About 5 years ago I decided to become a better coach by working on my speaking skills. I had retired from the Construction Industry some years earlier, and I wanted to make my mark as a Business Coach. I had done very well in construction - had more than my fair share of success - but I had made many mistakes, too. I felt, if nothing else, the lessons I had learned from my mistakes could serve others on their path to success.

As a Business Coach, I knew I would have to speak in front of an audience on occasion, but I had always avoided it in the past. I really believed public speaking was a gift - either you could do it, or you couldn’t.... And I couldn't.

So, I joined Toastmasters International. You will have heard of Toastmasters, of course - you may even be a member. I joined Toastmasters in the hope that I could learn at least to feel comfortable in front of an audience. Those wonderful people at Toastmasters made me realize that public speaking was not a gift, after all - It is, in fact, a series of techniques. And one can learn techniques. Moreover, if you practice with dedication, you can even become good at it.

Now, there's a word - Dedication.

Do you realize that the only difference between an expert and a novice is dedication? In any martial art, for example, there are only a small number of basic moves - in Judo, one could argue that there are seven basic moves. The seven basic moves that a white belt novice practices are the same seven basic moves that the black belt master practices. This is how it is in many aspects of life - the scales a novice pianist practices are the same scales an accomplished concert pianist practices. Only the level of dedication marks the difference.

It is called Mastering the Basics. That is just as important in business and coaching.

I started taking Judo lessons when I was 9-years old. I asked the instructor the same question that thousands of children before had asked - "How can I become a Black Belt?" My coach said, "Practice the seven basic moves over and over until you can do them perfectly, and you will become a black belt."

I thought, "Great! I can practice this and become a black belt by summer!"

Then the Master went on, "If you practice them every day with dedication to achieve mastery, it will take about 20 years to become a black belt."

Well, what happened next was… I gave up Judo! ... I eventually took up public speaking. I hope it doesn't take 20 years to become a master public speaker, though! Even if it does, I have started to enjoy speaking to an audience and for that, I can thank my fellow members at Toastmasters. I started out at Toastmasters a fearful, fumbling, bumbling clown. With encouragement and guidance, my Toastmaster friends made me what I am today - a happy, confident clown!

Anyway - I took up public speaking as a way to become a better coach. I started off with the goal of just being comfortable. As I got into Toastmasters, I set myself another goal - the goal of being a motivational speaker one day. Then it dawned on me - What a wimpish goal that was! To be a motivational speaker One day. Yeah-yeah!

"Dream no small dreams,” they say, “for they have no power to move hearts."

I decided my goal was too weak. I decided to set a new, more powerful goal - That within five years, I would share the stage with Zig Ziglar.

Oh, My Gosh! Where did that thought come from!

-- No matter! There it was, said! I couldn't back down now!

You know how you start something and cannot back down? You get on a roll, and you cannot stop! Well, I have not shared the stage with him yet but I have since shared the lunch table. I have now met Zig Ziglar and his wife, Jean, and had lunch with them, three times. They are delightful people, they really are! I do not doubt that I will share the stage with him before too long.

Just about anything Zig Ziglar says is quotable, but I particularly like his line: "Man was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness."

That could be the coach’s motto, don’t you think? It could be your motto, too. Especially if you change it to, "I am designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness," and then pursue it with dedication to be the best you can be.