Speaking of Joy and Inspiration

This was the first day of the National Speakers Association Convention that is being broadcast on the Internet. Scott McKain, one of the speakers, asked the audience to make a list of our favorite speakers. One whose name was mentioned by several people was Mark Mayfield. I remembered hearing him tell this story:

Mark talks about finding the humor in a situation to help us work through the pain. He said that sometimes it is hard to find humor. Tim and I had an experience at 4:30 this morning that was no laughing matter. When the pain subsided, however, I found myself laughing hysterically.

It all started when I turned the fan on when I went to bed to cool off the bedroom. At 4:30 a.m. I traipsed across the bedroom to the bathroom. As I walked through the bathroom door, Tim and I crashed into each other and bounced backwards like bumper cars. I had been half asleep and this was a rude awakening! The fan must have drowned out the sound of either of us getting up. Yes, there was blood shed, although his toes had more cuts than mine. He went back to sleep, but I couldn’t stop laughing. I learned this trait from my mother who laughs at herself.

People who have suffered tragedies may have a difficult time finding something to laugh about. I have friends who are professional speakers that have suffered losses or serious physical illnesses but still are able to deliver eloquent and entertaining speeches to inspire people.

Today’s gift was to send a card and a handwritten note to a friend who is struggling. A short while ago she lost someone very special to her in a terrible accident. Nothing can bring her loved one back, but having people tell her that they are thinking of her may bring a little joy and inspiration back into her life.

In Giving,

Robin

You Can Call Me a Couch Potato

Today some of the best and the brightest speakers take the stage in San Diego, California. It is the opening of the National Speakers Association (NSA) 2014 Convention.

This is my 20^th year being a member. I had other commitments and wasn’t able to be there in person, but it is available for members to attend virtually. I have my Google TV set up and ready to stream the action live! For the next three days, I’ll be a couch potato.

Here are some of the highlights that I am really excited about:

• Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller will share his secrets about stage presence.
• Erik Wahl is a Graffiti artist who wrote the book UNthink. He will teach the audience to unlock our untapped potential.
• Steve Forbes of Forbes Media will talk about the importance of stories.
• Scott McKain is a well-known television newscaster in the Midwest and will talk about separating the best from the rest.
• Mark Sanborn will facilitate a panel discussion of CEO’s including Kat Cole, CEO, Cinnabon, Inc. and GJ Hart, President, California Pizza Kitchen.
• Giovanni, one of my favorite magicians, will talk about the art of storyboarding.
• A “Speak Tank” will have renowned speakers coaching presenters in front of the live audience.
• My speech coach, Lou Heckler, will give a presentation about speaking better.
• One of the most highly sought after, well-paid consultants, Alan Weiss, will talk about Million Dollar Positioning.
• The closing speaker, Sally Hogshead, will talk about her assessment that teaches people how to be fascinating.

I thought some of these sessions would be appropriate for a few of my friends who are not members of the association. I asked NSA for permission for them to participate. Today’s gift was to send the information to my friends and invite them to be a part of the virtual, action-packed conference. Yes, for the next three days you can call me a couch potato, but I will be learning all the while.

In Giving,

Robin

In Support of the Troops

Anisa Palmer is an amazing woman. She was recently accepted to the University of Central Florida and begins classes in September 2014 in a duel major. In addition, she is the founder and executive director of “I will survive, Inc.” for Breast Cancer Awareness. Anisa is a mentor for young high school students through the Safe America Foundation and an Army veteran.

In my file cabinet I found a certificate from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR). Several years ago when we lived in West Virginia, Tim and I both were asked to be Ombudsman for ESGR to work with employers and service members to prevent, reduce or resolve misunderstandings regarding employment rights and responsibilities. We are no longer involved in that program, but I saw an advertisement for American Corporate Partners (ACP), a similar program, in Fortune Magazine. Veterans post questions on the website as they transition from the military to the business community. It is a way to help over 1 million Veterans who are coming home like Anisa. She credits ACP with her success.

Today’s gift was to sign up to be a mentor on the ACP website by offering my expertise to veterans. I would like to support our troops to show that I appreciate the sacrifices that they have made.

In Giving,

Robin

A Zen Lesson

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. They came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they would help her to the other side.

The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side and continued his journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless. An hour passed without a word between them. Two more hours passed, then three. Finally the younger monk couldn’t contain himself any longer and blurted out, “As monks, we are not permitted to touch a woman, how could you carry that woman on your shoulders?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I put her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”

This story reminded me of my childhood memories. Looking through a photo album, I saw some old photos of the time Tommy pulled my ponytail; when Susan, my best friend, got mad at me; and getting caught for talking and having to stand in the hallway in the first grade. At the time those things seemed like a big deal, but were really just part of growing up. I let them go many years ago.

