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good morning bigmoose chums,
as i sit here typing i reflect on the past week, it has been very full one.
we have had some very challenging client situations, which our fantastic therapists, and brilliant bigmoose team have handled with aplomb, and i am very proud of everyone involved, this work we do really can be life or death.
but when faced with the trickiest of situations, everyone on the team remains calm, works out the best strategy, and implements the plan with almost military precision.
it is wonderful to watch, and when the pressure has been applied everyone involved has performed in an exemplary fashion.
on a personal note, i completed my 20th talk this week, which was for a networking group of about 100 people in newport, and it was especially challenging, as it was only for 10 minutes, so i had to distill an hours talk down, and try to keep it coherent.
it seemed to flow, they laughed at my gags, looked very attentive, and i was very pleased with the way it went.
until the end.
i had asked if anyone wanted to join us on our bigmoose adventure, and a number of hands went up, which was brilliant, and i encouraged them to give me their details at the end.
but then i invited questions.
which is always the unknown, no amount of preparation can prepare you for what can happen.
at first no questions, then an awkward hand went up, and we were off to the races.
i ad libbed, and we were going swimmingly, and heading towards a nicely wrapped up finish.
i was just about to say my thank yous, when i saw a lady i had been speaking to at the beginning of the event slowly raise her hand.
my spider senses knew something was up, and as i directed the rooms attention to one more question, my heart started beating faster.
“mine isn’t a question, it’s a story about bigmoose” the lady offered.
buckle up i thought, where’s this headed.
“my son recently attempted suicide, and even after the episode we have been unable to get help though the nhs, but after we approached bigmoose, we had communication back within 24 hours, and a therapist appointment within a week, and now after only two sessions i have my son back, and he wants to be alive.”
she waxed lyrical about our speed, and i could see the audience were mesmerised, i could not have had a better or more timely testimonial, and as she finished speaking i thanked her and suggested this be a perfect end to the presentation, and the applause was loud and full of vim.
i had a queue of people giving me business cards, and writing their details down in my book, and i am excited to evaluate the connections made, but so far it feels extremely positive, and i was left to reflect on the potential power a ten minute talk can have, and how storytelling is intrinsically what entertains and stimulates humans, from caveman times, to books, theatre, movies, social media, we all love a story.
it’s interesting for me to reflect on how only now at this stage of my life am i really understanding this, and probably that i need to harness the energy that this medium has, and use it as a vehicle for me and bigmoose to grow.
so i suppose it would be remiss of me not to tout my wares here, and ask you, as blog readers, to look at how you could possibly plug me in to any speaking opportunities you might have in your world, and the beauty of zoom calls is that i can talk to anybody globally, so wherever you are reading this, you can help.
i think i mentioned before i have decided to attempt to run a 50k ultramarathon, and i entered block two of my training regime, i am loving having a physical goal, and some discipline in my regime, so no booze or chocolate for 19 days, and my training distances are ramping up, and i am pleased with progress so far, so watch this space.
to wrap up today, a quick catchup on my recent talk to the really small room and audience, one of the group has signed up for two bikes, with another pending, so you never second guess what might possibly happen, just keep doing talks, keep telling the story, and keep getting people to join the adventure.
i look forward to hearing from you.
have a great week.
blue skies,
jeff
p.s. betty can now count to a hundred.
