ABSA, Southgate mall. The DDCT Tour, Part 41 - Don't Worry About the Speakers Who Come Before You

   "I am sitting on a white chair. There is a glass of water next to my feet. Once in a while I take a sip from this glass. Like others in the room, I am listening to a gentleman give a talk. I am next in line to address the ABSA staff this morning."

   "As I listen, I am thinking: this gentleman is good. He knows his material. His voice is audible. And here and there he is able to make the audience laugh. After this observation, I immediately start wondering about how I come across myself. Do I speak as clearly? Will I be able to make them laugh as well? What about my content? Will they be as interested?"

    This comparing of yourself with someone who does something similar is natural to human beings. And it should not rattle you. Your audience may indeed rate speakers who come before them. But there is absolutely nothing you can do about this. You are there to do your own thing. You have probably done it before somewhere else. And were told that it is good. So relax.

                                                     SOME THANK YOU's

- Bra Emmanuel( the Manager) - For allowing me to still get on with it despite there being a scheduling conflict.

- ABSA Southgate staff - For the love. The love shown by the many F-G clap requests from the floor. Much, much appreciated, ladies and gentlemen. I now have a t-shirt that reads:'My heart is left at ABSA Southgate.' 

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"When we wake up we have a choice. We can rise up what I call a 

spiral of of positivity, looking on the bright side - or, as is all too normal,

begin the slide down the spiral of negativity. You will find, by observing

your own thoughts or by listening to others' conversations, that one 

negative thought or word will immediately lead to another." 

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, Park Station. The DDCT Tour, Part 40 - Run With the Bird in Hand

   The one in the bush can wait.

  On the morning I arrived at this branch to ask for a gig, I was awaiting a phone call from a manager of another  institution. He had promised to phone me before 12 midday that day to say if I can come and give a talk at his branch the next day(Thurs 27th).

   So when Nedbank Park Station  gave me a go ahead right away to do my talk the next day(27th March) as well, I had a dilemma. Do I run with this confirmed gig( bird in hand)? Or do I wait for that confirming phone call( bird in the bush), and postpone the Park Station one to a much later date( in 3 weeks time is when another window of opportunity will open here at Park Station, I was told)?

   For some reason, I decided to wait for that phone call after 12 noon. I think it was because I was more or less sure that it will come. I told Park Station that I will get back to them about giving the talk at their branch tomorrow. I was taking a fat chance here. I was being cavalier about hard to get gigs.

   Needless to say, the confirming call never came. I was then left with the unenviable task of scrambling to save the Park Station gig for tomorrow. Fortunately, Park Station management - in the form of Bra Nathan - were accommodating. They said I can still come.

   In retrospect though, it was a mistake to bank on a yet to be finalised gig( bird in the bush). Easily, I could have lost both birds because I dithered.

                                                      SOME THANK YOU's

- Bra Musa( the Manager) - For the initial OK.

- Bra Nathan( the 2nd in charge and my contact) - For putting in place the logistics for the gig. 

- Nedbank staff( bo-Godfrey, ausi Thandeka et al) - For the smiles. And the enthusiastic discussion about writing and publishing a book at the conclusion of the talk.

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"..the great and the accomplished got there by being 

positive. Yet to be positive in life often runs against the

prevailing tide. Generally the few positive people are 

scorned and laughed at."

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, Carlton Centre. The DDCT Tour, Part 39 - Do Ask for Feedback

   "Try and ask your hosts to tell you how your presentation went. This is how you will improve and grow."
   And so said Ausi Bongi. She is the branch Manager here at Carlton Centre. She said this while we sat in her office after the talk had ended.

   Ausi Bongi's advice was invaluable, I thought. Because, to be honest, this question('How did I do?') is the one most beginner(or new) public speakers shy away from. We are afraid that the feedback will not be flattering; that it will be bad news mostly. We would rather rely on the fact that after we were done everybody felt good.

