Chapter 1.1: The Nature of Feedback

In Toastmasters, feedback is typically “direct but courteous.” In contrast, when I review a TikTok before sharing it, any mistakes are glaring, almost shouting, “You cannot share this!” My journey as a TikTok creator has led me to correct numerous issues in a remarkably short time. For instance, the habit of saying "um," which has plagued me for years, was resolved in just one week and 20 TikToks.

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Chapter 1.2: Broader Areas for Correction

While Toastmasters gives feedback on aspects like posture and attire, TikTok reveals issues that might not be addressed but are personally important to me. For example, aspects such as my hairstyle or how I hold my head can lead to unflattering camera angles. Toastmasters rarely points out, “Your speech is fine, but you don’t look your best today.” Sometimes, I genuinely need that constructive criticism if it’s something I can improve.

Chapter 1.3: Audio Awareness

After addressing my “um” problem, I discovered another issue: my heavy breathing. I realized this when I watched my TikToks and noticed the sound of my breaths echoing. I’d often take a deep breath just before starting to speak, which was captured on the microphone. It’s something I hope isn’t noticeable in live settings.

Chapter 1.4: Continuous Self-Analysis

Rewatching my videos has been a humorous yet enlightening experience. I mostly fixed the breathing issue and have reduced the frequency of “ums,” but I found I often say “and things like that” in nearly every video. Now, I catch myself mid-sentence and substitute it with phrases like “and other things” or “and so forth.”