Toastmasters International -Just Say Yes

Toastmasters International President Radhi Spear in red suit jacket with Toastmasters pin

Before you instinctively say no to something, pause a moment and consider challenging yourself to say yes. You may be opening the door to something unexpectedly rewarding.

When I was a brand-new Club President, the Area Governor told me—incorrectly, as I later found out—that he only had one contestant for the upcoming Area speech contest and needed at least two to conduct it. I knew we didn’t have time to host a club-level speech contest, so we would have to nominate someone to speak at the Area competition. I called every member of my club to ask if they’d step up to compete. No one agreed. I realized that if I wanted to help this Area Governor, I would have to lead by example—so I volunteered myself.

The moment I committed, panic set in. I would be speaking in front of members outside my own club, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself. But something changed. I threw myself into preparation with an energy I didn’t know I had. To my surprise, I won—and advanced through the Division all the way to the District Humorous Speech Contest finals. That one “yes” introduced me to the world beyond my club. I never would have imagined it.

Toastmasters offers us a supportive space to try new things, even if we’re unsure or unpolished.

Opportunities like that are all around us, but we often lose out by saying no before giving them a chance.

My nephew Anand recently reminded me of the joy of seizing opportunities with low-risk stakes. He was visiting for the weekend, and my husband Steve’s band was practicing in the basement. Anand jumped in and sang a song with them. He has no singing background and could barely hold a tune—but when I asked him about it, he grinned and said, “It was so much fun—where else would I get the chance?” He felt safe, and he made the most of it. It reminded me of what Toastmasters offers us: a supportive space to try new things, even if we’re unsure or unpolished.

Sometimes an opportunity comes in the form of a challenge. Years ago, I was sitting at a District business meeting as an unopposed candidate for Division Governor—until someone was nominated from the floor. A fellow member leaned over and said I could withdraw and avoid the extra work. It was tempting, but I’m so grateful I didn’t. That decision became a turning point that set me on a path of growth, leadership, and purpose.

If we keep doing the same things and expect different results, we’ll stay stuck. So next time someone asks you to volunteer or take on a challenge—pause, breathe, and just say yes. It might be the best decision you ever make.