   But what about the points raised during the talk? Did each one flow neatly into the next? Did one do a proper introduction and conclusion? Did one leave the audience with something tangible that they can use in their lives? Or was the talk just full of flash( F-G claps, etc) and had no substance? These questions, and many others, a host's critique will help you, the speaker, answer.

   So, what did Ausi Bongi make of our presentation that morning? Well, she said my talk is more inspiration than motivation. In other words, I am telling people how I achieved my book dream, and by so doing I am saying dreams or big goals can be achieved. And she was spot on. This is exactly the aim of my talk. My aim is to tell people that DREAMS DO COME TRUE(DDCT Tour), and that this is how I made mine happen.

   Even though we never really discussed how an inspirational talk differed from a motivational one, she did give me examples of motivational speakers. Locally, she mentioned bo-Dr David Molapo. Internationally, bo-T D Jakes.

                                                     SOME THANK YOU's
- Ausi Bongi( the Manager) - For the go ahead, the feedback and the many ideas of how to market our book. For buying a copy of our book(Feeling Good) as well.
- Nedbank staff - For loving the hugs so much that they went on forever. "Much appreciated, ladies and gentlemen."
- Ausi Nirry - For the furious note taking during the talk, and for being full of questions thereafter. 

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"...those who survived the Nazi concentration camps(Auschwitz, Dachau et al)
shared a common yet essential ingredient: attitude. Everything can be taken 
from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to chose one's attitude in
any given set of circumstances, to chose one's own way."

Victor Frankel( as quoted in MINDSTORE, by Jack Black)

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

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, Market/A-S St. The DDCT Tour, Part 38 - Keep Knocking on that Door

   It is by no means easy getting these speaking engagements. Notwithstanding the fact that the motivational talks are given free of charge.

   Sometimes one is lucky in that the go ahead is given right away. But most of the time I have to do several follow ups. This following up I do either over the phone or in person by physically going to the venue again. To get a green light can take up to four visits at times. 

   In all this to and fro to the place to get permission, I have never once thought of giving up. I never give up because doing these motivational talks is something that I really love, irrespective of how inconvenient or costly these follow ups are. And if something is a labour of love for you, you have to keep trying to work on it until you succeed. Because once you succeed at it, all the hardships you went through to get there will pale in comparison to the rewards you will get from this achievement.

   In my case, the reward may be that that specific hard to get gig turns out to be a 'bomb'(i.e. the talk is great and it results in sales of our book). And this Nedbank talk was such a gig. It went down very well indeed. The Nedbank Market/A-S Street staff members were lively and full of energy. In addition to the many F-G clap requests from the floor, the poem reading by the house was from the top, top drawer.

                                                   SOME THANK YOU's
- Paul  Mthombeni( the Manager, and a friend.) - For the'Yes'. And for those heartwarming pre-talk and post-talk remarks.
- Ausi Letitia( 2nd in charge) - For organizing the logistics of this gig.
- Nedbank staff members - For the wonderful vibe. And the material support.
- Ausi Boitumelo - For collating those book orders. 

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"While it is important to acknowledge challenges or problems, our
main attention should be on solutions and possibilities. If we continue
to look only at the problems then we will surely find more of them;
clearly if we focus on solutions then they will also have to appear."

Jack Black( from the book - MINDSTORE)

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

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

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

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?


             

FNB, Park Central. The DDCT Tour, Part 37 - Show Up No Matter What

   They say to wreck a reputation takes seconds, but to build it takes years. Something as simple as pitching up for a talk like you have promised, should not be underestimated.

   On this Wednesday of the FNB Park Central talk, it was raining cats and dogs in the true sense here in Johannesburg. This deluge of rain having started the previous night( Tuesday). Under these conditions the traffic going into the Johannesburg CBD is normally a nightmare. There was a real possibility that I would arrive late at my destination. Not only this, but that I would be soaking wet on arrival since I use taxis. All of the above would not help me at all in creating a good impression with my hosts.

So the thought of asking for today's talk to be postponed (or even cancelled) did cross my mind.

