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Member Perspectives
MEMBER PERSPECTIVE
Overcoming the fear of failure
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DISTRICT 98
I joined Toastmasters in March of 2019. In the last 2.5years,Ihavereceivedenormousopportunities to opine my view on various topics, I have completed one complete pathway and am now on verge of completing my second. The journey is rewarding and I have literally overcome the fear offailure.
Let me take you back to my school days in the ’90s. I was in 7th grade when one day I received an opportunity to address our school assembly. I had my speech written on a piece of paper, but I was not able to gather the courage to face the audience. When I went up on stage, I was shaking terribly. I simply read my script, but my voice was trembling. I was a complete failure. I failed as I developed a fear of failure even before delivering myspeech. Later, I started practicing small discussions with my friends and started gathering some confidence. Then in 9th grade, I received another chance for an extempore speech. This time, I decided that I have nothing to lose so let’s give my best. I just imagined the audience in my thoughtsandhowIwouldfacethemconfidently. This time, I decided that I have nothing to lose so let’s give my best. I just imagined the audience in my thoughts and how I would face them confidently. On the day of extempore, I did well andthatishowIovercamemyfearoffailure.
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In life, we usually think too much, and, in a way, we hesitate to take the first step. Whereas if we take the example of our freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives for our independence, they neverhadanyfear.Rememberthegreatfreedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru? Even on the day of their execution, they werefearless.
If they can be fearless in their supreme sacrifice, can’t we overcome our fear of failure and try our levelbestforoursuccess?
BhaskarJha
TeradataPuneToastmasters Club
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Sep30,2021
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MEMBER PERSPECTIVE When Fear Killed Fear
"How I fought my fear of public speaking"
DISTRICT 98
In 2020 when the fear of death was knocking on ourdoors,Iwasfacedwithseverethoughtsofnot having given back anything to this world till date. I started thinking ‘What is the one thing that I can share with others that will benefit them?’ And that’s what led to the thought of sharing my industrial experience. Especially that of interviewingthousandsofgraduatesforjobs. The analysis of why a candidate is selected or rejected is always worth sharing with the candidate. But often, the interviewer is unable to do so. That’s when I decided to start my YouTube channeltosharemyinterviewingexperiencesand help graduates. My mind was struggling with the hesitation between speaking on social media vs. the strong will to share what I had learned. I was in a hurry thinking that I might have very little timeleftinlifetoshare.
Icouldn’tpostmyfirstvideoonsocialmediaeven after multiple retakes, due to my own hesitation of displaying myself in front of thousands of connections.Iwasworriedaboutmyvoicequality and how I would look with my self-created pandemic hairstyle. I thought people might laugh atme.
The fear of death and the willingness to give back to the world - both were both equally strong. I understood from a few TED talks that if sharing thoughts socially makes a positive difference in the lives of even a few handful people, I should consider myself successful. This thought inspired me and at last I posted my first Youtube video on social media. To my surprise, I started receiving many calls asking me to share more on interviewpreparations. Although I survived the fearful thoughts, it was one fear that killed my other fear of public speaking, and since I was blessed with more life, I decided to learn public speaking and joined Toastmasters.
ChetananandPathak PimpriToastmastersClub
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DESIGNOFTHEMONTH
August2021
ASHISH KULKARNI
Deccan Toastmasters Club
