Within any Toastmasters meeting are a number of service and leadership opportunities. One of these is sharing an inspirational quote and with that assignment is tallying the votes for ribbons to be given out for the best speech, best table topic, and best evaluator. Here is a running list of those quotes I have shared in meetings:
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
“When God closes one door, He opens another, but it’s hell in the hallway.” Rev. Susan Gayle
“Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.” Jim Rohn
“The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.” Tony Robbins
I have used a lot of different search engine optimization (SEO) audit tools over the past two decades. That includes enterprise solutions like BrightEdge and Conductor to lifetime deals like like Ispionage, Serpstat, and Screpy. Hands down, the best tool I have used and continue using is the audit tool within the Semrush platform.
The following image by itself shows you how many things it is checking for which laps any competing solution. I also listed these items alphabetically below the image so you can more easily see and compare them to what you are using today.
I find it helpful to run this audit on the first day of each month, typically at night to avoid impacting client traffic. You can compare the results with the previous audit to quickly spot major changes and address anything that stands out. Throughout the month, I tackle errors, warnings, and notices as time allows, then reset the process for the following month. This approach has helped me continue reducing the overall issues while also keeping the errors close to zero.
GENERAL Pages crawled Site Health Total errors Total issues Total notices Total warnings
ERRORS 4xx errors 5xx errors Broken canonical URLs Broken internal images Broken internal JavaScript and CSS files Broken internal links Certificate Expiration Certificate registered to incorrect name DNS resolution issue Duplicate content Duplicate meta descriptions Duplicate title tags Here is the text from the image, sorted alphabetically: Hreflang conflicts with incorrect hreflang tags Hreflang conflicts within page source code Incorrect pages found in sitemap.xml Insecure encryption algorithms Invalid robots.txt format Invalid sitemap.xml format Invalid structured data items Issues with hreflang values Issues with incorrect hreflang links Issues with mixed content Large HTML page size Malformed links Meta refresh redirects Missing canonical tags in AMP pages Missing canonical URL nor 301 redirect from HTTP homepage Multiple canonical URLs Neither canonical URL nor 301 redirect from HTTP homepage Non-secure pages Old security protocol version Pages not crawled Redirect chains and loops Slow page (HTML) load speed Too large sitemap.xml Viewport not configured Viewport not set We couldn’t open the page’s URL www resolve issues
WARNINGS Blocked internal resources in robots.txt Broken external images Broken external links Broken internal links Doctype not declared Duplicate content in h1 and title Encoding not declared Frames used HTTPS encryption not used HTTPS URLs in sitemap.xml for HTTPS site Links lead to HTTP pages for HTTPS site Long title element Low text to HTML ratio Low word count Missing ALT attributes Missing h1 Missing hreflang and lang attributes Missing meta description No SNI support No SSL support Nofollow attributes in outgoing internal links Short title element Sitemap.xml not found Sitemap.xml not specified in robots.txt Temporary redirects Too large JavaScript and CSS total size Too long JavaScript and CSS files Too long title URLs Too many JavaScript and CSS files Too many on-page links Too many URL parameters Uncached JavaScript and CSS files Uncompressed JavaScript and CSS files Uncompressed pages Underscores in URL Unminified JavaScript and CSS files
NOTICES Blocked by X-Robots-Tag: noindex HTTP header Blocked external resources in robots.txt Blocked from crawling Broken external JavaScript and CSS files External pages or resources with 403 HTTP status code Hreflang language mismatch issues Links with descriptive anchor text Links with no anchor text Multiple h1 tags No HSTS support Nofollow attributes in outgoing external links Orphaned pages (Google Analytics) Orphaned sitemap pages Page Crawl Depth more than 3 clicks Pages with only one internal link Permanent redirects Resources formatted as page links Robots.txt not found URLs longer than 200 characters
With all of the business and marketing books I have read, I was surprised that it took me so long to learn about these 16 leadership principles taught by Jeff Bezos. These are core to the Amazon’s culture and operational mindset along with guiding decision-making. Here they are:
Customer Obsession Leaders start with the customer and work backward.
Ownership Leaders act on behalf of the entire company, thinking long-term and never saying “that’s not my job.”
Invent and Simplify Innovation and simplification are valued, and leaders seek out ways to simplify processes.
Are Right, A Lot Leaders are expected to have strong judgment and good instincts.
Learn and Be Curious Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves.
Hire and Develop the Best Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and coach others to improve.
