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Have Lectern, Will Travel How Toastmasters Followed Me From Chennai to Croydon  (Before My Visa Even Did) August 2010. I was sitting in Chennai, work permit still "under processing" — which is government-speak for "we have your file, and also possibly a nice paperweight on top of it" — and what do I do with all that nervous energy? Do I read up on London weather? Sort out where I'll live? Learn how to pronounce "Leicester" correctly? No. I open the Toastmasters International website and start hunting for clubs in the UK. No visa. No project. No address. But by God, I knew which club I wanted to give my Toastmasters' at. Priorities, people. There's a Tamil saying — "கோவில் இல்லாத ஊரில் குடி இருக்க வேண்டாம்" ( Kovil illaadha ooril kudi irukka vendaam ) — "Don't settle in a town that has no temple." For the Toastmaster, the modern translation is: don't settle in a city that has no club. And at the rate new clu...

  Have you ever wondered what separates highly successful individuals from the rest? While talent, intelligence, and opportunities may play a crucial role, one underlying trait stands out as the bedrock of achievement: perseverance. Perseverance is the ability to push through challenges, setbacks, and adversity, even when the going gets tough . It is the fuel that keeps us moving forward, relentlessly pursuing our goals and dreams. Those who possess unwavering determination to overcome obstacles are the ones who ultimately reach new heights of success. So, why is perseverance truly the key to unlocking success? Overcoming Challenges : The path to success is never smooth. It is filled with hurdles and roadblocks that test our resilience. Perseverance allows us to navigate these challenges, learn from them, and find innovative solution s. Each setback becomes an opportunity for growth and a stepping stone towards success. Staying Focused: Persistent individuals possess an unwaveri...

20 years ago, at the early stages of my career, I found myself in a sales role for a prominent brand in the India IT Education domain. While struggling to close deals, my boss took the time to have a meaningful conversation with me that would eventually shape my perspective on professional growth. Instead of pointing out my mistakes, my boss displayed three key traits that had a profound impact on my journey. First, empathy - my boss approached the conversation with understanding and patience, creating a safe environment for open dialogue. By not harboring negativity, paved the way for a constructive conversation that would inspire growth rather than discouragement. Second, my boss demonstrated ability to provide constructive feedback. It was focused on an objective analysis of my performance and highlighted a missing element of aggression that could have positively impacted my sales results. Additionally, during the process identifying a possible potential in program management sort o...