By Steven Timmons, DTM, Public Relations Manager

Do you expect everything to be easy and laid out for you?  Of course not, you likely expect that you are going to have to work to add value to your life.  Today, I will share with you the story of two different pathways participants.

Two club members of a corporate club had the opportunity to participate in Pathways.  Both members took the assessment and liked the paths recommended when they submitted their results.  One member decided that he would think about it and select his path later.  The Pathway’s path was included in his membership and would have cost him nothing to get started.  However, he decided that he would delay.

The other member chose the recommended path and started straight away.  The path that the assessment had recommended seemed like an excellent choice and she decided that there was no better time to start than now.  After all, she would have 30 days to exchange the path if she did not find it to her liking.

In this case, both members were given the same recommended path of Dynamic Leadership.  They had both been in Toastmasters for about the same amount of time and worked very similar jobs.

The first member participated in his club meetings when he found it convenient.  He lacked a goal and kept intending to go online to retake the assessment.

The second member began her path right away, regularly attended meetings, engaged in the path, and found it both educational and entertaining.  The club supported her as she grew.  She progressed through the path and developed proficiency in Dynamic Leadership.

In the end, a management position opened within their company that both members applied for and really wanted.  Having completed Level 5 of Dynamic Leadership, she listed proficiency in Dynamic Leadership as part of her qualifications when applying.  The other member had yet to even retake his assessment.

The position was awarded to the member that had shown a qualification for Dynamic Leadership for the management job.  Her salary increased by $22,000 per year.  Subsequently, she continued to grow her leadership skills as a member of management.

Can you guess what happened to the other member?  Well, he now reports to her.  Employers today want people that are ready to step into their new roles.  They don’t have time to train people that have not prepared to hit the ground running.

Let me ask you one final question.  Who do you most identify with in this simple tale?  It is up to you to decide if that is really where you want to be.

https://www.toastmasters.org/pathways/choosepathorpathways