June 5, 2009

Make a commitment



The other night, Bub and I were eating at a Vietnamese restaurant. As we contemplated splitting the third spring roll, I said, "Just eat half and give the rest to me. There's no knife to cut it with."

He picked it up and, as I shook my head dubiously, he cleanly tore it in two. I was pretty impressed. Not a single piece of lettuce dropped onto the plate.

"You just have to commit," he said.

Commitment makes all the difference.

Imagine yourself giving a presentation, and you're trying out some new content, some new humor, a new prop. You're not sure how it's going to play, so you deliver it tentatively, unsure of yourself. When you're uncertain, your audience might feel uncertain as well! They won't get the full impact of the material if you don't stand behind it.

Now think about how much more likely your new content is to succeed when you deliver it with confidence and punch. You KNOW it's going to work, you have no doubt, and you commit to it with full force.

Pow! Your audience gets it. They feel your energy behind it, your passion and your commitment. How can they possibly miss your meaning?

Next time you're presenting information that you're unsure about or not completely comfortable delivering, commit to it anyway. Make the audience believe that you stand behind what you're saying.

Your words and actions gain power when you commit.

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4 comments. Please add yours! :

Rowan Manahan said...

My oft-used quote on this topic: "Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You cannot cross a chasm in two small jumps." (Lloyd George)

Lisa Braithwaite said...

Great quote, Rowan! Perfect!

Jon Thomas said...

It's as applicable in presenting as it is in sports. "If you think you're going to lose, you've already lost."

Nobody has ever been successful without stepping out of their comfort zone. It's the only way to be original. You've got to commit and believe in yourself or you'll never succeed.

Lisa Braithwaite said...

Thank you for sharing so eloquently, Jon!

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