Toastmasters Speech #1 “The Icebreaker” By Francisco Palacio Competent Communicator Manual Member since October 2008

“ Tempest Tos’t” I am an Immigrant Attempted it Twice Better luck on my Second Try. First in 1980 thru 1983 Shipped off to a Military School in Missouri (Army JROTC) Finally in 1995 to Sunny South Florida

I am an Immigrant

Attempted it Twice

Better luck on my Second Try.

First in 1980 thru 1983

Shipped off to a Military School in Missouri

(Army JROTC)

Finally in 1995 to Sunny South Florida

There… My country, Venezuela A country of Contrasts A place with a dazzlingly caleidoscopic blend of characteristics. A country blessed with a cornucopia: Oil revenue riches A mestizo population of great beauty Beaten records in World Beauty Pageants A Controversial Political Situation…

My country, Venezuela

A country of Contrasts

A place with a dazzlingly caleidoscopic blend of characteristics.

A country blessed with a cornucopia:

Oil revenue riches

A mestizo population of great beauty

Beaten records in World Beauty Pageants

A Controversial Political Situation…

Stuck… A country of such riches Also the reason we yearn To come to America, Where the path to riches is not trodden/laden with: Political Corruption, Nepotism and above all, Levels of personal insecurity that border on the kafkian. We looked at each other Frustrated about our future No other logical choice but to come here Only available possibility was transfering to Miami.

A country of such riches

Also the reason we yearn

To come to America,

Where the path to riches is not trodden/laden with:

Political Corruption,

Nepotism and above all,

Levels of personal insecurity that border on the kafkian.

We looked at each other

Frustrated about our future

No other logical choice but to come here

Only available possibility was transfering to Miami.

Here to Stay… Coming back in 1995 No Easy Feat Both my wife and myself: “middle aged”. Having to reset and restart your life From scratch! A Complete Rebuild… Of one’s persona, values and other essentials

Coming back in 1995

No Easy Feat

Both my wife and myself: “middle aged”.

Having to reset and restart your life

From scratch!

A Complete Rebuild…

Of one’s persona, values and other essentials

Here Today… Enough about the past! Focus on today How that past brought me closer to: my professional dream of becoming an entrepreneur, a business owner. In transition for the past few months Yet, there’s always the atmosphere of possibilities untapped that pervades this place, this Land of Opportunity

Enough about the past!

Focus on today

How that past brought me closer to:

my professional dream of becoming an entrepreneur, a business owner.

In transition for the past few months

Yet, there’s always the atmosphere of possibilities untapped that pervades this place, this Land of Opportunity

Care for a Limoncello? They say to “ make the best of what life throws your way” Whether Lemonade, Martinis or Lemoncellos We all have a chance to “ innovate ourselves out of” - most every situation I stand here in front of you today Declaring myself to be well on my way to becoming: a published author a professional speaker and of course a DTM .

They say to

“ make the best of what life throws your way”

Whether Lemonade, Martinis or Lemoncellos

We all have a chance to

“ innovate ourselves out of” - most every situation

I stand here in front of you today

Declaring myself to be well on my way to becoming:

a published author

a professional speaker and of course

a DTM .

Distilling and Extracting Current thrust comes from: The training and experiences I’ve lived as a Toastmaster Exposure to great members both in District 47 as well as worldwide, via Social Media Forums Toasmasters is an organization where We are able to polish many facets of our lives; i.e. a budding desire to make my writing better to channel my love of technology into said writings to take it all upon the stage, as to spread a message of positive engagement with the current set of technologies.

Current thrust comes from:

The training and experiences I’ve lived as a Toastmaster

Exposure to great members both in District 47 as well as worldwide, via Social Media Forums

Toasmasters is an organization where

We are able to polish many facets of our lives; i.e.

a budding desire to make my writing better

to channel my love of technology into said writings

to take it all upon the stage, as to spread a message of positive engagement with the current set of technologies.

