Category: ACHIEVEMENT

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What is toastmasters?

Toastmasters is an international non-profit organization which genuinely provide supportive and positive learning experience with no hidden agenda, empowering members to develop competent communication and leadership skills. The organization mission was to teach public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs.

Why join toastmasters?

If you are looking for an establish reputable organization specialized in building leaders, growing professional speakers, and becoming a competent communicator. There is none other than Toastmasters International with 100 years of history having 15,900 clubs in almost 150 countries. Toastmasters International was establish since 1924, in the past 100 years ago it has helped millions of people in communication, public speaking, and leadership. The history speaks for itself.  With clubs in 150 countries, Toastmasters provides a unique platform to enhance language fluency. While toastmasters focuses on English language, the members can actually practice and improve proficiency in other chosen language as well, depends on the club they have joined.

How toastmasters club works?

A typical Toastmasters club is made up of 20 to 30 people who meet once bi-weekly for about 2 hours. In the meeting the members were given opportunity to participate in Table Topics, deliver a prepared speech, or fill a meeting role. Becoming the member allowed you to access all the available resources online at toastmasters international portal, join all toastmasters activities including from other clubs and enroll with toastmasters pathways a guided program to ensure your communication and leadership goals were met. Don’t worry as a newcomer, you will be assigned with a mentor to guide you along the process.

Why pay more when you can pay lesser?

Why pay thousands of ringgits or dollars for seminars or courses when you can just join Toastmasters club for a fraction of the cost while receiving highest value in proper proven structured syllabus with clear pathway and tons of resources available from toastmaster international? Since it a not-for-profit organization, it is very affordable to become the member and gain all the resource you need to become better a Leader and Communicator. As on now in year 2024, you just need to pay a one-time registration fee of USD20 to toastmasters international to become the member. 

Why I joined toastmasters?

I noticed the importance of first impression and how a stranger interpret you was based on how good you can deliver your message, not your education level nor financial background.  Thus, I took my first step to join toastmasters and enrolled in the Presentation Mastery Pathway. I must say that toastmasters has been a game-changer for me. It has provided me the platform to conquer my fear of speaking in public, fine-tuned my presentation and stay connected with like-minded individuals.

My experience with toastmasters.

Toastmasters clubs provide a supportive environment to enhance public speaking at my own pace. Engaging in activities such as prepared speeches, Table Topics, and meeting roles has boosted my confidence in communication. Constructive feedbacks from fellow evaluators aided my skill development, while the Pathways learning experience offers a structured program for becoming a more effective speaker. Toastmasters is beyond communication; it facilitates networking and social connections among individuals of diverse backgrounds. I can build relationships with like-minded individuals striving to develop similar skills, cultivating a supportive community for personal and professional growth. Club roles, such as my position as Vice President of Membership, also offered a valuable leadership experience to myself. Overall, Toastmasters significantly boosted my workplace confidence, enabling me to articulate ideas clearly, speak with confidence, and excel in diverse professional situations.

Register as a lifetime toastmasters member for free.

I strongly encourage those want to enhance communication and leadership skills, whether for presentations, confidence-building or business and career advancement, to join Toastmasters. Open to individuals over 18, a one-time USD20 registration fee is required while membership fees vary based on the club you have joined. 

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Success is something we all strive for in our life. Whether it’s in our personal or professional lives, we all want to achieve our goals and reach our full potential. Culmination of good practice and discipline over a period determined how successful we are. However, there are certain habits that can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our goals.

Here are 10 bad habits we must break to become successful.

[1] Procrastination:

Procrastination is the enemy of success. It’s easy to delay or put off tasks and responsibilities, but this only leads us to stress and missed opportunities. To break this bad habit, try goals setting, prioritize tasks and gives deadlines to our own selves. It is important to work on them promptly and holding ourselves accountable.

[2] Phone, Movies & Social media addiction:

Technology has become an essential part of our lives, but it can also be a distraction. Excessive use of phones, watching a lot of movies, and scrolling through social media can be addictive. It will take up our valuable time and prevent us from being productive. To break this habit, try limiting our screen time and setting boundaries for when and how often we check our phones, watching movies, or browsing the social media.

[3] Negative self-talk & Mindset:

The way we speak to ourselves and the beliefs on our abilities can have a major impact on our success. Negative self-talk and a negative mindset can prevent us from taking risks and pursuing our goals. To break this habit, cultivate positive self-talk, have positive mindset, and focus on your strengths and accomplishments.

