I’d like to head into Spring thinking about choices and value. Consider, for example, something as mundane as food.

I’m sure you have certain go-to meals at home that you eat because they’re practical. They’re not your optimal choice, but they’re good enough.
You probably also have meals that you eat because they’re excellent. You could settle for something practical, but you spend the extra time and effort to get something you really love. You might even schedule these on the calendar – they’re that good.

But now, let’s consider….

Let’s say you spent all of Saturday morning preparing a favorite meal, and it tasted like a cheap tray of microwave-ready lasagna from the dollar store. You made the investment for “excellent,” and what you got was “good enough.” Are you going to make that investment again?

Let’s take it a step further. Let’s say you hyped up this meal to half a dozen friends and got them to clear their afternoon for a great meal. Now you serve the culinary equivalent of microwave lasagna. Are your friends going to feel like they got good value from the experience?

Probably not.

In a world where we have so many choices, it’s increasingly important that our choices result in value. Value might mean different things to different people, but it’s always meaningful. Nobody comes to a Toastmasters meeting and thinks, “I could do anything I want on a Thursday evening, and I guess your club is technically part of ‘anything’ – so why not?”

Have you thought about your value for investment? You’ve already joined Toastmasters. Are you investing more and looking for “excellent”? Or are you investing a smaller amount and settling for “good enough”? Hint: this question isn’t “right or wrong” – it’s just informational.

Have you thought about your club members’ value for investment? Others aren’t necessarily like you. Have you asked them what they’re looking to get out of Toastmasters? Hint: most new members will be looking for “excellent”!

Finally, have you thought about how you can, at your level of investment, help others find value in theirs? Hint: by doing this, you’ll find even more value for yourself!

We’re coming into springtime, which is usually seen as a time for growth. Of course, here in Wisconsin, it’s also the time of year where all the snow melts, and we see what’s been under there all winter. I’d encourage you to get together with your club members and “melt the snow.” Be intentional. Discover where people are at, and where they’d like to go. And then, make a plan for growth that leverages your members’ goals and provides them with value. After all, that’s the only kind of plan that you can expect to succeed.

And of course, feel free to reach out if you have questions. My door is always open!

I saw a headline recently encouraging me to reconsider the hobbies I had back when I was a kid. The benefits were attractive: “It’ll relieve stress!” Of course, for me a challenge would involve finding a surviving dinosaur, but it got me thinking: If I went back and tried some of my childhood favorites, I might actually remember some of those skills, and some of that sense of accomplishment. It could even be comforting.

I tried it a few years back and very much enjoyed roller skating for a couple hours – until that unfortunate gravity incident. 

When I moved to a new place a couple years ago I sat down and embroidered a chain stitch across fabric, just like my grandmother taught me. And for a moment there, I was sitting in her kitchen in Sheboygan with the tiny travel case she used to collect my sewing collection. It was like she hadn’t been gone 30 years; she was there in every stitch. She’s still here every time I look at my new curtains.

When I was about 12, my dad bought me a guitar. This was rather under duress: I threw a hissy fit tantrum. I never learned how to play it. But my recent experiences with Ladies Rock and All Messed Up are an act of contrition to my Dad for being such a brat. I’m catching up to doing something I really wanted to do that long ago.

Even something as simple as reading fiction for the joy of reading: it’s on my device sometimes now, but after a decades-long break, I remember why my uncle bought me that gift certificate to Waldenbooks in the 1970s. I still love to read, and now I’ve chiseled out the time to make it happen. 

Revisiting skills, enjoying those things you gave up because now you’re a grown up – even reconsidering those childhood goals – these can all give you a sense of peace from across the decades. (Yes, even if you’re a young professional out there: I totally see you collecting your Littlest Pet Shop characters now that you’ve got a paycheck!) 

Bonus Toastmasters pointer: They make for great speeches, especially Level 2 Mentoring. Go for it!

It is that time of the year. The time when you hear two words repeatedly for the next one to two months. If you said, “tax season,” you are correct. However, I am thinking of two other words that elicit a loud sigh among employees in companies across the country: Performance Review.

If I told you performance review suggests Spring, you have every reason to give me an evil eye. How can the performance review get you excited to think about sunshine and short-sleeved weather? Let me explain.

In my workplace, I have until March 31 to complete my self-evaluation and meet with my manager to discuss accomplishments and opportunities for growth. One of the questions I need to answer is “What do I want to accomplish beyond my day-to-day responsibilities?” Maybe I want to contribute to a project that another team is working on or be trained on a task to back up a colleague when they are on vacation. My mindset shifts to anticipating going beyond the usual, and I am excited about it today. By thinking about it now, and often, and visualizing it, I have something to look forward to. That day may come later than expected, but it will be here.

Think about what kind of joy Spring brings to you. Now, visualize what joy looks like. In the world of Toastmasters, the joy might be achieving the Distinguished status. It might be hosting the first outdoor barbecue. Right now, in the latter part of winter, it is hard to picture being Distinguished or the sizzling smell of brats coming off the grill. Try to shift your mindset to the day of the joyous event. 

I will leave you with four more words that suggest spring to me: pitchers and catchers report. Once the baseball players head off to Arizona and Florida, spring is a few short weeks away. Happy Spring!

Recently, I received an unexpected email from one of my longtime mentors, Mr. K. Though we don’t connect as often as we used to, I always appreciate the chance to catch up. Mr. K taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, personal drive, teamwork, and striving for excellence. He taught me that “the answer is together” and reinforced the idea that we get what we give.

As a protege, I’m usually the one reaching out—seeking advice or simply checking in—so it was a surprise when he contacted me. He wanted to share some exciting personal news but, more importantly, to thank me for the impact I’ve had on his life. I related how the lessons he once shared with me continue to be passed on and how, as a leader and mentor, I now influence people he may never meet—just as his mentors continue to influence others through him.

This was a powerful reminder of what it truly means to lead. Leadership isn’t just about guiding people in the present—it’s about leaving a legacy that shapes future generations in ways we may never fully realize.

The mission of Toastmasters International is to empower individuals to become stronger communicators and leaders. It offers a unique, low-risk environment to grow as a leader—whether by facilitating meetings, serving as a club officer, or leading at the District or even International levels. Too often, leadership feels like just another task to keep things running. But this spring, as we embrace growth and new opportunities, I challenge us all to see leadership not as an obligation, but as a privilege. No matter how small our role may seem, every time we lead or mentor, we make a lasting impact, build meaningful relationships, and enrich our own lives though others.

As you engage with your club this spring, I encourage you to pause and express gratitude. Thank those who have mentored and supported you—both inside and outside of Toastmasters. But also take a moment to pay it forward by mentoring others and appreciating those you’ve had the privilege to lead.

We get what we give, but it’s just as important to give what we get. Work together, share your talents, and embrace the power of collaboration. In doing so, you’ll strengthen your club and leave a meaningful legacy for future generations.

I am grateful for all I’ve learned from others and the opportunities I’ve had to give back as a mentor and leader, and I’m thankful to all of you for allowing me to share these thoughts with you.