Steve Chiu

  “ Do you want to know a secret in my heart?”

I have two giants in my heart.

Toastmaster of the meeting, ladies and gentlemen, 

Today I am not teaching you how to awaken the giant within, but I would like to share with you my own experience and let you know what I have been doing recently. Actually, I have two giants in my mind. The first giant is my first dream after my military trip. My first dream was very simple, I dreamt about having a beautiful wife, two houses and a new Mercedes-Benz. Fortunately, I ran into the real estate boom as I came to Taipei right after I left the countryside. Many people wanted to purchase a home at the time. So I joined the real estate business selling homes. 

Even though I had a little obstacle, my business was still thriving. When my wife was 32 and I 35, we already owned two houses in Taipei, and we had a new Mercedes-Benz. It sounds a vulgar display of wealth, right? Although my first giant helped me earn a lot of money, but I felt so empty in my heart. What could I do when my first dream had come true at age 35? I had no other dream and no goal either between 35 and 40 years old of my age, but my investment in building condos and leisure business kept mounting. Since I invested too much money, my cash became less and less. I estimated in 1995, except two houses and that old Mercedes-Benz, what I earned was almost worth the new houses I had built. All of the new houses were not easy to sell, particularly because the business was over the hill. I almost returned to the original point when I was 35 years old. I thought that I had to have another dream and set a goal to fill my emptiness inside.      

    I couldn’t get to sleep for almost six months after I came back from a trip to America. Why? Because I thought that America’s ancestors founded and developed their country so beautifully. Everybody in America is proud of his or her country, especially the young people. How unfortunately, that our ancestors had to face many wars? Although we, the next generation seem happy right now, actually we are living on the edge of war because of the hostility between both sides of the Strait.

As we all know, America is the most prosperous and powerful country in the world. We, the Toastmasters organization are headquartered in America also. Allow me to point out an America’s case and discuss with you. Let me first take an example: Former world boxing champion Muhammad Ali always said, “I am the boxing king in the world. I am the best boxer. “ A struggle for success, this is kind of giant’s imagination.

Now, in order to awaken my biggest inner giant within, I need to stop playing the so-called “ Money Game” and make up my mind to make a change, but I must discuss with my wife because I was 40 and married --- it’s not my personal matter. I told my wife,” Honey, from now on, I have to advance my education and I won’t work for a while. Let’s change our roles; please allow me to be “a househusband” because I want to drop out from my business to run for a political position. My wife shouted, “Oh my God! I married a person who won’t make money; why am I so lucky?

“Life is short, so what’s the most valuable things in our life?” After I considered this more and more, I insisted that I should be determined to make a change. Then I decided to follow my idol, the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. As we all know, Churchill was a great speechmaker and he was also an outstanding politician. One of his famous speeches is the shortest speech in the world, which has only three words: “Never give up!”

I wanted to create consciously myself to become “a leader of the world class.” Is that possible? It sounds very funning, isn’t it? Because I thought that Taiwan is now facing a crisis, but it would also be a good chance for a change. If everyone lets the giant in our heart fall asleep, then we would face the dire threat of missile attack. For the most essential part, democracy and freedom of all Chinese wouldn’t come true, either. I put the words of “ a leader of the world class” on the wall in front of my bed, so I could see the six words when I got up early every morning. 

Now I arranged homework for myself for a whole day on my schedule. Furthermore, I needed to find a method. Because I was poor in speech, I chose to join Toastmasters, one of the biggest educational organizations in the world. Thanks to the Toastmasters’ communication and leadership program, now I can speak out my ideas and speak well. I joined Toastmasters more than five years ago. I deeply believe that it’s a good choice because Toastmasters changed me and gave me a great impact in my life.

I also do exercise every day. Besides, I participated in other sports, such as swimming across the Sun Moon Lake, bicycling, marathons, and triathlons. In order to prepare myself as a good leader, I’d have to increase my knowledge and keep myself strong and healthy.

Now, I would like to invite you to make a change. Don’t worry whether your dream will come true. For instance, say to yourself loudly…

“I want to buy a house, the best place possible. Firstly, come to a real estate office and pick up a catalog of the houses for sale. Then put the picture of the dream house in the catalog in front of your bed. Just think what and how you can do to get the house some day.

I want to become a leader of the world class. I am not handsome but I am very warm and tender. Today, I have prepared some business cards that I have signed my name on it. I would like to give it to you no matter you are a member of Toastmasters or a guest. Please give me the best wishes, and pray the island of “Taiwan” will avoid the missile attack and war. Please remember, you may throw it into the garbage can if I fail, but you may frame the card in the near future if I am successful, because at that time the signed card will become a priceless card in the world. Ha ha…

Dear ladies and gentlemen, I dared to change myself after 40. Now most of you are younger than me. All you have to do is to set a goal and be determined to make a change. I deeply believe that you will awaken your giant within and become a successful person after taking this action.

Toastmaster of the meeting!

Steve Chiu
Division F Governor 2005-6