Insist on the Highest Standards Leaders continuously raise the bar for high-quality products and services.
Think Big Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results.
Bias for Action Speed matters, and many decisions and actions are reversible.
Frugality Accomplish more with less, focusing on resourcefulness rather than excessive spending.
Earn Trust Leaders work to build trust with others by being transparent, self-critical, and objective.
Dive Deep Leaders operate at all levels, paying attention to details and understanding all aspects of their work.
Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit Leaders are encouraged to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree but commit fully once a decision is made.
Deliver Results Leaders focus on key inputs for the business and deliver them on time and with high quality.
Strive to Be Earth’s Best Employer Leaders work to make the workplace inclusive, safe, and fulfilling for employees.
Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility Leaders consider the impact of their actions on the environment and society, taking responsibility for broader consequences.
These principles were implemented to ensure Amazon’s long-term success and have been integral to its corporate strategy.
It’s been many years since I first learned about Toastmasters. I think it was from a Manager Tools podcast. My takeaway was that it was like an AA meeting but focused on allowing anyone to give speeches to improve their public speaking skills. For a time, I was seeing a therapist who told me it was a non-negotiable requirement that I attend and so I did. Minus heights and snakes, I think all of my fears are front and center in these meetings.
The first speech that you give is called the Icebreaker. It’s a four to six minute speech that allows you to introduce yourself to the group and explain why you are attending Toastmasters so they can be supportive of your goals. My previous goal with any public speech was just to survive – I know, a bit dramatic. The bar is miles above that as I watch others speak with no notes, looking the audience in the eye and not going blank, and not hiding beyond a podium. My biggest speaking fears include profuse sweating, dry mouth, either going blank or my brain not recalling what to say next quick enough, and since my heart attack, needing to pace to avoid blacking out from my light headedness.
Well, on October 22, 2024 I gave my icebreaker speech. I have never practiced so hard for a speech and in the end, have five different talks written. I forgot to record the talk but I thought I would share the written version of it below. I struggled finding examples of Icebreaker talks before giving mine so perhaps this is helpful for someone.
With this being my icebreaker speech, I picked four topics to share more about who I am to finally introduce myself to this group.
TOPIC #1: Growing Up
Construction: Starting at the age of 14, I spent my summers working with my dad doing construction. This was the starting point of me enjoying school more than summer vacations.
Camaro: I love muscle cars. During my high school years, I owned a partially restored 1969 RS SS Camaro that was painted hugger orange. If this doesn’t mean anything, the best comparison I can think of is the Dukes of Hazzard car for comparison. My cool was much cooler. Fast off the line and slow to stop, this car was too light to be safe on the snow and ice. I ultimately sold the car and have missed it ever since.
Mission: I served an LDS mission in New Zealand; If I am feeling nerdy, I will tell people I served in middle earth; I love the people, I love the food, and I love watching an All Blacks rugby game when possible.
TOPIC #2: Calculus
I took calculus three times at three different colleges:
First at UVSC (now called Utah Valley University).
Second at BYU.
Third at the University of Utah.
Between a good enough calculus grade and a requirement to take the GMAT, I didn’t bother pursuing an MBA when I was younger.
My oldest daughter found out that I could pursue an online MBA at Southern Utah University.
They didn’t require a GMAT or care what my calculus grade was.
My daughter registered me for class and I am now attending my fourth college as a 49 year-old student.
TOPIC #3 Divorce
Married for 13 years and had three girls.
After the divorce I drove to St. George twice a month for 10+ years to see them.
My new wife and my ex-wife had high school choir together. My ex has a scrapbook photo of them at a Seattle McDonald’s while on choir tour with a caption that says “new friends”. Yes, my worlds collided that day.
Exchanging the girls
Early in the divorce, we were exchanging the girls and they had gotten in my car.
As I was also getting in the car, I looked over my hood and could see my ex and her new husband smiling and waving at me.
With no thought I reacted by flipping them off.
I think they were as surprised as I was. Their smiles vanished and their waving slowed to a stop.
Fast forward to today, and my current wife and I have stayed many nights at their place with the girls for Christmas and other family events. It’s amazing what can change with enough time.
TOPIC #4 Heart Attack
My mom passed away from a heart attack in August 2021. She was literally on the go until her final breath.
599 days later on April 19, 2023, on my mom’s birthday, I had a widow maker heart attack.
Only 12% who have this type of a heart attack outside of a hospital survive. I am truly blessed to still be here.
