Erik Schlagel, DTM
July 30, 2020
First DTM? Yes
When did you join and in which club? October 2017, Farmington Toastmasters
Other clubs? Tumbleweeds, DTM Think Tank and Champions Forge
When did you decide you wanted to be a DTM? My original goal was to achieve Advanced Communicator Gold in order to compete with another club member, but I really didn’t settle pursuing a DTM until I was already involved in district leadership and discovered how close I was. The foundation for making that decision though, was when my Competent Leader manual slid out from under my Competent Communicator manual. Since I am extremely introverted and passive, I’ve always struggled with leading others. Getting surprised with that CL manual got me started working and imagining the possibilities.
What district position did you hold? Area 11 Director (and it was a blast!)
What would you tell other Toastmasters members about becoming a DTM? When I first spoke to my home club about the Pathways DTM, my evaluator mentioned how DTM seemed to equate with a black belt. I agree with that. A black belt is awarded in many martial arts when a student has learned the material and is ready to start actually practicing the martial art. The idea is that once you’ve learned the basics (i.e., earned your black belt), the specific forms become less important, and the principles, the why and the flow become more important. Similarly, with a DTM, it’s the culmination of the educational program; you’ve spent years becoming acquainted with the basics. After you earn your DTM, it’s time to give back to Toastmasters and give back to your community by practicing leadership. If you haven’t considered earning your DTM or if you think it might not be for you, I encourage you to go ahead and try. It’s the culmination of the education program; earn your black belt in leadership.
