What I Learned From The Man Who Talked To The River
I once worked for a corporation that had its offices close to a river. It was a beautiful location with great views. Lunch-hour walks became the most satisfying part of my workday.
Something I witnessed along my walking path one day, completely changed how I had perceived and practiced my talks up until that day.
On a dry summer day, as I was walking, I heard a distant but faint voice. I stopped and listened. It sounded more like a one-way talk than a conversation.
As I walked closer, I saw a man standing at the edge of the riverbank, facing the river and talking. He was talking with a full voice. His animated hand gestures and occasional shake and nod of his head were very visible.
It became quite clear to me that this man was practicing a talk!
I spotted him on a few more occasions during that summer at different locations along the riverbank. Then never saw him again!
Even though I wasn’t giving many talks during that phase of my career, what I observed from that man, certainly made me introspect my attitude and my approach towards conference talks.
At times we yearn for a stage to deliver a talk. When an opportunity finally arrives, many of us become casual and reluctant to go the extra mile to do it…
