Episode 6: Harry Potter and the Toastmaster’s Goblet

While bringing my daughter home from college yesterday, I told her she either needed to drive or she’d be taking dictation and doing some math problems for me as I worked on this podcast.

Clara wanted to know what I was working on.

[car conversation about a weighting system to measure out what percentage of the DTM a person has completed based on the number of tasks per award.  There are seven awards…

Mom, seriously?  Seven awards?  Why not compare them to the Harry Potter books?  There are seven of them…]

What can I say?  She’s always brilliant, but this idea is a lot better than a spreadsheet.

Spoilers ahead, as we consider the DTM as a Harry Potter allegory - On the Table.

[Intro]

Getting your DTM should be fun. In that spirit, I present

The DTM Track Compared to the Harry Potter Book Series.

Book  1

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry’s introduction to the magical world is like our first intro to Toastmasters.  We see meetings and hear speeches and start our own journey.  We meet trolls, scary teachers, half giants and face off with our great nemesis – in our case, our fear of public speaking.

Book  2

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 

Harry’s second year at Hogwarts seems as charming – pun intended – as his first.  But it was watching another wizard in a duel that taught him what he needed to know to win his final battle – just like our meetings.

Many Toastmasters barely open their CL manual.  In corporate clubs in particular – not all of them, but many – the CL is completely ignored.  But like the basilisk under the castle, ignore it at your peril.  Failure to work on the CL can freeze you in place in your DTM quest.

Book  3

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry’s third year introduces new, unexpected challenges – even inside his family.  For those who are speeding up their DTM journey, family often don’t get what the TM is trying to do, any more than Harry understands Sirius Black.  Giving all these speeches takes up a lot of time.  As if giving 10 more speeches with more difficult requirements isn’t enough – we may face our own werewolves – the resistance of family or our own lack of confidence.  Cheer up – time is on your side.

Book  4

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

Harry finds himself in an Olympic task – maybe you’re feeling that way too as you look at a year’s work as a club officer.  There are tasks you must overcome – the Officer Training sessions, the club success plan.  How will you face your challenges – including trying to present 2 of the Better Speaker and Successful Club speeches – without boring your audience to death?  It’s time to pull out those leadership skills you’ve been learning and expel those doubts.

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