If you’re now reading this and feel like you’re too anxious to step on the stage, this is going to be worth reading for you!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Gergely Ámon, Geri, and I’m the VP Membership of the Nokia Toastmasters Club. I would like to shortly share the story of my Toastmasters journey so far, and my intention is to give you some motivation on yours if you wish to become a better speaker or simply want to be more confident in your life. I deeply believe, that if you are willing to put the effort into your improvement as a public speaker, that will make a positive impact on other areas of your life as well.

My story begins when, back then, I started to visit the B.E.A.T club’s sessions in 2017, since I used to be working at ExxonMobil. First, I was unsure whether I wanted to be part of a public speaking club, because I thought that this was the place where I need to show myself, and if I do it, I will let people hurt me as it used to happen in school when I had to stand in front of the class and the teacher. I was wrong. I just let my fears and false beliefs hold me back for a while by projecting scary images on the canvas of my mind.

Later on, when I let the encouraging voices pull me into this community, I could really feel that incredible amount of support that was incessantly flowing to me from the club members. I could feel that there are no ‘must-do’ tasks here, this is only a great opportunity where I can improve my skills in my own pace and embark on an amazing path of self-discovery. In reality, this is a place where you have the chance to show your naked soul, your weaknesses, but in a safe environment.

As I went through these realizations, I started to pick up easier roles, like the ah-counter, vote counter or the timer. I had to speak only for a short period of time, and the lot of encouragement, I received, gave me enough courage to have a crack at it.
I remember the feelings, emotions and even physical symptoms that I was facing. Shaking legs and voice, sweating, brain freezes all the time and constant urge to escape. If you feel like this, you’re not alone, just cheer up, keep doing and believe in your progress.

After some anxious occasions on stage, I gained some confidence, and I could sign up for more complex roles, like the General Evaluator or the Toastmaster, and I delivered my ice-breaker speech, too. The key was consistency to build up a momentum of bravery by taking up roles whenever I could.

Since then, I have been giving several speeches, and I’m an officer in the Nokia club as I changed company in the meantime. I am a much more confident communicator, presenter and additionally, I can engage and work with my colleagues more easily than before. I feel like, with my path and example, I can be inspiration for people to take some risk and step out of their comfort zone.

I truly hope, that my story has accomplished its mission and given you some inspiration or motivation to take the next step on the path to be better. I wish you many successful and fulfilling moments on stage in the future.

Bests,
Geri