I am at The Hill Toastmasters Club in Nairobi, about to give my first speech. And suddenly, four to six minutes speech feels like an awfully long time.
Two weeks earlier, my stomach had already started protesting. I remember wondering, is this really necessary?
Now I'm standing in front of the room, holding my speech, wondering if I can still back out.
I want to quit.
But I stay.
I look around the room. I take a breath. And I begin.
Four minutes later, it's over.
I sit down, expecting judgment. Instead, I get feedback.
- What worked.
- What I could improve.
- Words I didn't notice I was repeating.
- Moments when I could slow down.
- A suggestion about my grammar.
Someone else is watching the time so I don't have to.
Someone else is listening for the little sounds we make when our brains are searching for the next word.
And suddenly, I understand something.
The speech wasn't the end. It was the beginning of the ripple.
And perhaps that's why the meeting we had this Tuesday was themed “The Ripple Effect.”
Because what starts in one room doesn't always stay in that room.
That's what I hadn't understood when I first walked onto that stage. Toastmasters doesn't just give you a stage to practice speaking.
The skills you get ripple beyond the room
- Storytelling
- Public speaking
- Leadership
- Listening
- Thinking on your feet
- Time management
- Giving and receiving feedback
My first speech began with shaking hands and a stomach that wanted me to stay home. It ended with me wondering:
What else could change if I simply keep showing up?
Because sometimes, the biggest changes don't begin with a big decision.
They begin with one small action.
One speech.
One meeting.
One moment of courage.
One yes.
And then the ripple begins.
If you've been waiting for a sign to take that first step, maybe this is it.
Come to our next Toastmasters meeting.
Take the stage. And start your own ripple.
First shared on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7506594066697175040/) by The Hill Toastmasters Club.