I realise that many would rather die first… than to stand up and speak in public.
Me? I love teaching.
I love leading workshops and speaking at seminars and conferences.
I love it better than anything else that I do in business.
When I see audiences and delegates captured by a fresh idea…
When their eyes light up…
When the facades drop away, and they can no longer stop their emotions from travelling to their faces…
That’s when I come alive!
For me, It’s an opportunity to do something more than just earn revenue and ‘build the business’.
Truly, it’s an opportunity to leave a mark in this world.
To help bright, wonderful people see that life can be different.
And then help them put that ‘seeing’ into ‘doing’.
As I flew home from a week of workshops, I began to recall an episode of making-a-difference.
It happened one cold, damp, miserable evening… when I was being forced to change trains at Doncaster.
Of course, standing on a platform at Doncaster is no tragedy. But I could think of more engaging places to be at 8:00 pm on a Winter’s night.
Here we were – a small band of 9 weary, seriously-hacked-off travellers… following The Lady from platform to platform. Up stairs and down stairs.
Until we found ourselves outside the station at the Taxi rank.
So, now they tell us that the next hour has to be by taxi.
Or not.
Or nothing.
Grumbling, I slumped into the taxi, sharing it with the young fellow with the slim laptop and intelligent face, and we start the pleasantaries.
Within minutes, I had slipped into coaching and counselling mode, as his heartbreaking story unravelled. (What the problem was isn’t the point. It was enough that he was heartbroken)
I remember now saying farewell to him, in the fog, outside of my hotel.
Shaking hands, and smiling.
And, together, agreeing that meetings like this are seldom accidents.
I don’t remember anything else of that month.
But I remember thinking…
“If people come to you, and they leave you feeling happier; feeling changed; seeing possibilities… Well, that’s worth living for, isn’t it?”
Each of us carries within them a gift.
A gift and a Purpose.
It’s like a song; a melody unique to you.
The problem is (and I’ve spoken to a number like this during the last week)… people become so busy a-getting and a-grabbing and a-consuming that they’ve never once thought that they might possess that gift.
That song.
Recently, within the same week, I asked two people what they wanted to do with their life.
And they hadn’t a clue!
They were belting and hammering and grinding through each day, thinking that “This is what it’s about. Isn’t it?”
Men fall into this trap all too frequently.
Particularly when stressed with running their own business.
And the sad thing is, they will reach the end of their days… draw their last breath… with their song unsung.
Your life having made a difference.
Isn’t that the REAL Bottom Line?
So, tell me.
What’s your song?
