The Value of Doing Your Best at All Times - Old Mutual, Lenasia. The Dreams Do Come True Tour, Part 56

   They say it is a small world. Therefore be nice, or be good. 

As you never really know when or where you may meet again a party you have dealt with before in life. 
   On arriving at this Old Mutual branch in Lenasia, I discovered that the manager here is someone I have previously dealt with at another O-M branch.

   Presumably I was good in presenting my talk at her old branch - if I may say so myself. Because getting a speaking engagement at this new branch was not a problem at all.
   Performing to the best of our ability when given a chance, in my opinion, will help not just in minor matters like getting a speaking gig, but in other weightier life issues as well. Like changing jobs, for example.
   Doing well at a task is like one's track record. It is something that will precede or follow you wherever you go. In my case, I normally have to get permission to give a talk from managers. And managers are people with influence. If, for argument sake, I were to drop the ball at one branch, word about my sloppiness would quickly spread to other branch managers. The consequence being that speaking engagements would dry up. 

      SOME THANK YOU'S

Ausi Masa( the manager) - For indulging us once more.

Old Mutual staff - For being very attentive, which made me feel like a great speaker.

   

Delays( or Postponements) Are Part of Life's Journey - ABSA, Trade Route mall. The DREAMS DO COME TRUE(DDCT) Tour - Part 55

   A delay in your plans is like the good Lord is saying to you, " I want to see how much you want this; how hard you are willing to work for it."

   We have all wished - at one time or another - for things to go our way every time. We assumed that this way we would be happier in life.
   But such predictability in life would not be a good thing. It would deny us an opportunity to solve problems, a solving that makes us grow as human beings.
   As a species we have a brain that gives us thinking capacity. A lack of a platform to use this feature of our brains would make us no different from animals, which live by instict.
   A lack of difficulties in our lives would also mean that we cannot exercise patience( a virtue) when
when it comes to our dreams.
   A delay is exactly what it is. It does not mean that your wish/dream will not happen. It may take time, yes. But eventually it will happen. PROVIDED YOU DO NOT GIVE UP.
   And so it was with this Absa talk. For very valid reasons it was postponed twice. On the second occasion it was rescheduled when I was in the branch already, all dressed up and ready to go.
   But on each occasion I was not disheartened. I kept my mind focused on what I wished to happen, which was for the talk to take place. And in the end it did indeed take place.

           SOME THANK YOU'S

- Ntate Talent Sibisi( the branch Manager) : For the permission( and that awesome introduction about supporting local authors)

- ABSA staff : For the love. 'I love you too.'


 

   

Do What Makes You Happy - FNB, LENASIA. The Dreams Do Come True(DDCT) Tour, Part 54

   One is back to giving  the DDCT motivational talks after almost two years of being away. I last gave a talk in 2014(November 21st). I stopped giving these presentations because it was becoming increasingly difficult to get speaking engagements, notwithstanding the fact that these talks were for free.
   This struggle to get gigs made me decide to take some time out and think about things. Were the talks what one really wanted to do in life if  the opportunity to give them is hard to come by? And if I don't do the talks( and the attendant selling of my FEELING GOOD book) how am I going to earn a living then?
   In the midst of this mulling over, we as a family experienced a loss that shook us up badly. My sister - Teboho - passed away unexpectedly after a sudden illness. Sudden in the sense that the previous day she was fine - happy and seemingly healthy. The next day - after being admitted to the hospital overnight - she was gone. 
   After this loss there was no longer any need for me to think things over. I had just been rudely reminded of how little time we may have here on earth. Because truly speaking, we do not know when the Lord will decide that our time is up. It is therefore paramount, I concluded, that we do what we are passionate about in life.
   To this end it then dawned on me that what I really love doing - other than writing and reading - is presenting the DDCT talks. The whole idea of playing a part in motivating people to go for their dreams, I find quite fulfilling.
   That is why I am back. And in this second attempt to make the DDCT talks( and the selling of my FEELING GOOD book) work, I am prepared to give it everything I have got. More so because now there is no Plan B. This is what I want to do in life, I have told myself. So this attempt must( and will) succeed. Watch this space. 

          SOME THANK YOU'S

Mr Justin Moodley( branch Manager) : For the permission.
FNB Lenasia staff: For allowing me into your space.
Ausi Warona: For a heartwarming 'thank you' to yours truly after the talk.

ABSA, Oakdene(The Glen mall). The DDCT Tour, Part 51 - Do not Forget to Make it Enjoyable

   Those who know say your audience, deep down, wish you to do well as a speaker.

Meet them half-way by making your motivational talk fun as well. Make it entertaining.

   The Absa staff at this branch reminded me, in a spectacular way, how much fun a talk can be. Right from the beginning, the reception I received here was overwhelming. It was loud and riotous. And the Absa staff never let up. Throughout the talk this merry atmosphere continued unabated.

