Magic words bring insights into life

Ryan Gallagher

I have to preface this new blog feature, member interviews, with some explanation and background. Ever since I was little I've been on a quest, it might be said, for magic words.

It's been my experience that there are certain word combinations or phrases that once encountered, won't leave my head. These words conjure up images or ideas, and seem to provide insight and clarity into how the world works, but the one common thread they share is that I'm forever changed after exposure to them.

My purpose in interviewing our club members is two-fold:
1) To feature a different member every couple of weeks or so, and to reveal a different aspect of the person than we might get from our normal club interactions.
2) I am fascinated by people — specifically in what makes up the hows and whys of a life, and, most particularly, in the advice one might be able to offer with regard to having a happy existence. (This is usually the area that provides the words I'm looking for.)

All this being said, if you're next up for an interview and you don't want to answer the questions, no worries! You don't have to. There is no pressure here at all.

Below are the answers from my first interviewee. I hope you'll get some cool new insights into her as a person, and maybe you'll encounter a phrase or two that ends up rocking your world. Thanks, Tammy.

An Interview with Tammy Bailey

Tammy Bailey

1. What is your favorite book and/or movie and why?
I know "Monty Python & The Holy Grail" almost by heart, although the ending is perennially frustrating. Most of my favorite movies are a combination of action, comedy, love story, and impossibly beautiful people ("The Fifth Element" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" are good examples). I love to laugh more than almost anything else, so even if a movie's plot is somewhat thin, I'll give it a thumbs-up if it's funny.

2. Give a specific example of how Toastmasters has impacted you positively.
I've been in sales for nearly 25 years. Toastmasters has improved my listening skills so I actually hear what my customers are saying before trying to overcome any objections. I think about what I say before I say it, so my presentations are of a higher caliber than other salespeople who fumble for descriptive words or phrases. My overall confidence is higher because I no longer fear being in the spotlight.

3. What is the speech that you have given of which you are most proud, and why?
I did one called "The River & The Rock" that describes how Toastmasters flows over and around an individual, shaping and smoothing along the way, while the individual also impacts the course of the larger organization. It contains some of my most vivid imagery, and it's powerful. It was the 10th speech in my second Competent Communication manual.

4. Out of all the accumulated experiences in your life, what is the single piece of advice you would impart to your kids (if you have them) or your family, and why?
Don't waste time on regrets. Make your choices, make your mistakes, accept them, learn from them, and KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

5. Has your life gone how you thought it would? Why or why not and what do you think you might have done differently, if anything?
Without wasting time on regrets (see answer #4), I can look back on my life and see where different choices, both personal and professional, would have meant a different outcome for me. I'm not where I thought I'd be, but I'm content where I am and absolutely insistent upon moving forward.