Two Training Meetings—Three Slides
July 19, 2010This week I started training on a new workshop. So far, I have had two training sessions and my progress so far is three slides. I know that doesn’t seem like very much progress and it is even more interesting when you find out that my homework was to go back and work on the same three slides to show Bruce, our trainer, what I can do.
To give you some perspective, this is not my first rodeo. By the above paragraph, you might think that I’ve never done a workshop or spoke in public before. But actually just with Financial Finesse, I’ve given over 200 workshops and webcasts as well as hosting our monthly podcast, Your Money Minute for the past two years. Before that I was on ABC news in Northern California as a regular guest for 5 years as well as being a guest and guest host on a weekly radio program. Over my 25 years as a planner, I’ve given many presentations – far and wide. So what’s with the three slides?
I don’t know yet but Bruce does. In the training arena, he owns that space and has proven himself with amazing results. So essentially he is going to take me from a 10K runner to an Iron Man triathlete in workshops. The homework he gave me was really tough (I won’t go into the details) – I think it is harder to work in depth on one slide to make everything I say count and make an impact. Bruce is making me break it down so everything I say makes an impact.
I experienced something like this a few years ago when I took a “learn to row” class. When I signed up for the class to row crew, I thought it was at 5:00 pm and my husband pointed out it was at 5:00 am but I went anyways even though I am not a morning person because I had always wanted to row in a shell with 8 women. The group of women that showed up for the class were already accomplished athletes. Our coach started us off on a fake shell right on the dock so we were able to put the oar in the water. He took it one step at a time … one excruciatingly slow step it seemed at the time.
We finally graduated to the water with half of us putting our blades flat to steady the very rocky boat while the other half rowed in unison following the stern pair of rowers. After what seemed like 100 years later, we were all together listening to the thump thump of the oars and the swish of the slide as we moved back and forth on the seats. Having 8 rowers working as one in a balanced boat is an amazing thing.
This group of women went from rowing on the dock to racing in a few short months. We raced all over California with the Masters rowing club. Whenever there was a collegiate race, the Masters show up and race the course when the college teams were done. It was such a great experience – that was one of the best times of my life. All due to an amazing coach who ended up leaving us to coach rowing at the University of Washington instead of working with a bunch of eager athletic middle aged women in Northern California – a good move for him. He is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.
Until Bruce. Bruce is better. I can’t tell you why exactly. But I can see it in his eyes and I can feel it. He’s done it with our new planners so I am excited to see what he can do with me. I’ll keep you posted.