This was the title of my first speech as a Toastmaster, and it’s the mandate for my life. I’m always striving to be better – to follow Dolly Parton’s advice “If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.” (and yes, Dolly Parton IS the original source of that quote!)
So why keep on improving? My mother reminded me once as a young teen that “…this is an opportunity to grow…”. At the time, I informed her that I was tired of growing and would like to stagnate for a while. In the intervening uncounted years, though, I’ve come to learn that growth – continuous improvement – is necessary for all of us. Whether we’re current, past, or aspiring leaders, this is an important area of development for ourselves and for those around us.
Toastmasters provides us with all kinds of opportunities to challenge ourselves and those around us. These appear in our personal Pathways journeys, in our clubs, our leadership roles, and beyond.
I encourage you: continue to seek opportunities to grow and develop your own skills as a leader and elsewhere. And as you do so, who else can you inspire to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more?