About six months ago I was asked to speak about internet marketing at the 2009 Cornell Strategic Marketing Conference. Now, y’all know that there are many, many things I would rather do than stand in front of an audience and speak, but the people who put these things together are tricky. It’s not by accident that they asked me 6 months in advance. Because nothing seems very scary when it’s six months away. A shark attack in April of 2010 seems downright manageable right now.
What I didn’t know when I agreed to speak six-months-from-then, was that six months from then would fall two weeks after we moved. And three days before a national magazine was coming to spend a couple days at the farm photographing me and the flock for a major article.
No, six months ago I was blissfully ignorant of the chaos that was to come.
You would think that all the madness I’ve been living with for the past couple of months would have made the preparation and anticipation about the speech exponentially more stressful, but it actually had the exact opposite effect. I just flat-out didn’t have time to worry over-much about what I was going to say and all the things that could potentially go terribly, terribly wrong the way I usually do.
I didn’t even start thinking about what I was going to say until last week, which for a type-A plus personality like me is akin to leaving on an around-the-world trip without a passport, money or change of underwear.
As you may have guessed, six-months-from-then was today. Today at 2:00 p.m. specifically. And in spite of the fact that I didn’t obsessively prepare and didn’t lose night after night of sleep worrying about looking like an ass in front of a room full of people, I think I did pretty well. I didn’t freeze up or forget my name. I covered my subject matter pretty thoroughly. I even remembered to leave time at the end for questions. I got great feedback from the attendees, although I suspect they would have something nice even if I failed terribly.
But the thing is, I didn’t fail terribly. And I’m pretty sure there’s a lesson here.
Whether or not I will learn the lesson remains to be seen. But I’m going to try to remember this the next time I’m asked to speak or do something else that requires me to step outside of my comfort zone.
If you see me spinning out control, feel free to remind me.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
The lesson? Procrastination has its advantages.
Congratulations for successfully completing your speech and getting great feedback. Your story is amazing and they were lucky to have you.
I love you and I’m glad the world didn’t start spinning backward!! Enjoy your train ride home!
Once I had to get up in front of a bunch of state employees and commisioners at my NEW job for the state of Oklahoma…and it was totally impromptu (my boss kinda threw the cue my way) I totally introduced myself by my maiden name that I hadn’t used for almost 10 years!!! To a room full of people that I was going to have to work closely with in the following months…totally and completely embarrassing myself.
But isn’t life a continuing “lesson” we’re learning? Know what you mean about the 6 months down the road though…no biigie then yikes! good luck!
Once I accompanied a coworker to a meeting where she was to give a talk. She was really nervous and thought it would help to have a known friendly face there. So, we get there and she totally freezes up and introduces ME. And then steps aside. I didn’t have time to get scared, and I did know what I was talking about and did just fine even answering questions. I think knowing what you are talking about is the key. And not having time to scare yourself half to death. I’m so proud of you. Next time, just remember…don’t plan
I’ve had this experience a number of times.
I am sure you were terrific talking about your own experiences. If your blog posts are any clue, you express yourself with clarity and good humor.
I’m sure you were terrific.
Dear precious Susie – the only place you look like an ass is inside your own head. Outside, for all the world, you look composed, articulate, passionate, funny, warm, generous, kind, and extremely knowledgeable. So, literally, don’t kid yourself. You got it going on. You have information to share that can make people’s lives better. You have experience that can make people’s futures brighter. You have gained wisdom and insight that will give people’s vocations new meaning.
Ask me how I know.
xo
Whatever happened with the book you wrote? I’ve been waiting to hear an announcement about publication.
congratulations
i’m just sure you did great
lookin forward to hearing more about your book (i was wondering the same thing)
and more about the next article that i am SURE will be amazing
happy travels home
love
rona
Yeah!! Procrastination always pays off. (But I know you’re a good speaker…you just don’t know it yourself!)
If you speak half as well as you write, you did fine. The audience wouldn’t know and no one beats up on themselves as good as we do after something like this.
I’ve been thinking about you today and hoping your speech was going well! Miss you like CRAZY!
Sounds like you did really well, I hope I do as well in Houston on Friday.
Love,
Mom
You may not learn the lesson in whole this time, but definitely in part, and that’s good enough for now. I’ll remind you when the time comes and you do the same for me
Hugs, Jen
Your only mistake was maybe taking the train. The first time you’ve had a long piece of forced inactivity, probably, in the whole six months. Good going, you did brilliantly, I’m sure.
Congrats! Maybe all of the words were just there in the back of your mind and since you didn’t have time to worry they just flowed. You’re a winner! Safe trip back.
When you know the topic, sometimes its best not to prepare and just wing it. I think it is much more enjoyable to listen to someone actually talk to you instead of knowing said person is reading from prepared notes.
With that said – what magazine is doing a feature on you? And when will the story run? What fun!
80% What you look like, 10% how you sound, 10% what you’re saying. Thems the rules (or so says Eddie Izzard). You know your stuff, you felt and thus looked confident and your topic is great. Ergo: great presentation!
Also, I find it wonderful that your mom posts! Hi Susie’s mom!
What Cindy Telisak said.
And, phew! Glad that’s over, right!? If you have time Tea & Sympathy downtown. Great place, serves a real English Tea.
You mean like how you were terrified to speak at Common Cod, but then walked away from that with even more fans and the awesome suggestion of hay donations? And then had a fabulous slumber party complete with morning crepes? I think you should speak more often.
I’m not at all surprised you did well. You know the subject back and forth, and if the right button is pushed can go on quite well. Also, I think that with all the talking and writing you have done, part of it has become natural.
Question: did all you hi faluton equipment came down with you? Will we get to see more lamings?
Glad that it went well. THere is something to be said for knowing your subject – which of course you do.
Kudos.
Thanks so much Susan. Public speaking can be scary. But as Bob Hope once said “if you are totally calm on stage, you loss your egde.”
By the way, your presentation inspired someone, me. this is my First blog entry ever!
Thanks
Les
I was there. You did a find job with the talk. Had you prepared something ahead of time, you might not have come across as well and genuine as you did. It is always easy to speak about something you know well. The trouble comes when you are speaking about things you know little or nothing about. Keep up the good work!
John Mishanec
Way to cross that bridge when you came to it, instead of slipping off it in a hundred implausible ways a thousand times over in your mind every night for months beforehand. There’s no doubt that you were great.
Once in high school, a friend was driving me home, where I would be arriving a looong time after my curfew. I started freaking out about it a soon as we got in the car, and my friend said something, I wish I remember what, that made me realize that whatever was going to happen when I walked through the door would happen whether or not I spent the next 30 minutes agonizing over it. Might as well enjoy myself in the meantime. I do think that the flip side of not being prone to worry about things in advance is my perverse inability to get excited about many things in advance, but in general it serves me well.
I just wanted to thank you for coming to speak at that conference…I was one of the conference attendees. I think I got the most out of your presentation than most others. I’ve been telling your story over and over again all week. It truly is inspiring. Thanks!
PS-If nothing else, you made a new fan that day!!