I spoke yesterday at a global sales meeting for a $100M technology company. Even though I was speaking at 5:00 PM, I had to fly in early in the morning to make sure I was there on time. Airplanes work mostly but you can’t trust being on time with our aviation system. When I arrive early at a location when I come in just for the day, I try to get a day room at the hotel where the event is so I can relax and practice my speech a bit. I practice almost every day and this day was no different- except there was no place to practice. There were no rooms at the inn as they say.
I finally was able to get into the exercise room of the hotel which was empty (and freezing!). I was practicing parts of my speech outloud as I always do to the empty room. I then decided to text my performance coach to let her know that I was practicing and keeping my commitments to constantly improve my presentations.
In less than a minute after I told her I was absurdly in an exercise room rehearsing, her replay came back…
“And I am rehearsing in the lady’s room- I do a presentation in 20 minutes”.
I had to laugh and realized what I crazy business I am in…and statisfying. What can be better than to stand up on stage, passionately speak about what you believe and have people consider what you have to say?
