Synopsis

Great keynote speakers are those who have the ability to harness their personal story and connect with their audience by showing parallels of their life to their audience. They present examples of their own achievement and sometimes failures,intertwined with the achievements of others, and by inspiring their audience to go out and take action.

Defining Your Greatness, a Toastmasters Prospective is a compilation of my first 12 Toastmasters International speeches. 

As a public speaker, Book Yourself Solid Coach, Education and Training Manager and President of McGuire Achievers Toastmasters Club, this book details my journey from conception in Birmingham, England to Kingston, Jamaica where my parents returned with kids in tow to the land that they love — then to New York City where my siblings and I sought out the American dream. And currently in New Jersey as a Veteran and Reservist in the US Air Force, serving for the past 24 years.

The book details my achievements and achievements of others that rise above the fray due to hard work and commitment to realize their dreams.  No matter where you are in life there is evidence that opportunities are presented on a daily basis to allow us to achieve more. We are often inspired through others to move past our own difficulties and triumph within in our own lives. I am committed to helping others cultivate their dreams and aspire to achieve goals. This book is a tool of practical and simple ways people to achieve them.  

Outline

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

The question "What am I doing with my life?" is not exclusive to one culture or nationality. This question seems to be asked by most humans at some point during life. Many of us ask ourselves this question when it seems that our lives are at a crossroad.

As the years passed, my parents longed for their childhood home. They chose as a couple to return home to the sweet, inviting shores of Jamaica. The Birmingham house was sold, family belongings packed, and in October 1974, my mother, older sister, brother and I set sail on a Venezuelan ship named Begonia.

PART I- DREAMING OF GREATNESS AND ACHIEVING IT

Part I chapters 1 through 5 identifies practical steps in achieving your goals and dreams and greatness as you define it. 

1.     Step into Greatness

2.     Greatness through Positivity

3.     Meditation a Path for Greatness

4.     Believe in the Impossible

5.     The Dope on Goal Setting

PART II- PROPER COMMUNICATION: SHARING YOUR STORY OF GREATNESS

So, you've achieved greatness...now what?  It's time to help the world with the lessons you have learned.  Chapters 6, 7, and 8 provides a basic guide to giving a speech as a way to share your story.

6.     The Art of Giving a Speech

7.     Proper is not Perfect

8.     Connect with Your Audience

Appendices

       I.          Jamaica - Interesting facts about Jamaica

     II.          I Found A Slice of Heaven - A speech that was written for the purpose of demonstrating with visual aids

    III.          Story of The Begona - The steam ship that broke down in the middle of the ocean and its ultimate fate

Audience

Target audience: Toastmasters has served over four million people, and today the organization serves over 352,000 members in 141 countries, through its 16,400 member clubs.

Military members and their families have traveled the world and they all have stories to tell. Many installations have Toastmaster clubs whose members are goal oriented More than 44,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilians, and their family members live and work on and around JB MDL, New Jersey

Air Force Reserve command is comprised of over 30 Wings through out the US, of which I belong to the largest on the East Coast with 2,200 members.  

Promotion

My website (http://lorrainecuff.com/dyg/) is published with several updates being accomplished. Updates include a page referencing the book and a link to pre-order. The book will be promoted on my LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages using my campaign video and Facebook Live

I am an active member of several organization of which I network with their membership regularly. First being Toastmaster International (https://www.toastmasters.org/about/who-we-are ). My local club McGuire Achievers is one of twenty clubs in Division D located in Central and South Jersey. There are 20 clubs in Division D with 441 members within a 30 mile radius. I have developed a presentation to deliver as a speech at club meetings. 

Second major organization is Women Veterans Rock Advisory Council (https://www.womenvetsrock.org/about/partnership/), a National Affiliate Network which includes partnership with Zeta Phi Beta (http://zphib1920.org/). Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has a membership of 125,000+ college-educated, dynamic, community service driven, diverse and professional women. 

And then there is my military network of 2,200 locally and 83,308 nationally.

Following this campaign, a digital press kit will be created for the book launch party in Jamaica for further promotion and to re-energize sales via social media and local events.

Competition

The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success & Happiness by Jeff Olson

The Achievement Habit: Stop Wishing, Start Doing, and Take Command of Your Life by Bernard Roth

Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun 

Toastmasters Secret: A Practical Guide to Become a Competent Communicator in Public Speaking by Ramakrishna Reddy 

Chasing Keith: My Toastmasters Journey by Ying Maneein