The setting was perfect. I was introduced and asked to give a brief presentation on a funding proposal. The material was something I knew inside and out. This was going to be easy.

I stepped up to the microphone, smiled and made eye contact with audience. With their undivided attention, I opened my mouth and the train wreck started. The words coming out were all scrambled. My mind raced with eight different streams of thought. Nothing made logical sense. A phrase from one stream was followed by a sentence from another. The context was jumbled. I desperately wanted to convey the importance of this funding to our work and mission, but instead a potpourri of ideas made a multi-layered verbal collage. If this were performance art, I’m sure it would have been beautiful and material for great interpretation. But - - it was a presentation.

“Oh, I’m sure it wasn’t that bad. It just feels that way to you,” has been the consistent response from my co-workers when I inform them of last night’s disaster. They remind me that I am a “good speaker”.

Not last night! The confused looks on the face of my audience seemed to confirm that I was not “on”. Fortunately, they still approved the funds, which will allow us to continue preserving affordable housing for our clients.

It was a humbling experience. My verbal stumbling confirms how important it is to be prepared, think through what you are going to say and then just speak honestly and sincerely.

And, maybe it wasn’t that bad. My speaking certainly didn’t convey my deep-felt commitment to our work. Fortunately, the end result was positive.

Next time - - no performance art delivered from the podium - - I promise!

Nervous Nellie or Networker Extraordinaire???
by: Shannon

For each of the last two days I have been at events that include a significant networking element. Wednesday was a breakfast event where a large ballroom was filled with some people working the crowd at a fever-pitch. Others were sitting quietly at their table, waiting patiently for the event to start.

Then last night I was at the Leadership Fairfax 2007 Commencement. Amid the crowd of self-identified leaders, there were very few sitting quietly waiting for the event to begin. The organizers had the opposite problem on their hands. It was a struggle to get people to stop networking! First they tried announcements via the microphone, tapped knives on waterglasses, and finally they got the talking to cease.

So, which one is you at an event - - nervous Nellie or networker extraordinaire? People tend to put them in one category or another. My coworkers at the breakfast event described me as confident and covering most of the room. Me? I must be more like my father than I thought. He has never met a stranger. An inscription in his high school yearbook sums him up perfectly, “Witty and clever, talks on forever!” Surely I didn’t inherit that trait???

I was rifling through my desk this afternoon and came across a photo that captures many of my thoughts and memories of Jean. She is sorting through a box of donated clothing and holds up a pair of thermal underwear. There is a sly grin on her face. It is one of those photos just waiting for a caption.

About a year ago I showed Jean the photo and asked her for the context behind the image. She just patted me on the shoulder, smiled and said, “wouldn’t you like to know!”

Classic Jean- - living life with zeal, a healthy sense of humor and just enough mystery to keep everyone on their toes. I have no earthly idea what Jean is doing with the underwear, but it makes me smile. That is how I want to remember Jean.