Meet A Toastmaster: Juli Chapman

How do you feel about achieving so much?

I felt quite boosted by achieving my Triple Crown! I hadn’t realised that any awards were within my grasp, even DTM, which seemed a million miles away.

What is your secret to winning the award?

I managed to achieve the Triple Crown by realising exactly what was in my path and then planning ahead. Up until recently, I never looked beyond my next speech, but being VPE has made me understand Pathways so much better. And they are much simpler than I’d imagined!

My mentee recently told me that she had thought for Level 3 you have to do every single project and was very daunted – she thought it would take her years! Now I have simplified it for her, she is keen to progress. I’ve begun to do that for everyone – see what their perceived obstacles are and make the path smoother for them.

I would recommend that if you are keen to progress, make sure you have an overview of your current level in your head and always have your next speech slot booked. Triple Crowns are within everyone’s reach, if you just get organised.

What is your next challenge?

My next challenge is to complete my pathway and achieve the Pathfinder award. I’m working on Levels 4 and 5 simultaneously, as some Level 5 projects take several months.

There are several of us working on our Level 4s now and meetings have become a lot more interesting, with longer and more involved projects like the audience disruption project. This is such a useful exercise as it prepares you for real life situations – dealing with a disruptive audience. Other members also enjoy them, as it means active audience participation.

I’ve gone from not understanding or liking Pathways at all, to being a huge fan. If you are still finding your Pathway path disappearing into the mists, ask your VP Education to help demystify it for you.

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