   To say this talk was one of a kind is not being OTT. Even as I write this - a few days later - I am still feeling damn good from it.

   In my next life, I wouldn't mind to come and work at this branch. 

                    "Much, much love to you Absa Oakdene staff."

                                             SOME THANK YOU's
- Ausi Samantha( The Manager) - For giving me the opportunity.
- Absa staff( bo-Ausi Helen, Ausi Yolandi, Ausi Nokuthula et al)  -  For a very uplifting and humbling experience.

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

" 'DELETE THAT PROGRAMME.' Get into the practice of 
saying this phrase to yourself immediately you hear yourself using 
or thinking negative thoughts. Use it to prompt yourself to replace
a negative word with a positive alternative, for example." 

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?    

      
     

FNB Easy Plan,Park Station. The DDCT Tour, Part 50 - To Stick Around or Not

   When one first started these motivational talks, I used to want to bolt for the door the minute I finished the talk.

   I wanted to get away from this nerve wrecking environment as quickly as possible. Also, I was afraid of a possible negative feedback from my audience. 

   Over time, though, I have discovered that the chit-chat and mingling after the talk provides a great opportunity for one to get to know your audience members. This is a chance to make friends.

And whatever feedback you may get from this after-talk interaction will mostly be positive. That is unless you specifically ask for a critique of your talk.

   So where it is possible, do stay behind after the talk. Do accept those tea or coffee offers.

And for those hawking something, the mingling thereafter allows you to take down those leads or orders. 

                                                        SOME THANK YOU's
- Bra Lihle( The Manager) - For giving me the go-ahead. And for the feedback afterwards.
- FNB Staff( bo-Craig et al) - For hearing me out.

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"In deciding to be positive you are deciding to be strong.
You will not be fazed by difficult situations and this will be a 
source of encouragement not only to yourself but to those 
around you. In this state of mind, you will more than likely 
see a way out of a challenging situation." 

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?    

           

    
       

Nedbank, Trade Route mall, Lenasia. The DDCT Tour, Part 49 - Keep Practicing

   Even if there are no speaking engagements in the immediate future, it is advisable to continue working on your presentation material. Keep polishing it.

   This point about practicing all the the time was brought home to me when I experienced one or two wobbles during this Nedbank talk. I did not flow as well as I wanted to. And this unsteadiness was caused by the fact that I had lifted my foot off the pedal when it came to the daily rehearsal of my presentation material, as I waited for gigs to come up.

   In addition to making you remember all the points you need to cover during a particular talk, a regular practice session will actually help you to get these speaking engagements. That is because as you go through your material, you automatically visualize a real presentation scenario. And according to the Law of Attraction( 'what you focus on frequently, you attract'), this regularly imagined talk scene while practicing will be drawn to you in the real world.

                                                        SOME THANK YOU's   
- Bra Deepak( the branch Manager) - for the permission and a warm reception.
- Nedbank staff - for taking time out of your busy schedules to come hear me out.
                                               
                                            =========================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"Every experience is a success."

Louise L Hay( from the book - YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE)
                                              
                                            ===========================

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?    

           

            
       

     

FNB Sales Indaba, JHB CBD. The DDCT Tour, Part 48 - Preaching to the Converted

      Here we are again. Back after the worst of our winter season. 

      Back after the FIFA World Cup too. It feels good to be back.

   It is bound to happen. At some stage some of your audience members will have heard your talk before. The first priority here is to avoid sounding like a pre-recorded speaker. This would be the fastest way to bore them.

   At this FNB function several staff members from branches in the Johannesburg CBD where I had given my talk came together with some staff at whose branches I have not been. They had congregated for a regional sales 'imbizo'( meeting).

   I was one of the guest speakers tasked with motivating this FNB group. And I had to up my game here in order to sound fresh for those who have already heard me give this talk. But do so without losing the essence of my talk - which is to motivate( or inspire) people to go for their dreams. 

   I did this refreshing by changing the introduction of the presentation - the opening remarks, etc. It was an introduction completely different to that in my previous talks. In addition, the body of the presentation was done more off the cuff, as opposed to following a predetermined pattern. In other words, there was a large degree of improvisation( as in jazz music) on my normal presentation.

  My flow was not ideal at times therefore, as I was adding new points as I went along. But for the sake of freshness, I did not mind. And I don't think my audience was bothered either by the few flow hiccups, because they received the talk well.

   The more I give these motivational talks, the more I feel that the holy grail of this kind of public speaking is to sound different each time despite having the same message. This way people will never tire of you. 

   Isn't this what our preachers do with the message in the Bible after all?

                                                           SOME THANK YOU's 
- To the assembled JHB North region managers.
- To the invited FNB staff.  
                                                  =========================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"There is an invisible energy force that is constantly available
for our use. Most of us are totally oblivious to the fact that it
even exists. We think of life as a random crapshoot."

Pam Grout( From the book - E-Squared : 9 Thought Energy Experiments...) 
                                                ===========================

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?