A quarter of my heart is no longer working resulting in my decreased energy and a factor in my current unemployment.
Overall, I am not too sure what my future holds.
I don’t enjoy public speaking, struggle with social activities, and seem to get more introverted as I grow older.
Despite all of my awkwardness and fear, I feel motivated to be here and improve.
Thank you all for making me feel welcome and being so supportive.
I highly recommend reading or listening to The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success by Brian Tracy. This book provides rapid fire practical principles and insights for success in business, leadership, personal development, and life. Each law highlights key principles that, when followed, can lead to better decision-making, stronger leadership, improved customer relationships, and personal fulfillment aimed at achieving success in business and life. The book emphasizes laws related to productivity, leadership, finances, personal development, and decision-making.
Here are my notes to give you a better idea on what is covered and to hopefully motivate you to read his book.
The Laws of Life
The Law of Cause and Effect: Everything happens for a reason; there is a cause for every effect.
The Law of Belief: Whatever you believe, with feeling, becomes your reality.
The Law of Expectations: Whatever you expect, with confidence, becomes your own self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Law of Attraction: You are a living magnet; you attract people, situations, and opportunities that are in harmony with your dominant thoughts.
The Law of Correspondence: Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world.
The Laws of Success
The Law of Control: You feel positive about yourself to the degree to which you feel you are in control of your own life.
The Law of Accident: Life is a series of random events and occurrences over which you have no control.
The Law of Responsibility: You are completely responsible for everything you are, everything you have, and everything you become.
The Law of Direction: Successful people have a clear sense of direction and purpose in life.
The Law of Compensation: You are always fully compensated for what you do, no more, no less.
The Laws of Business
The Law of Purpose: The purpose of a business is to create and keep a customer.
The Law of Organization: A business organization exists to create and keep customers.
The Law of Customer Satisfaction: The customer is always right.
The Law of Quality: The quality of a product or service is the key determinant of the success of a business.
The Law of Innovation: In business, innovation is the key to success, longevity, and competitive advantage.
The Laws of Leadership
The Law of Integrity: Great leadership is built on integrity, honesty, and credibility.
The Law of Courage: It takes courage to lead, to make tough decisions, and to persist in the face of challenges.
The Law of Realism: Leaders deal in reality.
The Law of Power: A leader’s power is derived from the trust, respect, and admiration of their followers.
The Law of Example: Leaders lead by example in all aspects of their lives.
The Laws of Money
The Law of Value: Your earning ability is a reflection of the value you provide to others.
The Law of Wealth: Wealth is the result of the accumulation of value over time.
The Law of Capital: Your most valuable resource is your earning ability.
The Law of Time: Time is money. The way you use your time largely determines the amount of money you earn.
The Law of Investing: Proper investing of time and money is essential for building wealth.
The Laws of Selling
The Law of Sales: All successful businesses rely on selling their products or services.
The Law of Need: Successful selling begins with identifying the customer’s needs.
The Law of Persuasion: People are persuaded by reason, emotion, and credibility.
The Law of Negotiation: Life is a series of negotiations; the ability to negotiate well determines your success.
The Law of Relationships: People prefer to do business with those they know, like, and trust.
The Laws of Negotiating
The Law of Desire: In every negotiation, one party wants something more than the other.
The Law of Advantage: In negotiations, whoever prepares best has the advantage.
The Law of Maximization: The more you ask for in negotiations, the more you will achieve.
The Law of Timing: Timing is everything in negotiation.
The Law of Integrity in Negotiations: Always act with integrity in your dealings.
The Laws of Time Management
The Law of Clarity: Clear goals and priorities are essential for effective time management.
The Law of Priorities: You must focus on the most important tasks first.
The Law of Concentration: Success comes from sustained focus and concentration.
The Law of Time Pressure: Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.
The Law of Leverage: You can leverage time through delegation and efficiency.
The Laws of Personal Development
The Law of Habit: Successful people are those with successful habits.
The Law of Discipline: Discipline is doing what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.
The Law of Persistence: Persistence in the face of adversity is a key determinant of success.
The Law of Self-Confidence: Self-confidence is the foundation of all personal achievement.
The Law of Self-Respect: How much you respect yourself determines how much others will respect you.
The Laws of Happiness
The Law of Happiness: Happiness is achieved through continuous growth and fulfillment.
The Law of Service: The more you serve others, the happier you will be.
The Law of Relationships: The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life.
