PLAN, PERSEVERE AND STAY POSITIVE

District 105 has been a district which has been blessed with dedicated and sincere leadership.

It has grown and most of the growth has been healthy thanks to leadership down the ranks.

COVID was the begining of really testing period and it was no different for Toastmasters. It was during my term as a District Director when it all went virtual. It was a big blow but we faced it head on.

Coming to the point about the last last lap, with my 15 plus years of experience as a Tm leader I have to say that’s when leaders are separated from others. It’s about planning, persistence and positivity.

Last lap is mostly about Persistence and remaining positive even when stacks are heavily loaded against you.

I remember once in school I participated in a marathon for the first time. Coaches made us run mini marathons, shared diet plans, some resistance exercises and strict sleep routines. Planning was good. However, running a simulated half marathon and running against all area school runners was different.

Once the race began I realised pace was faster as others were more experienced and more proficient. I persisted and stuck to my plan and pushed myself to stay on course. It was excruciating pain and it only increased once I saw that more than 10 runners were ahead of me. I was not able to keep up and was about to give up. Persistence was loosing out planning was about to fail.

Then I heard this animated voice - it was the voice of my coach. Robin don’t give up it’s just one more lap to go. You cannot do this to yourself or people who look up to you.

You can do it. You can and You will.

That few minutes of motivation and drive made all the difference. I finished first among the first timers and in top 10 runners. More than that I was a hero to myself.

I didn’t give up and ran the last lap with pain but the positive thought was of achieving something more than just an individual goal gave me the energy to pull on.

Tm leadership specially the club, area and division leadership is challenging and last lap always tougher than it actually is.

Renewals , club growth and most importantly club health are 3 key responsibilities and last laps will test you on all the above.

My message is plan extremely well, persist with your plan and finally stay positive when all seems lost. The target is just round the corner.

Run your last Laps like your life depended on it.

The first New York City Marathon was held in 1970

Robin Anand, DTM Past District 105 Director (2018 - 2019)