We Will Overcome

I recently spoke at an online event. That may not sound like a big deal to most of you, however, I’m not a speaker. I can train a group of people on a variety of event planning, project management, and volunteer team supervision topics. I used to be a singer and can stand in front of a room, no problem.. I am an instrumentalist in my spare time, I play the oboe with a local civic orchestra and am used to soloing. I am a volunteer producer once in a while and I have no problem telling people what to do. I have lots of thoughts, am responsible for a great deal, and have mentored several up and coming young people. Public speaking, not so much. 

So when I was asked to share something which I am fairly well versed in, policies and procedures, I was honored and delighted to impart some tidbits of information to others about what most consider boring details and mundane administrative tasks. Then I came to the realization I couldn’t write a witty blog and send it off. I had to be in front of the camera, recorded, cut in stone for all of time. So I wrote a script and rehearsed for weeks.

I tweaked what I wanted to say and practiced the delivery. I crafted a crazy setup in my home office to get the lighting, camera angle, and background just so (see my previous blog “Watch What You’re Watching“ for do’s and don’ts of being on camera). I worked on supporting documentation to share with those who dared to watch.

At show-time I donned makeup (which I never wear), curled my hair, and set out to do my level best to be helpful and serve those who tuned in. Then, I discovered Microsoft did an update overnight the night before my presentation and my computer logged me off randomly twice as I was doing my final run-through…. seriously? I went to dim my screen so there wasn’t a glare behind me and the update removed the bar where I can make that adjustment on my own… ok, what’s happening here? I live in a townhouse, and today, at this moment, the landscape crew decided it was time to mow, edge, and leaf-blow right outside my window, and in the direction of our house (my office is half-sunk in the basement)…am I on candid camera? Despite these hurdles, I felt I delivered the presentation I set out to do. Mission accomplished. 

Or so I thought.

Life had one more curve-ball. Due to some random turn of events, my session was inadvertently recorded over during a later session. Gone. Just like that. I can’t say I didn’t have a lump in my throat for an hour. But, we will overcome. I am scheduled to re-record the session again soon. Perhaps things will be even better the second time around.

Have you had anything set you back? Care to share what you learned? You can share here or email me, I’d love to know I’m not the only one!

PS…About a week later, we hit the reset button. I re-set up my office, computer, camera, background, and lighting. I continued to review my material. I donned the makeup and fancy shirt. I locked the whiny cats out of the office. Ready. Set. Go. This time, we were successful. It wasn’t the same session as I delivered before. I wouldn’t say it was better or worse, just different. I had the chance to answer questions from the moderator which was actually my favorite part. Lesson learned – you can overcome.