The Law of Contribution: The more you contribute to others, the more happiness you will experience.
The Law of Gratitude: Happiness comes from being grateful for what you have.
The Laws of Achievement
The Law of Success: Success is the result of hard work, determination, and learning from failure.
The Law of Mastery: To achieve greatness, you must master your craft through deliberate practice.
The Law of Influence: Your ability to influence others will determine your long-term success.
The Law of Excellence: Excellence is a habit developed by focusing on continuous improvement.
The Law of Opportunity: Every problem contains within it an opportunity to grow and improve.
The Laws of Decision-Making
The Law of Clarity in Decision-Making: The clearer you are about your decision, the better your outcome.
The Law of Alternatives: The more alternatives you have, the better your decision will be.
The Law of Risk: Every decision carries some level of risk, but avoiding decisions is often riskier.
The Law of Decision: Success in business and life comes from making decisions quickly and changing them slowly.
The Law of Opportunity Cost: Every decision has a cost, and choosing one option means forgoing another.
The Laws of Problem-Solving
The Law of Problem Definition: The more clearly you can define a problem, the easier it is to solve.
The Law of Creativity: Every problem can be solved with creative thinking.
The Law of Focused Attention: Focusing on a problem intently often leads to the best solution.
The Law of Timing in Problem-Solving: Some problems solve themselves with time, while others require immediate action.
The Law of Problem Ownership: You are responsible for solving your own problems and challenges.
The Laws of Communication
The Law of Clarity in Communication: Clear communication leads to better understanding and fewer mistakes.
The Law of Listening: Effective communication is 50% listening and 50% speaking.
The Law of Feedback: Continuous feedback is essential for improving communication.
The Law of Preparation: The more you prepare before communicating, the better the outcome.
The Law of Empathy: The ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes enhances your communication.
The Laws of Persuasion
The Law of Reciprocity: People feel obligated to return a favor, and this can be used in persuasion.
The Law of Scarcity: People value things more when they believe those things are scarce.
The Law of Authority: People are more likely to be persuaded by those who are seen as credible or authoritative.
The Law of Liking: We are more likely to be influenced by people we like or admire.
The Law of Commitment: People are more likely to follow through on something if they’ve made a public commitment to it.
The Laws of Influence
The Law of Reciprocity in Influence: Influence grows when you give more than you take.
The Law of Consistency: People are more likely to follow through if they have been consistent in the past.
The Law of Social Proof: People tend to follow the actions of the masses, especially when uncertain.
The Law of Unity: Building strong unity and alignment within a group enhances influence.
The Law of Transparency: The more open and transparent you are, the easier it is to influence others.
The Laws of Customer Service
The Law of Satisfaction: A satisfied customer is the best source of repeat business and referrals.
The Law of Customer Loyalty: It is easier and cheaper to retain existing customers than to acquire new ones.
The Law of Delight: Exceeding customer expectations leads to customer delight and long-term loyalty.
The Law of Responsiveness: The faster you respond to customer needs and complaints, the more loyal they will become.
The Law of Relationship-Building: Strong relationships with customers are the foundation of long-term business success.
The Laws of Personal Power
The Law of Self-Esteem: High self-esteem is the foundation of personal power and influence.
The Law of Responsibility for Results: The more responsibility you take, the more power you have.
The Law of Positive Expectancy: Optimistic people achieve more because they believe in positive outcomes.
The Law of Self-Control: Personal power grows with self-discipline and emotional control.
The Law of Courage in Personal Power: Courage enables you to take risks and seize opportunities that lead to greater personal power.
The Laws of Teamwork
The Law of Cooperation: The most effective teams are built on mutual cooperation and collaboration.
The Law of Contribution: Team members are motivated when they feel they are making valuable contributions.
The Law of Group Synergy: A team working together can achieve more than the sum of individual efforts.
The Law of Communication in Teams: Open and honest communication is essential for effective teamwork.
The Law of Common Goals: Teams work best when everyone is aligned toward a shared goal or vision.
The Laws of Achievement
The Law of Preparation in Achievement: Thorough preparation is the foundation of successful achievement.
The Law of Priorities in Achievement: Focusing on the highest-value tasks brings the most significant results.
The Law of Perseverance: Persistence in the face of obstacles is key to achievement.
The Law of Accountability: Accountability increases the likelihood of achieving your goals.
The Law of Gratitude in Achievement: Gratitude enhances your ability to achieve by fostering positivity and resilience.
