Life is not a fashion show
Some months back, I read an article titled ‘Only the Tough need apply’.
It talks about how a man recruit people by making demands on them instead of spoonfeeding their sense of entitlement and materialism. The main message is,
"Do not expect people to train you or make you grow. Training and growing depend on yourself, not other people. And it’s only when the going gets tough that more people will come forward and face the challenge."
One quote in the article caught my eye, "Life is not a fashion show." Took me a while to understand what it means thanks to a friend’s explanation. It means that we do not do things to show off to others. Personal growth and excellent depend on oneself, not with the intention of impressing people.
I thought the message was very appropriate for NUS Alumni Toastmasters Club’s Presidential Address and I use the story to relate it to public speaking. Thankfully, it went through smoothly and the audience got inspired. Quite a power-packed address and I guess in the midst of it, I too get inspired by my message.
Let me share a glimpse of it with you ^_^ -
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Public Speaking is not a fashion show.
We do not grow to show off to others.
We do not give speeches to get Distinguished Club Program award.
Neither do we let you move on to the next level of public speaking because we wanted that Distinguished Club Program point.
We focus on personal growth.
The experience of each meeting is a reward in itself.
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Come by choice.
You know what you want and need to learn.
The years of being an anxious and good child are over.
Somemore, the food is mediocre, the chairs are uncomfortable and the location, inconvenient.
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