TEMPTED TO YELL
Friday Nov. 8, 2013
Do you ever have down times?
Down days?
Or down weeks?
Down, cascading, depressing, bottomward and sagging?
Me too.
But, what about the opposite of those?
Lifted, up, soaring, pumped, elevated, validated, energized, heartened, assured, emboldened, inspired and stimulated?
When we are lifted up, pumped up, and walk around – owning that feeling of ‘I haven’t felt this good in a long while’ – do you know that feeling?
When that happens – sure, there is temptation to look over our shoulder or in the rear view mirror – wary of some impending doom, fearing our parade will be rained upon. Sometimes, that feels so good, I’m tempted to yell, ‘go ahead, let it rain!’.
My point, aside from the wavy lines of ups and downs that would be the graph of my life, some days, or weeks, seem to conspire for us ~ or against us.
An old friend told me a good joke. An old friend revealed an illness, and the fear that it might have been so much worse – but it wasn’t. A not so old friend reached out for help, and I think I did. A number or readers responded to me with great feedback and support and, as is often the case – a few people just don’t get me. OK, a lot of people don’t get me – but a few amusing exchanges unfolded to round out my chucklesphere week.
A week which seems to have gone my way, so much my way, on several fronts – at work, with some new prospective clients, with a very interesting opportunity to do some work I’ve been preparing for a long time . . .
And, at play in my public speaking world – culminating in something that is a ‘very big deal’ for me last night, at my advanced Toastmasters club.
I’ve been working on a keynote presentation – one I am pitching to give to a major teachers’ convention in February. I hope they hire me, but even if they don’t I’ll be a big winner because this is a big step and, I believe, an important piece of work. Whether or not I get that gig, I’ll be pitching the presentation and variations on its theme to lots of potential audiences – so everything happening with it right now is incredibly important to me, and has caused me to challenge my thinking on: is it good enough?, is it clear?, is it real?, will it be effective?, will it help anyone?
Last night, I got loads of incredibly valuable feedback that will take this piece of work from good to great. From pretty good to fantastic. From inspiring potential to awe-spiring-sensational. And, a very good omen (if you subscribe to karma-think), Seth Godin’s daily blog posting this morning hit home on and reinforced elements those evaluators hit for me last night – reinforcement of which parts/impacts of that presentation need fine-tuning, which parts need an overhaul, and which parts should be left on the cutting room floor.
When I first ventured into my first meeting in the Toastmasters world 11 years ago I had no idea what that program, that experience and those ‘so many’ helpful fellow-aspirants to greatness (we say things like improving our communication and leadership skills – but I think GREATNESS!) would help me. We stand on so many shoulders. I stand tall because I stand on the shoulders of so many who have come before me, helped me, advised me, coached me. Thank you all – and special thanks to Kevin, Russ, Christina, Theresa and Sheila for your incredible help and support last night. And thanks Seth ...
My point, I have one, for musing readers today is this question:
Where are you getting your feedback?
Are you floating ideas, strutting stuff, stretching self, trying new things, experimenting, adventuring? … if not, why not?
When you are, who is critiquing you?
Who is giving you feedback?
Who is giving you support?
I’ve learned we all have far more people in our lives who WILL and who WANT to give us help, support, feedback and ideas than we realize.
What I’ve also learned is that feedback will often make me very uncomfortable – almost to the point of wanting to shun it, but I’ve learned those people only want to help me to get better at what I do.
All I have to do, all any of us have to do, is to let them in . . .
Mark Kolke
291,412
column written/ published from Calgary
morning walk: -2C/29F, overcast, steady breeze (Chinook-esque) coming over the big hill, Gusta pulling hard and I had better traction today thanks to grit laid down by city crews – lots of magpies around, otherwise calm everywhere
Comments Received:
Good Morning Mark - This is a great muse today! Thought provoking and relevant. Hope you have a good day!, MK, Calgary, AB
Believe in yourself you must ; there is nothing else! Xo, AG, Playa del Carmen, Mex.
It should be mandatory. The bottom line is if you don't believe in yourself it is difficult for any one else to. You or I lead in this decision to believe in one's self. GW, Brady, Tx.
You are right! Believing in yourself is not automatic. It is refreshing to be presented time and again with the secrets to success in life. Thank you! Regards, PH, Calgary, AB
True, not quite automatic. I don’t know if it is a habit, though. Sometimes I believe in myself. Sometimes I believe in myself, in relation to certain situations, certain people. Sometimes, I believe in myself - as a political statement. and those times in between when I don’t believe in myself … I just don’t, IMF, Jakarta, Indonesia
