Am I boring you?

I have been travelling again.

On a delayed flight back home as I try and write something intelligent. Today saw the end of the five courses I was scheduled to facilitate. It was good but could have been better. I have certainly improved but still find I fall desperately short of where I would like to be.

I was the worst student ever. I hated lectures or training and often found myself building complex contraptions from the contents of my pencil box. Now it is me standing in front of a crowd of people, who are listening and evaluating my every word.  Far removed from the inane boredom I used to feel and deep in new territory where I have the ability to create that same boredom in a number of unsuspecting students. Or to do the exact opposite and excite something within them to be better than they were. I am more than a little aware of how tenuous this balance can be!

There seems to be much for me to learn. The art of timing, developing interest, changing tack when interest is lost, reading an audience, speaking directly to my audience, and doing it all without prompts. I had a manager in SAB who believed the art of a good speaker was someone who could get up in front of an audience and convey his message without having prepared a thing. I fall well short of that mark!

I don’t think I am a trainer. It is something I do when asked, in order to pay the bills. Training is certainly not my passion. However it may be a small step on the way to me becoming a public speaker. Now that excites me! Public speaking has not always been a dream of mine. Instead it is something that has crept up on me with some stealth. Perhaps the experiences of the last year have lent some support to the notion I could be a good speaker and share something of a worthwhile message.

Therein of course lies the problem, the lack of a message which is interesting and worthy of a listenership. I have no amazing speciality, in depth research, wonderful stories, or even a remotely good stand on an issue. I do have a passion for fatherhood and the family and plenty of counter society thought. I fear it is not enough.

If this past year has taught me anything, it is that the unexpected happens. And when it does, one hopes you will be in the audience to cheer me on.

The Gift of Children

I was thinking this morning about how blessed I am to have the children I do. Sure they often act up and act out, but they are all amazing individuals. I am most privileged to have been chosen to be their father. I hope and pray I can fulfil my part of the bargain and be the best possible father to each of them. To be there when they need me, and even when they don’t. To have the right advice for them in times of trouble. To share loads of laughs, adventures, sporting triumphs, and defeats. To hold their hands when they need comforting. To guide them wisely when they go astray. And most of all to love and appreciate them for who they are!

It struck me that all children should have parents who feel this way about them. That those children were equally blessed to have parents willing to sacrifice and serve, in order for them to grow up into better adults.

Even though I am the parent, my children definitely make me strive to be a better me. And that has to be good news for everyone!

It made me smile to think of other parents loving their children just as passionately as I love mine.

How wonderful if this was a blessing bestowed on every child, but sadly it just isn’t so!

Heavy Concentration

It has been a long time.

Blogging just does not seem to fit in with the lifestyle of the travelling facilitator. A two day course repeated every 3 days over the last two weeks, each in a different town around the country, has drained me of any ability to communicate. The fact that I designed the course, has added extra pressure as it required optimisation post each iteration.

So far four courses down and one to go! They have gone well, and the ratings have been good. And I now have a weekend and the following week to find myself again, before launching into course number five.

Training management using a free flow discussion format requires nine hours of focussed concentration each day. On my feet and thinking, guiding conversations, eliciting insights, and playing the clown. By the end of the day, I am poor conversation, completely tapped out.

I have of course enjoyed much of the debate and conversation. I also cannot believe how much the course has improved as I have improved in my delivery, timing, and program changes. And I am getting paid for this piece of work, which makes a wonderful change for much of my effort this year.

There is light in the tunnel, but where the end may be is anyone’s guess! I like it that way…

So Strange

Is it possible that some recessed genes are finally making their appearance in my family?

 

I suppose what everyone has always known, a really strange bunch!!

Just remember. two heads are always better than one...