[4] Fear of failure & not taking risks:

Fear of failure is a common obstacle that can hold us back from taking risks or trying new things to achieve our goals. But failure is often necessary part of the learning process for growth and success. To break this habit, try reframing failure as a learning opportunity and taking calculated risks to achieve your goals.

[5] Lack of exercise & unhealthy lifestyle:

Our physical health is closely linked to our mental health and success. A lack of exercise and an unhealthy lifestyle with poor eating habits can lead to low energy levels and decreased our productivity. To break this habit, prioritize regular exercise and plan a healthy diet.

[6] Complaining:

Constant complaining and having a pessimistic attitude can create a negative atmosphere and hinder productivity. It can drain our energy and hold us back from achieving our goals. To break this habit, focus on solutions rather than problems. Practice gratitude and cultivate positivity in our daily life.

[7] Perfectionism:

The pursuit of perfection can lead to procrastination which become a hindrance to progress toward success. It’s important to remember that perfection is unattainable, and progress is more important than perfection. To break this habit, embrace imperfection, set realistic goals, and focus on taking action to progress toward success.

[8] People pleasing:

Trying to please everyone can lead to burnout and a lack of productivity. Constantly seeking the approval of others can prevent us from making decisions that align with our values and goals. To break this habit, set boundaries, practice saying no and prioritize the actions that are in our best interest.

[9] Laziness:

Laziness and lack of efforts can prevent us from being productive to reach our full potential.  To break this habit, cultivate a strong work ethic, set daily goals, and be accountable to realize the goals.

[10] Lack of self-discipline:

Without self-discipline, it can be difficult to develop and maintain good habits. Self-discipline is vital for achieving any success. To break this habit, create daily habits and routines that align with your goals. Stay focused and hold yourself accountable for sticking with those defined priorities

Breaking these bad habits may not be easy, it requires a lot of effort and dedication to personal growth. By identifying and addressing these habits, we can become more productive, fulfilled, and successful individuals. Success is not achieved overnight, but by making small changes in our habits, we can move closer to achieving our goals and reach our full potential. Hope this article give some insights to become the best versions of ourselves and live a more fulfilling life.

In Malaysia, there is a wide range of professional credentials that allow for a prefix before the individual’s name. Some of the most common ones includes:

1.      Ir. (Ingenieur) – Professional Engineer

2.      Ts. (Technologist) – Professional Technologist

3.      Sr. (Surveyor) – Professional Surveyor

4.      Ar. (Architect) – Professional Architect

5.      LAr. (Landscape Architect) – Professional Landscape Architect

6.      ChM. (Chemist) – Professional Chemist

7.      Tc. (Technician) – Certified Technician

8.      TPr.(Town Planner) – Professional Town Planner

9.       Gs. (Geospatialist) – Professional Geospatialist

10.  Dr. (Doctor) – Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Are these professional credentials being just decorative to our name?

Professional credentials have become increasingly important in the job market today. They are an essential way for professionals to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and expertise in their respective fields. As more and more companies require specialized expertise in their industries, it has become increasingly necessary for job seekers to obtain a professional credential to stand out from the competition.

One of the primary reasons why professional credentials are important is that they provide a standardized measure of knowledge and skill. The process of obtaining a professional credential often involves rigorous training, testing, and evaluation, ensuring that individuals who hold these credentials have a high level of proficiency in their area of expertise. This, in turn, helps employers to identify candidates who possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the job duties required of them.

In addition to providing a standardized measure of knowledge and skill, professional credentials also demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development. This commitment is essential in today’s rapidly changing job market, where industries are constantly evolving and new technologies are emerging. By obtaining a professional credential, individuals show that they are dedicated to keeping up with industry trends and best practices and are committed to lifelong learning.

Moreover, professional credentials can lead to increased job opportunities and career advancement. Employers often prefer to hire individuals who hold a professional credential, as it demonstrates that they are committed to their profession and have invested time and resources in developing their skills. Additionally, professional credentials can provide a competitive edge when seeking a promotion or new job opportunity.

Another significant advantage of professional credentials is that they can help individuals increase their earning potential. Many employers are willing to pay a premium for individuals who hold a professional credential, as it demonstrates that they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their job duties effectively.

In conclusion, obtaining a professional credential is essential for anyone looking to advance their career. It provides a standardized measure of knowledge and skill, demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, increases job opportunities and career advancement, and can lead to higher earning potential. Therefore, individuals should consider obtaining a professional credential in their respective fields to stay competitive in today’s job market.

Above was just my personal opinion toward professional credentials and some individuals might disagree with my points. There is no right or wrong toward this matter, what most important is that we should continue with our career progression and commit with lifelong learning no matter at which level we are.