This is a new series. I will strive to answer one prompt a day. If you come to this page and there is no answer, I am still working or ended up taking it down to refine it.

Question: What is the coolest thing you have learned on your own that has helped you better perform your job?

• Source: Amazon

• Advice: Cool is up to you to define. You are looking for something that shows you are curious and learn, either by going out of your way or through your experiences.

I am sharing a general description of the challenges I am thinking about discussing. These are not proper introductions. I am sharing because sometimes my clients find knowing the general type of situation I use as an example is inspiring, helping them find an example from their own career to use during their interviews.

• My (working) Answer: Right now, I am playing with explaining how table topics at Toastmasters changed my career as it taught me to improve impromptu speaking, something all product managers need to master.

For example: I am still amazed how much a simple (and often silly) 1 minute speech on a random topic helped me become a better product manager. It helped me learn how to speak more comfortably when called upon suddenly to answer something I had not yet prepared formally.

Let me tell you how I came to join Toastmasters and how standing in front of 15+ strangers once a week made me better at my job…

The Series List