Today’s gift was to post a picture of my kindergarten class on Facebook and identify the people whom I recognized. Other classmates chimed in and guessed the names. I had great fun reconnecting with people I haven’t heard from in years. It took a Zen Lesson for me to reconnect with the feeling of being young and carefree in my childhood.

In Giving,

Robin

Freeloaders Unite

I don’t have photos of cute kids’ notes to give away, but I have skills to help someone else edit their photos. Today’s gift was helping my friend resize her photos so that she can share them with other people. And, no I didn’t call her a freeloader for getting free help!

In Giving,

Robin

Two Truths and One Lie

Let’s play the game, “Two Truths and One Lie.” From the three things below try to guess which one is the lie. No peeking at the correct answers.

 

1.   I almost flunked out of college.

2.   I appeared on the television show Touched By An Angel.

3.   I am an accomplished singer.

In junior high I decided that I wanted to be an interior designer when I grew up. My great uncle was my inspiration. He worked in the design department for a large department store in Columbus, Ohio. When it was time for me to select a college, I planned to attend West Virginia University (WVU), but my high school guidance counselor said they did not have an interior design program.

My alternative seemed to be a pretty good option. My Aunt Mickey and Uncle Bill, who lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, were both private airplane pilots. Aunt Mickey had flown in the Powder Puff Derby and Uncle Bill had logged thousands of hours so I could fly home with either of them on weekends.

The University of Tennessee (UT) interior design program was a very competitive program. Aunt Mickey said she would arrange an interview with the Department Chair. After a grueling interview, I was accepted. Most of my friends were going to WVU, however, I didn’t want to give up on my dream. But after registering for classes, paying for my room and board at UT, I got cold feet.

One week before I was to leave for school, I saw one of my older brother’s friends. She told me about her job at the local interior design firm. I asked where she had gotten her degree. She said, “WVU!” I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to tell Mom and Dad. They weren’t as excited about my wanting to change plans. I had no idea of the challenges that I was about to face.

Pulling me out of UT one week before school started meant the deposit money would not be refunded. Then there were extra fees for late registration at WVU. The dormitory had no rooms and I was put in a study lounge. I also got classes that were the least desirable. I struggled mightily that first semester. Since I was often homesick, driving home 3 ½ hours each way every weekend did not help my studies either.

Christmas break that year was very disappointing. My grades came in at 1.80 out of 4.00 points! WVU put me on academic probation. If I didn’t achieve a 3.20 the next semester, I would flunk out. The next semester I got better classes and I didn’t go home every weekend. I got a 3.40! Three years later, I received my degree in Interior Design. So, number 1 is true.

I appeared on the television show Touched By An Angel two times when I lived in Salt Lake City. I got to appear with Rue McLanahan and Della Reese. So, number 2 is also true.

Since those are the two truths, the lie is that I am an accomplished singer. In college when my roommates played guitar and sang, they’d beg me not to sing. Well, that may be somewhat of an exaggeration, but my singing was more than a little off key.

Today’s gift was a donation to support the interior design program at WVU. Another truth is that I have had good opportunities in life because of a well-rounded education. That bachelors degree also helped me to earn my masters degree over 10 years later.

In Giving,

Robin

Motivating the Motivators

In 1977, several National Speakers Association (NSA) members heard that a highly respected speaker and his wife were facing severe financial difficulty due to the speaker’s prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s. They began sending checks in various amounts that were forwarded to the speaker’s wife. The speaker was Frank Bettger, author of bestselling book, How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling.

Both he and his wife were feeling the weight of medical bills and outliving their saved assets. When Frank passed away in 1981, his wife still faced a financial challenge. Frank, however, had been in the insurance business so the proceeds from his policy provided her with the income she needed.  After Mrs. Bettger passed away, NSA learned that she had made the necessary changes to her will to repay what had been given to them when they needed it most.

Realizing that other members might one day be in a similar situation, NSA used these funds to form a Foundation called the Professional Speakers Benefit Fund (PSBF).

Since that initial act of generosity, the PSBF has helped hundreds of members with financial assistance during serious health emergencies, catastrophic loss from natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and the outliving of their assets.

I have been a member of the National Speakers Association for 20 years and have met several motivational speakers who were helped by funds from the PSBF. Today’s gift was a donation to the fund to help motivate the motivational speakers in need.

In Giving,

Robin