Flavoring and Seasoning So after almost a decade and a half; Whilst facing a historic Job Market: Decided to take the reins of my life Pull myself up by my own bootstraps Gathered all my resources… … Started a business anew!

So after almost a decade and a half;

Whilst facing a historic Job Market:

Decided to take the reins of my life

Pull myself up by my own bootstraps

Gathered all my resources…

… Started a business anew!

A Perfect Blend Able to draw from ALL of my past experiences: First of all, as a successful entrepreneur between 1983-1989, as Owner/CTO of Data Realty and Data Advertising, a leading MLS provider in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. Second, and most recent, as an Enterprise-level IT resource between 2005-2008 at General Electric Third, as an SMB (Small-Medium Business) IT manager between 1999-2005 at Telephonetics. Fourth, as a Junior Art Director at a top hispanic Ad Agency, between 1998-1999 at PM&A Fifth, as a Desktop Publishing intern, at a Scuba Diving Certification Company, between 1996-1999, at SSI Latinamerica.

Able to draw from ALL of my past experiences:

First of all, as a successful entrepreneur between 1983-1989, as Owner/CTO of Data Realty and Data Advertising, a leading MLS provider in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.

Second, and most recent, as an Enterprise-level IT resource between 2005-2008 at General Electric

Third, as an SMB (Small-Medium Business) IT manager between 1999-2005 at Telephonetics.

Fourth, as a Junior Art Director at a top hispanic Ad Agency, between 1998-1999 at PM&A

Fifth, as a Desktop Publishing intern, at a Scuba Diving Certification Company, between 1996-1999, at SSI Latinamerica.

A Perfect Past And this is based only what happened here, after coming to America Prior to that, held positions of responsibility at various companies in Venezuela Mentioning just to illustrate: Having been exposed to: Manifold Business Systems and Leadership Situations. And Highlight my Experience in the Latinamerican/Foreign Markets

And this is based only what happened here, after coming to America

Prior to that, held positions of responsibility at various companies in Venezuela

Mentioning just to illustrate:

Having been exposed to:

Manifold Business Systems and

Leadership Situations.

And Highlight my Experience in the Latinamerican/Foreign Markets

Perfectly Aged Ready to provide Local Merchants, Businesses and Professionals in the West Palm Beach market with “Social Media Mentoring”

Ready to provide

Local Merchants,

Businesses and

Professionals in the West Palm Beach market with

“Social Media Mentoring”

Perfectly Targeted Through this Mentoring approach I will: Enable my customers to better leverage existing social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, YouTube, WordPress, etc to improve their existing Business Processes and overall Communication Strategies.

Through this Mentoring approach I will:

Enable my customers to better leverage existing social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, YouTube, WordPress, etc to improve their existing Business Processes and overall Communication Strategies.

Perfectly Timed Personalized Support For the applications they choose for their business. Intelligence based on current market trends breaking news Tools they add to their arsenal for added exposure and higher recognition A complement to existing online efforts The ability to do it on their own; or To hire me to do it for them Much like a Concierge takes care of its guests.

Personalized Support

For the applications they choose

for their business.

Intelligence based on

current market trends

breaking news

Tools they add to their arsenal

for added exposure and higher recognition

A complement to existing online efforts

The ability to do it on their own; or

To hire me to do it for them

Much like a Concierge takes care of its guests.

Now, in Perfect Tense Who I am today: A person who looks into the near future Sees, recognizes and acts on the tremendous potential of this latest of Technological “Sea Changes” An individual who Values the opportunities given by the challenges we all face as a society, retooling and innovating our way into better times for all A human being Grateful to have been able to improve his living conditions, by being accepted and integrated into one of the greatest and most compassionate societies known in this corner of the universe.

Who I am today:

A person who looks into the near future

Sees, recognizes and acts on the tremendous potential of this latest of Technological “Sea Changes”

An individual who

Values the opportunities given by the challenges we all face as a society, retooling and innovating our way into better times for all

A human being

Grateful to have been able to improve his living conditions, by being accepted and integrated into one of the greatest and most compassionate societies known in this corner of the universe.