Jesse Oakley is a longtime member of Toastmasters International who has leveraged the organization to improve his public speaking skills, find his wife, and even write a book called “Greetings, Happy People.” In this episode, he shares his inspiring stories and insights on how Toastmasters has impacted his personal and professional life.

Standout Quotes:

• “If you are yourself, then you can realize that no matter what happens, whether the date goes well or not, it’s a learning experience.” – Jesse Oakley
• “Find a common interest or hobby with your partner, as that can be the bridge to connect and communicate with each other.” – Jesse Oakley
• “Communicating with one person can be just as difficult as speaking to a large audience.” – Jesse Oakley

Key Takeaways:

• Find a local club to improve your public speaking and communication skills.
• Reflect on your own goals and dreams, and consider how you can turn them into a tangible project or book.
• When going on a first date, focus on being authentic and true to yourself, rather than trying to impress the other person. Embrace any rejections as learning opportunities.
• Identify a hobby, interest, or skill that you share with a potential partner, and use that as a way to build a stronger connection and facilitate better communication.
• Practice having difficult conversations, such as delivering tragic news to a loved one, by considering how you would approach the situation with empathy and composure.

Episode Timeline:

0:00:02 – Introduction and guest introduction

0:01:54 – Jesse’s book “Greetings, Happy People” and the story behind it

0:04:52 – How Jesse met his wife Dana through Toastmasters

0:08:41 – Jesse’s experience serving on the Toastmasters International Board of Directors

0:12:33 – Advice on being authentic and embracing rejection on first dates

0:15:18 – Jesse’s journey into public speaking and Toastmasters

0:21:11 – The most challenging communication experience of Jesse’s life

Resources:

Greetings Happy People by Jesse Oakley on Amazon – ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Greetings-Happy-People-Jesse-Oakley/dp/1456819763⁠

Visit Toastmasters International – www.toastmasters.org

Jesse Oakley on LinkedIn – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseoakleyiii/⁠