After a presentation, many people come up to me and say something like, “That was great, you are so gifted” or “You are a natural on stage.” While I appreciate the compliment, it does undervalue all the hard work I have put into my craft.
I have been speaking professionally for 15 years, sharing the stage with some of the best presenters in the world. Throughout all of my experiences, I have found that the best presenters are also the best storytellers.
The reason babies like to be picked up is the same reason you and I like to be inspired – it changes our perspective. Psychologists suggest that the average person has over 60,000 thoughts in a day, and unfortunately 75% of them are negative.
In life, as with in Bamboo Farming, there are no guarantees. If your harvest is less than you desired for the year, appreciate what success you did have, recognize those who contributed to it, and learn from the lessons provided in the experience.
Once you have planted your bamboo (your vision), your focus must be on the watering and nurturing. Of course everyone wants the bamboo to grow right away but it is really about the nurturing.
A recent Gallup study indicated that over 71 percent of the workforce is either not engaged or actively disengaged. This has caused many leaders and organizations to put large amounts of effort and energy into holding their employees accountable.
You have either just gone through change, are going through change now, or are about to go through change. With the pace of technology and information, even change has changed. Since change is the only constant, we must learn to embrace it.
The theme of TEDxPortland this year was “What If?”. There were many fabulous and engaging speakers, but the one that had my full attention was former NBA star Brian Grant.
A few weeks ago, I pulled out of my garage to a sight that made my heart sink. Vandals had cut down two swings that were attached to an old walnut tree by my neighbors’ house.
Even though I am a former Division I basketball player, my bracket, probably like yours, is busted. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t enjoy the Final Four.
Having a big dream or vision can be overwhelming at the start, but you only have to water one bucket at a time. Remember: it’s water the bamboo, not drown the bamboo.
Where does your brain go when you are angry? I think it goes somewhere in the laundry with that lost sock that somehow escapes between the washer, dryer and the hamper.
Mr. Ralph Bergstrom was one of my favorite high school teachers. He taught Social Studies and his lessons would always go beyond the classroom. I would like to share one that I reflect on quite often.
As a kid, one of my favorite games to play was chess. In fact, I was my third grade class champ (it’s not really bragging if you consider that most of my classmates had never played or even seen a chess board).