In the right place, at at right time, with the right people

Many times we search for something and it is said that we are on a journey. That being such an inevitable truth, "searching" has become a cliche. However, there are instances in which we were simply shown the way, we were directed towards something, we were helped to start our journey even when we never thought about it.

We were in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.

During one of charity events that Bob helped organizing

Five years ago I was exactly there. My good friend Bob Ascah came one day to my office at work looking for somebody on my floor. I don't recall who he was trying to find. But, haven't seen him since late September, I asked him how's he been and what he's been doing lately. Bob said that he was "attending this club" at Shaw Conference Centre. He also asked me if I wanted to join him the following Thursday, as the club was meeting on Thursdays.
I simply said "yes".
Oh, he also said that these meetings were early in the morning, at 7 AM (I must say that 7 AM was a bit of turn-off, awfully early for me :)).

So, I went with him to the meeting I didn't know anything about, except that it was "structured". While we were walking towards the meeting salon, Bob asked me how I wanted to be introduced. I said: "Bob, you know a lot about me - so you can improvise".

Bob in action

When we arrived, there were already ~15 people, half of them in suits, with no hair, with gray hair, and somehow it felt serious during the first contact. But then, everyone approached me and greeted me, so I immediately felt better.
Bob helped me to sit down by his seat and explained that we were at Toastmasters meeting. Until then I haven't heard about Toastmasters. I didn't know it existed, even though, this organization just turned 85.

That was a start of my Toastmasters journey.

Five years after that cold and significant December morning I am still on that journey. It has never ended. There was Boris before that day and there is Boris after that day.

I could write a book about this excursion, but perhaps I am not a writer. I can only say that I am more complete thanks to this extraordinary journey that started quite accidentally and quite impromptu.
I am happy to think that I was open minded to accept Bob invite in December 2008.

I have completed 34 speeches so far

I will write about it in the future as I believe that everyone should try it out, to gain knowledge that is not that easy to gain. I can share that knowledge.
It is a great way to become more complete and to become a real player, someone with credibility and someone who will be taken seriously.
And best of all, by having fun and by meeting extraordinary people.

Boris