[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.21.1″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|54px|0px”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”4px|0px|27px|0px” _builder_version=”3.21.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog Post” _builder_version=”3.21.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||0px|”][/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.1″]

 

Last month I joined Toastmasters and let’s just say I am definitely out of my comfort zone. And that’s ok!  I’m living my life my way.  By design.  While not perfect, it’s improving.

I’ve been public speaking for 20 years but not because I had a burning desire to get up in front of a room full of people.

I even invited my husband, which added to the pressure.  Thanks to him, I have the video to share and use to improve my next speech!

The first speech you give in Toastmasters is called your Ice Breaker speech.

Take a look and learn why I joined an organization that helps people develop, design, their public speaking skills and how I live life by design.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_video src=”https://youtu.be/E7LQiD24Vbk” _builder_version=”3.21.1″][/et_pb_video][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.1″]

My Chapter of Toastmasters:

Toastmasters Unsalted Facebook Page

Toastmasters International:

Toastmasters International Website

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1221″ _builder_version=”3.21.1″][/et_pb_gallery][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.21.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.1″]

Script

Life by Design

Thank You for the introduction.

Good morning Toastmasters and guests.  Since this is an ice breaker speech, I brought a small gift for everyone (pass around). [Ice Breakers Mints]

I believe that everything we want is just outside our comfort zone

AND

we can default into life

or we can choose to live life by design.

Who’s with me?

Life by default or life by design?

Life by design right!

I choose to live my life by design and that’s one of the reasons I joined Toastmasters.

I’ve been speaking to groups for twenty years as part of my business building strategy.

I’ve also been facilitating courses and hosting workshops however, I want to be improve.

My goal is to up my speaking game to the level where I get paid to deliver key note speeches.

I am choosing to be proactive so that I’m ready to say yes to the key notes.

#Life by design!

Life by design is proactive, intentional living.  It’s a mindset.  It’s a combination of disciplines I’ve adopted to live my best life.

What does this flashlight have to do with intentional living?

I’ve always loved to read.  So much so that I’d get in trouble for reading under the covers with a flashlight when I was a kid!

Always reading, always learning.  That’s me.  As a life-long-learner, I’m very intentional about the material I choose to read.

I always have multiple books going at any given time.  My favorite time to read is before going to sleep and at that time I generally read light, beach-read type books.  It’s my way of relaxing and decompressing from my day.

I also keep books on my phone so that in a down moment, instead of defaulting to social media, I can be intentional and get a dose of faith, business or self-development.

When I first started reading books on business and self-development I immediately picked up on the concept of goal setting.  What’s the acronym we’ve learned to use when setting our goals?

SMART

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Timebound

Has anyone ever experienced an A-Ha moment? You know, when everything became crystal clear and you wonder why you hadn’t realized this truth earlier?

Not too long ago I had an A-Ha moment.

My A-Ha moment was when I realized that while goals are good.

Purpose is greater.

At 39 this goal driven, life-long learner was depressed and empty.  I couldn’t figure it out.  I’d achieved all of my goals before I was 40 including paying off my mortgage.

I should have been happy right?  You know what?

It wasn’t enough.  My friends told me I needed bigger goals.  They were right.  My goal became the pursuit of discovering my passion.

Guess what was revealed to me in that process?  My passion didn’t have to be some elaborate mission, vision or purpose statement.

Being in the advice and service business it was a huge relief to have that realization!

My passion could be simple.

What I discovered is that I love helping others.

I keep pursuing my purpose and my goals simply help me further my purpose of helping others.

Once I realized I didn’t need to embark on a new career, I became intentional about getting the right coaches and mentors in place who would help me better serve my clients, friends and family.

Do you know the common thread of advice I received and continue to receive from my coaches and mentors, the books I read, and the podcasts I listen to?

“Position yourself as the expert in your field. “

“How do I do that?” I asked.

Two ways:  you immediately have credibility when you are a public speaker and when you have a book.

In July 2018 my book, Journeys to Success volume 9, was published and there’ll be more.

Now I’m honing my public speaking skills.

I feel that I have a responsibility to help those who want help, who want clarity and want to create their life by design.

If I don’t get out of my comfort zone I’m actually going against my purpose.

I’d be hurting rather than helping others if I let myself accept my excuses about all the reasons why I shouldn’t do any public speaking.

I’m pushing myself to get outside my comfort zone so that I can serve others to the highest degree possible.

I’m not defined by titles or labels.

Who I am at my core is a person who loves to learn, knows her purpose and sets goals to further her purpose which is to serve others to the highest degree possible.

Para-phrasing Zig Ziglar

You can have everything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want. 

Melissa Myers and my motto is:

Life by design! 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”4px|0px|27px|0px|false|false” _builder_version=”3.19.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_image src=”https://www.sunkissedandblessed.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SunkissedAndBlessed.com-1.png” admin_label=”Logo” _builder_version=”3.21.1″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Bio” _builder_version=”3.21.1″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||”]

Melissa Myers, CFP® is passionate about helping people discover their own sunkissed and blessed life.  Myers is an author, entreprenuer, lifestyle coach, and financial planner.  Melissa blogs here on Sunkissed and Blessed and for her financial planning practice.  She embraces opportunities and new experiences, like running a 5k!  Her life changed when she committed to eliminating debt, committed to using a plan to master her money, and developed a practice of expressing gratitude for the abundance in her life.  You too, can shift your mindset, live your life by design, and make your dreams come true. Connect with Melissa at sunkissedandblessed@gmail.com.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.19.2″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|54px|0px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.19.3″ background_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Affiliate Disclosure” _builder_version=”3.21.1″]

***This post contains affiliate links.  When you make a purchase through my site, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.***

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Amazon Code” _builder_version=”3.21.1″][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.19.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.19.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.19.3″][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”6″ show_more=”on” show_comments=”on” admin_label=”Blog Roll” _builder_version=”3.19.3″ pagination_font_size_tablet=”51″ pagination_line_height_tablet=”2″][/et_pb_blog][et_pb_code admin_label=”Amazon Code” _builder_version=”3.21.1″][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]