And now... I'm committed

On August 16, 1999 I walked out of the fitness center at the Stamford Mariott hotel.  As I got on the  elevator I suddenly remembered;  The new show I wanted to watch  started about 10 minutes ago.  I got to my room, and turned on - for the first time - Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.  

I was hooked.

At the end of the show an audition  phone number popped up.  I wrote it down.  Suddenly I was hooked in a whole new way. Each night I joined the 200,000 people who were dialing in, trying to get one of 10 spots.

In November of 2002 I got my spot - and $32,000.

This happened after 3 years of  auditions - on the phone, in Chicago, Indianapolis and Cleveland.

It happened because I didn't give up.  

I didn't give up because I was committed.

I was committed because in 1999 I started telling everyone "I'm going to be on that show."  In part that's what kept me going when things got tough.

Yesterday, via the blog and Facebook, I committed to entering the 2017 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking.  I'm excited about competing.  But I also know that times will get tough.   Thanks to my blog and Facebook, I will see the tough times through, and compete in 2017.