I joined the Causeurs Sussex Speakers chapter of Toastmasters one year ago and achieved the goal I set out for myself: to complete my Competent Communicator manual in my first year. In May, I was elected club President of the 2008/09 year and today, served my first day in that role.

One of the first duties one must perform as President is to set a theme for the year. I struggled with framing the various ideas I had for the theme though I knew, somehow, the ideas were all connected. Then, as I was going through my correspondence with Marcel — a Toastmasters colleague whom I nominated for a position of Sergeant At Arms (he was elected) — in the week following his death in a car accident, I discovered the theme in one of his emails to me. In accepting his nomination, Marcel wrote that he looked forward to “expanding my comfort zone”. That was exactly what I was trying to say.

The board accepted my theme and today, I announced it to the club. Although… I still haven’t selected a logo that represents that theme (does anyone have any ideas they want to submit?).

The best way to create new experiences and discover your potential is to stretch beyond the safe boundaries you set for yourself. What are you doing to expand your comfort zone?