WHAT MADE US FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

FNB, Carlton Centre. The DDCT Tour, Part 47 - Postponements(or Delays), Gracefully Accept

   The way the Universe( or God) works is mysterious.
You may have anticipated something to happen at a certain time, but only to find it doesn't. The trick here is not to be despondent. At the right time it will all come together nicely.
   But when is the right time? Nobody knows this for sure. I would like to suggest that the 'right time' is when all the elements required to make a talk/event successful are in place.
   Before this Carlton Centre talk took place there were many twists and turns. The first manager I submitted my request to left the branch before a go ahead could be given. Then I restarted with the 2nd in charge. While we were still waiting to find the right date, she also had to leave. With the new manager we actually agreed on the date. But at the last minute( a day before the talk) something came up, which necessitated yet another postponement. 
   That this talk finally took place today was a good thing, in my opinion. Today was one of those days where the energy on my side was right. Sometimes it is not. Because of this 'right energy' I think I came across well. Not only this about today. But the bank's regional Sales and Service manager happened to be visiting the branch on this day. After my presentation he came over to compliment me on it. Hereafter there was talk about our presentation being possibly rolled out to other FNB branches in this JHB region.

                                                    SOME THANK YOU's
- Bra Katiso( the branch Manager) - For the initial ok.
- Bra Bongani( the branch Sales and Service Manager) - For later running with things.
- FNB Carlton Centre staff( bo-Ausi Thuli, Ausi Thando et al)  - For the 'love and affection'.
- Bra Kabelo Matlhala( the regional Sales and Service Manager) - For those kind words.

                                          ============================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"Mind your language. Your choice of words will indicate
  just how you think. The starting point is to change your
  language. Choose to use only positive words:
         Negative                        Positive
      - Problem                        - Challenge 
      - I forget                         - I will remember shortly 
      - It's freezing                  - It could be warmer
      - I'm feeling sick            - I could be feeling better 
      - I'am tired                     - I could have more energy "

    Jack Black( from the book - Mindstore)

                                      =========================



THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                            ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?    
           

   
                                               

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Nedbank, 100 Main Street, JHB. The DDCT Tour, Part 46 - It's All About Sticking Our Necks Out

   After the talk was over, a lady staff member commented that what stood out for her in our presentation was the point about sticking one's neck out in order to achieve one's dreams. She said that this - in her opinion - is the key to success.
   I cannot agree with her more. Most of the people who are living their dreams today have had to take a risk of one kind or another to get there. They have had to leave their comfortable surroundings behind and venture into the unknown. The 'unknown' being the fact that they were not guaranteed success as they began the journey to their dreams. 
   When I decided to leave my 9-5 job to try and make something out of my passion for writing, I did have my fears. As with any risk taking undertaking, there was a small voice at the back of mind that kept saying, "What if it does not work out?" But I went ahead and left anyway. The possible pain of regret scared me more than that of failure. 
   Make no mistake though, it does get rough on the road to your dream. But eventually things do stabilize. With more perseverance, and a bit of luck, one hopes that one can even achieve spectacular success(i.e. be rich and famous - LOL) one day.

                                                    SOME THANK YOU's
- Ausi Sarah( the Manager) - For the permission
- Nedbank staff - For hosting me.
- The female staff member above - For your thoughtful feedback.

                                              ========================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"We cannot escape the way life is. In life we will come 
across bereavement, we will suffer loss, illness, we can
have accidents, face redundancy, rejection, disappointment
and so on. This is it. It is the way it is. While everything
around you can seem to be going wrong, you must be aware
that you have absolute control of your response to it. You
can choose your attitude."

Jack Black (from the book - MINDSTORE)

                                           ============================ 

THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                                   ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?    
           

           

Friday, May 16, 2014

Class 12C, 10am. Reasoma High School, Protea North, Soweto. The DDCT Tour, Part 45 - Do You Really Love this Public Speaking Thing?

   Because if you do not, please stay away from the schools' environment.
The schools are like a cauldron for wanna-be public speakers. If you can survive this space with your love for public speaking still intact, then you will make an excellent public speaker in my opinion.
  I say that because there are several challenges that really test you when you venture into the schools. For starters, there is the sheer numerical size of matric students( my starting point in high schools). At Reasoma High, for example, there are nine(9) groupings of the 2014 Matric Class. Next, you may be required to give your talk in two successive periods sometimes, and later on in the same day you may have to give more talks. On any one day you may end up giving four talks in total. To be able to repeat more or less the same content four times in one day without tiring( and for free, by the way), you have to really love what you do.
  I thought I loved public speaking too. But this pace, plus indifferent audiences at times, made me seek some time out after a few talks. I needed to take a break from this hectic-ness. 
  But I will go back go back to the students. I just need a change of scene in the form of gigs in a different setting(corporate, for example). I believe this change of scene(and pace) will rekindle my passion for public speaking, especially of the motivational kind.
  Having said that, this last talk in the first series of Reasoma High talks ended on a good note. As I left the classroom, the 12C students sent me off with an F-G clap. A moving gesture, I thought.

