Intent can provide us with direction. However we should also consider that “it is better to travel well than to arrive”.

Towards the end of 2013 I realised that I wanted to try some new challenges. Why? Why not? There are plenty of worthwhile things that I had not yet done.

I began to write a list. Near the top of that list was "Make a (good) speech in public".

I have made speeches before, mostly at the office. Those speeches were about things like sales figures, implementation of new IT systems, client feedback. None of these things truly interest me. They’re just functional speeches, but they have their place. However I want to make speeches that I can be proud of.

My first visit to Dublin Toastmasters was on 6th February. Without any specific intention in mind, I watched, with admiration and fascination, a number of people stand in front of an audience and talk.

I felt their passion, their nerves and their warmth towards others in the room. One of the reasons public speaking is interesting is the same reason that watching any live performance can be interesting: Anything can happen. There’s an aliveness to it that cannot be replicated on pre-recorded DVDs or audio files.

Nearing the end of the evening, after the last speech was made, I had still not decided on whether I would join. As fun as it was to be in the audience, was Toastmasters the right place for me?

Afterwards, I went to the hotel bar to chat with some of the members. They told me more about the club. They answered my questions and encouraged me to come again and also to check out the other Toastmasters clubs in Dublin.

By the time I left Buswells that night, I knew I wanted to join.

I hope to develop my ability in public speaking to the point where I can talk to a large audience about the things that are most important to me, whatever those things are at any given time.

We can't know what the future holds but we can be sure of our intent. And more importantly we must endeavour to enjoy the journey. It’s clear even to a new member like myself that Dublin Toastmasters embodies this philosophy. There is focus, there is intent but there is also pleasure in doing something deeply satisfying: Developing our ability at public speaking.

To those who are new to Toastmasters or are considering joining: If you have the intent to learn and to challenge yourself, this could well be the right place for you. To those who are not so new: Thank you for the warm welcome.