   But just as quickly, I dismissed this thought. My reputation for keeping my word was at stake here. Life has to go on despite the obstacles put in our way. I had given my word that I was was going to come, so I must indeed pitch up. Because, frankly, the host does not give a hoot about one having walk through the rain to make the appointment. All they want is the motivational talk that was promised.

   I did make it to Park Central on time almost. Wet shoes and all that. And the talk proceeded smoothly as per plan.

                                                      SOME THANK YOU's

- Ausi Thuli Yende( the Manager) - For the permission. And for buying a copy of our book(Feeling Good). Your plea to your staff for them to support budding local writers was very heartwarming. Much, much appreciated sisi.

- FNB staff( bo-Ausi Esther et al) - For warmly receiving me. Offers of coffee before the talk started were very humbling.

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"...the news in general is far too negative. It is very rarely

positive and when it is, it is usually relegated to a minor 

spot at the end of the broadcast or to precious few column inches.

There is so much good going on, fantastic achievements in every

corner of the world, but we don't hear about or focus on it - instead,

every night you can hear of famine, war, violence and crime."

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?    

          

                               

Old Mutual, Southgate mall. The DDCT Tour, Part 36 - Grab Attention Early

   How your presentation begins matters a lot. This is the time to take your listeners with you or to lose them.

   When we start off our work day by listening to a speaker give a talk, it is sometimes not easy to give them our full attention. Some of us may have queries that we need to urgently attend to that very morning. Occasionally, we may not have had enough sleep the previous night and therefore a monologue may just send us back to sleep( right there in front of our esteemed guest).

   What works well from the speaker's side, in my opinion, is to get your talk attendees to do something physical right from the start. Make them do something that will shake off whatever remains of the sleep cobwebs, early in the talk.

   In our case, I start off by teaching the audience members the F-G clap. This clap is a light exercise that helps to get the blood moving in the body. I have also found that this clap focuses the listeners' attention. From appearing half interested in the proceedings sometimes, they will suddenly be all ears after doing the F-G clap. In addition, there will be a few smiles in the room, as if to say, "If this guy starts off this well, maybe, just maybe, his talk is worth listening to." 

                                                    SOME THANK YOU's

- Ausi Bessie( the Manager) - For okaying this talk.

- Old Mutual staff(bo-Ausi Elsie et al) - For lending me your ears.

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"...there is a tendency for people, for the most part,

to be negative. The inner voice is self-critical, limiting and

is often in the 'I can't' mode, holding most people back. The

task before us is to silence the negative and the 'I can't' and

to build the 'I can'."

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?    

          

   
        

Standard Bank, Southgate mall. The DDCT Tour, Part 35 - Challenges of a Mixed Audience

   A public speaker here in South Africa at some stage will have to address an audience made up of people from other races in addition to one's own. And because of our country's recent past, this situation adds to the pressure while up there.

   Yours truly so far has been giving these motivational talks( DDCT) to mostly African audiences. And it has been relatively easy to do so because I was speaking to my own kind, so to speak.

   At this Standard bank branch, however, it was a true rainbow nation of staff members. Africans, Indians, Coloureds( of mixed ancestry) and whites were all in the house. In facing such a mixed grouping, I automatically felt an immediate need to do well.  

   And to deal with this added pressure, I  kept telling myself - before the talk started - that if indeed I have done my homework( i.e. I know my material, I have had a good night's sleep etc), I will come across well. Then, it won't matter to the audience if the speaker is African, Coloured, White or Indian. They will be happy because the speaker has delivered.

And I think the audience was in today's case.

                                                      SOME THANK YOU's 

- Mr Robert Thomson( the Manager) - For giving the go ahead.

- Ausi Farida - For organizing the logistics for this talk, and for those kind pre-talk and post-talk words. For buying a copy of our book(Feeling Good), as well.

- Standard bank staff - For that rousing welcoming applause before the talk commenced.

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

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"It has been my experience that there is one constant underlying
force that is ever-present regardless of status, background or situation.
For me this force explains human existence and all its limitations of
hopelessness and outstanding success: a persons's attitude or, to put 
it another way, the quality of the inner voice."

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?