                                                        SOME THANK YOU's 
- Ntate Sepuru( the Principal) - As below in Part 42
- Ma'am Rakibane - As below in Part 42
- Ma'am Moloi - As below in Part 42
- Class 12C matric students - For making me want to come back.

                                                  =======================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"..positive thinkers prefer not to use the word 'problem' at all 
since the world itself implies difficulty, being stuck in some
unpleasant situation. They prefer to use the word 'challenge';
this has obvious positive connotations and its use brings an 
immediate sense of confidence that a solution is on the way."

Jack Black( from the book - MINDSTORE)

                                             ========================


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                               ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?    
          
                                      



  
          
                          

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Class 12B, 9am. Reasoma High School, Protea North, Soweto. The DDCT Talk, Part 44 - There is Always Something Positive You Can Take From a Talk

   Even in a presentation where you felt a complete disconnection to your audience, there is some good you can take from it.
   The good could be that you were given another opportunity to stand in front of an audience and do what you love. Or it could be that this particular talk is another feather in your cap( like pilots do with flying hours).
   In today's talk I can remember instances where I laughed a bit with the students. I can also recall them liking very much the part where we read from the book. After this reading, it was the only time that there was a spontaneous raising of hands from the floor to request an F-G clap. These are memories I choose take from this talk.

                                                SOME THANK YOU's
- Ntate Sepuru( the Principal) - As below in Part 42
- Ma'am Rakibane - As below in Part 42
- Ma'am Moloi - As below in Part 42
- Class 12B matric students - For the experience.

                                        ==========================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"There is always good that can come from a situation; your
  task when faced with even the most trying time is to look for 
  the opportunity, the potential within it and focus on that."

  Jack Black( from the book - MINDSTORE)

                                             =======================


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                               ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?    
          

                                     

                                                
      

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Class 12H, 10am. Reasoma High School, Protea North, Soweto. The DDCT Tour, Part 43 - Every Grouping Has its Own Energy

   After the first presentation(in The DDCT Part 42 below), my faith in giving these motivational talks in high schools was shaken. I had been left wondering why I am still doing it.
   The second talk at the school, however, fully restored my faith. What a wonderful gathering this Class 12H was. Their attention and enthusiasm for what was being said was something to behold.
   In the final analysis then, it would be unfair to paint all students with the same brush. Each gathering of people has its own vibe. In some instances it all comes together nicely, as it did with
12H. In others it doesn't. Don't give up on the students just yet.

                                                 SOME THANK YOU's
- Ntate Sepuru( the Principal) - As below in Part 42.
- Ma'am Rakibane( the HOD) - As below in Part 42.
- Ma'am Moloi - As below in Part 42
- Class 12H matric students - "Much, much love to you guys."

                                               ========================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"Once you start to change your thinking to be more
solution-oriented you will start to automatically find
solutions to your problems. You will find that your attitude
will attract people, places and opportunities that reinforce
your expectations." 

Jack Black( from the book - MINDSTORE)

                                             =======================



THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                               ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?    
          






  
                                                         

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Class 12D, 8am. Reasoma High School, Protea North, Soweto. The DDCT Tour, Part 42 - Concentrate on Those Who Show Interest

   Not everybody will think that what you have to say is of value.
Yours truly was reminded of this fact when the DDCT Tour went back to high schools this week. And our advice to all budding public speakers, especially when addressing learners, is this:
         "Those who conduct private conversations during the talk, those who seem
           bored, those who say '1' when the instruction is 'Say 2', those who cannot 
           wait for you to finish, so on and so forth, JUST IGNORE THEM.
           Your real job is to focus on those students who care enough to listen. You 
           will have done you job even if this group is made up of just one student."

  
                                                  SOME THANK YOU's
- Ntate Sepuru( the Principal) - For okaying the talks.
- Ma'am Rakibane ( the HOD) - For running with the logistics.
- Ma'am Moloi - For being my chaperone and introducing me to the students.
- Class 12D matric students - For your time.

                                        ==========================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"Having problems is part of life. Who can honestly say that 
they don't have any?...The reality is that to be successful means 
just solving more and more problems."

Jack Black( from the book MINDSTORE)

                                            ======================== 


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                                   ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?