leaders who held their light high. These insightful individuals gave their time to me in a way that wrote my history. I am never alone on stage thanks to the crowd of talented people who are behind me.