Walking the Talk

You teach best what you most need to learn. ~ Richard Bach

No matter where you are along your journey, Life is constantly giving you opportunities to learn and grow, and offers up situations that test or reward you for that growth.

For today’s PGG, I thought I’d share two stories I posted on my social media this week (be sure to like or follow if you haven’t already!) as a way to illustrate how I practice what I preach…

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Last Saturday, my day began with an anxiety attack.

I am not normally an anxious person, but I am human, and a highly sensitive being, so occasionally this does happen, and it is not pleasant, to say the least.

Because of who I am and the work I do, I am fortunate to have a bunch of tools in my toolbox to employ on such an occasion, so I was able to get out of it relatively quickly. But as you may well know, it can take a toll.

One of the tools I used was to connect with a good friend and get out of my immediate environment. That led to a new vista, quite literally, as I had offered to cross the river for dinner, and my friend suggested we check out the waterfront – somewhere I had never been and she hadn’t been for a while. It just so happened it was the first clear night in two weeks, an ideal temperature, and we got there just before sunset.

Who knew what a feast for the eyes and spirit would await me less than half an hour from my home?! With a skyline and lighting that looked fake, it was like stepping into a scene in a movie … . Of course we had to seize the moment and took many, many photos (which I will surely use here over time ;)) in between appreciating and absorbing the wonder of it all. How could this be right under our noses and we never knew it? It was a perfect night, just what the doctor ordered, and honestly these are only a few gems captured.

I share this because if you had seen only the photos, you might be projecting or assuming lots of different things about me and my life, as we are prone to do on social media, so I wanted you to know the backstory: that I had begun the day struggling, but because of that struggle, I was led to this magical ending.

Always listen to yourself, and trust that for every challenge there is an opportunity, and a beautiful sunset to be had after any storm.

And then on Tuesday I shared an experience I had that day which reinforced the very thing I ask of my clients and audiences:

I received a few “Congrats on your work anniversary” messages last week and realized LinkedIn was reminding me that it’s my 16th anniversary as a speaker/seminar/workshop leader. (I started when I was 12 😉 )

How fitting then that as I was settling into my local Starbucks this morning, a man came up to me and asked if I was a speaker at New York’s Science, Industry and Business Library. I said yes and he told me how he had attended one of my talks a year or two ago and he really enjoyed it. He liked my “creative” approach and that I, as well as some of the other speakers there, helped get him through a very difficult time in his life. He recalled the value he received from my talk, affirming my passion and presence, and that I was definitely “different” from the others but that was a good thing.

The fact that speaking is even part of what I do for my work is mind-boggling to me as a bona fide introvert who used to get stiff necks and coughing fits at the mere thought of public speaking – but every time I did it, what I said seemed to resonate with people, so I just kept doing it. I’m actually not very good technically (lots of filler words, no PowerPoint, often ramble, limited vocabulary, talk with hands, etc. …), but I am passionate about whatever I’m talking about, speak from the heart, and offer some unique perspectives on common topics.

I’ve been told that I’m very “down to earth” and that’s also why most people dig listening to me. The way I speak to my audiences is the same way I speak to a client, a friend, or the barista.

In other words, I learned long ago that just being myself was enough, and that people benefit from it.

Never doubt that your combination of skills, talents and passions are the *exact* thing that can help another (or many), therefore your real job is to accept, own and embrace who you are and shine!

Not sure how to strut your own stuff down the evolutionary road to sublime success? That is exactly what I can help you do, so give me a buzz and we’ll get you on the path to demonstrate the dynamic diversity of your DNA so you can do what you do best for us to benefit!

(P.S. And if you are in need of a speaker for your company, ERG, association etc, be sure to be in touch, too! )

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Check out this very-roughly-edited-not-the-best-quality video of uninterrupted remarks wrapping up the workshop “Lead Yourself to Success (in Work & Life!)” In this excerpt covering the final ten minutes, I summarize my thoughts about confidence, being a leader in your own life, maintaining your individuality and humanity in the times we live in, and why the world is relying on you to be successful.

Click here to watch video

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