何宣霈
Jason Ho
Ale Ultimate
2019.08.18.

我還記得當我走進TTC的會場時，我穿著我的沙灘褲，涼鞋和當兵時的三分頭。令人驚訝的是，那一晚每一個會員也都穿著海灘風格的衣服！原來那一天是TTC 的夏威夷主題之夜。對我來說，那真是一個“完美的奇遇”，我馬上融入了那天的會議主題。而不久，我也正式加入成為會員。
　

在成為TTC會員的6年中，我的人生發生了許多變化！ 演講協會提供的環境讓我變得更加有自信，更加積極主動，而且，它也讓我成為我人生夢想的追逐者。在這6年期間，我從一名會員變成教育副會長、會長，以及區總監。因為一個即席演講問題“如果你是一位老師，你最想要分享給學生什麼？”，我開始了我的創業計畫，而也因為演講協會的口語表達訓練，我也錄取了台大的創業創新MBA 碩士以及現在的亞大經營管理博士班。透過這些經驗及歷練，我甚至出版了我的第一本著作 “創業的50道陰影”！

更重要的，我也遇到了我的真愛 Helen Kuo. 我們怎麼認識的呢？當然是透過演講協會啦！
　

在兩位也是TTC會員的優秀演講者與領導者 Josh Myers及 Diana Watson 的鼓勵與訓練之下，我也被鼓勵參加每一年舉辦的國際演講比賽。經過不斷的修稿，練習與比比賽，我也有幸在2016年和2018年的全國大賽取得第二名的殊榮！
　

很多人經常問我，“傑森，你是怎麼做到的？你怎麼能管理這麼多事情並實現這麼多夢想？”
　

我對這些問題的回答是，“每一次的機會都會帶來更多機會，你只需要勇於嘗試並跨出第一步！”在發表了超過100多篇演講和無止境的即席演講及講評後，我終於發現，只要你願意持續站在講台上, 你絕對可以在個人和職業發展方面為自己創造更多的機會。
　

原因很簡單，因為克服講台上的恐懼的過程，是可以幫助你成長，跨出舒適圈，並讓你更敢去嘗試新事物和執行更困難的任務。這也是為什麼演講協會的中心價值是"Where leaders are made", 中文翻譯成 "領袖的搖籃"。
　

10年似乎是一個漫長的旅程，但回顧過去所有發生的事情和的成就，毫無疑問，這是一個非凡的旅程！謝謝演講協會，謝謝TTC，謝謝所有過去支持和鼓勵我的朋友。
　

2019.08.17 正式取得演講協會最高殊榮,

Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) !

Officially a DTM!!!

It's been a long 10 years but an awesome journey!

"Before I joined Toastmasters, I was timid, shy, and not talkative at all"....whenever I told everyone this story, everyone's reaction was, "Really? I don't believe you! "
　

I joined the Toastmasters program back in 2009 because my ex-girlfriend told me that I am too shy and need to learn how to speak with people! Listening to her advice, I attended my first Toastmasters Meeting at Metro Speakers Toastmasters Club in Burnaby, BC, Canada. I wasn't an active member, but I managed to complete my 10 CC speeches before coming back to Taiwan in September 2011.
　

In 2013, after quitting my jobs and fulfilled my military services, I realized I need to keep improving my English communication skill. Therefore, I began scouting TM clubs in Taichung, and that's how I ended up joining the 台中英語國際演講會 Taichung Toastmasters Club (TTC).
　

I still remembered when I walked into TTC's meeting venue, I was wearing my beach pants, sandals, and with a semi-bold soldier's hair. Surprisingly, everyone was wearing a beach style dress as well! I was astonished! It turns out it was TTC's Hawaiian theme night, so it was a "perfect moment" that I immediately fit in with the meeting theme and with the members. I joined the club soon after.
　

Having been a TTC member for 6 years, my life has changed, both personally and professionally! The environment that the Toastmasters program provided has helped me become more confident, more proactive, and enables me to become the dream chaser. During the 6 years period, I grew from a member to an EVP, President, and an Area Director. I have launched my first business because of a Table Topic question "If you are a teacher, what would you like to share with your students?" The training at TM has also helped got into the Entrepreneur MBA program at NTU, as well as a Ph.D. program now in Asia U. With those experiences, I even published my first book"50 Shades of Entrepreneurship" !.
　

Most importantly, I have met the love of my life Helen Kuo, who is also a Toastmasters' member!
　

Following the leadership and amazing accomplishments from two aspiring speakers Josh Myers and Diana Watson Tang Hua-xuan, who were both from TTC, I was also encouraged to participate in the International Speech Competition. With hard work and endless practice and revision, I was privileged to come 2nd place in the year 2016 and 2018.
　

Many people often asked me, "Jason, how did you do it? How are you able to manage so many things and achieve many of your dreams?"
　

My answer to those will be, "One opportunity leads to more opportunities, all you need is to have the guts to try and make that first step!" After delivering more than 100 speeches and endless table topics and evaluations, I realized that when you keep speaking and stand on that podium, you are creating more opportunities for yourself, both in personal and professional development.
　

To conquer the fear on the podium can also help you overcome the fear in trying new things and managing difficult tasks, which will transform you from being a normal person to being a leader, which is the key value of Toastmasters "where leaders are made"!
　

10 years seems to be a long journey, but looking back to what happened and all the accomplishments that have occurred, it's no doubt an awesome and a remarkable journey! Thank you Toastmasters, Thank you TTC, and thank you all the friends who have supported and encouraged me to become who I am today.
　

2019.08.17 officially a Distinguished Toastmaster!