A Credible Claim to Pride
When I saw her name on the list I knew what I should do,
I just didn’t know if I could do it.
Little clue: If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be sharing this with you.
The fact that I am sharing is confirmation
this is the first time I’ve ever been this brazen.
We hadn’t met.
She presented at the National Speakers Association in San Diego two years ago.
Two years ago, that’s a long time.
And subsequently sent me a copy of her book.
Not because she knew me,
just because my name was on the list of attendees.
There is no way she would know me,
I didn’t go up to speak with her afterward,
I didn’t write her a note,
I didn’t make myself known to her in any way.
So I picked up the phone,
was grateful to get voicemal,
and left this message:
“Hello Elizabeth, My name is Wendy Kinney, I was in your audience when you spoke for NSA in San Diego two years ago. I see that you are speaking for the NAPO conference this Friday; I’m on the program too. The Georgia Chapter of NSA meets on Saturday, and our board dinner is Friday night. I’d love to invite you to join us, both for dinner and for our Saturday meeting. You can reach me at . . .”
Jump right to the end of the story.
I have two new friends!
Two.
Because Elizabeth called back to say she would love to join the
NSA board for dinner, could she bring her hostess.
(Elizabeth lives in Souix Falls, South Dakota.
She was staying with Leslie while in Atlanta.)
Friday morning Elizabeth and I met because
we were doing back-to-back breakouts in the same room.
We shared a lav mic, and tips.
She showed me the hot pink table cover
she uses to reinforce her brand;
I showed her the ZOOM I record on.
At the break she introduced me to her Atlanta hostess Leslie,
who shook my hand while saying,
“My husband has heard you speak.
He still has the handout on his desk, he said to tell you he refers to it frequently.”
In my after lunch keynote I shared with 100 women that
I am shy and introverted.
Across the table at dinner Elizabeth leaned forward to say
“I’m introverted too.
I’m so glad you called.
How did you make yourself do that?”
And then, we made arrangements to share a room in Scottsdale.
Cost: One phone call with heart in my hands.
Reward: New friend Elizabeth,
new friend Leslie,
and I save $225 in hotel expense!
Share with me! Share with me!
When have you done the hard thing you knew you should do,
and what where your wonderful rewards?
Update:
Elizabeth just emailed that she bought a Zoom and is enjoying using it.
Leslie has invited me to a networking event next month.
Gosh, I’m benefiting from this.
# Posted By Wendy L. Kinney | 10/27/08 10:04 PM
What a phenomenal story, Wendy…thank you for sharing it. Just another way that you use yourself as speaker, preacher and teacher, and you do it all seamlessly!
A million years ago when I was a teen and didn’t know any better, I wondered what skill set I would need in order to be on the radio, so I called the guy on the radio. He blew me off (without me knowing it) by telling me to go take a test at the FCC field office and get a 3rd class license with broadcast endorsement.
So I did.
Called him back and asked, “Now what do I need?” and he told me to come in and talk with him. He asked if I had any tapes, and I thought, “Sheesh, this is a radio station…don’t they have their own music?” but then realized as he set me up in the production studio that he meant tapes of me doing a radio show. Nope, never had done it, so couldn’t have a tape.
So I made one.
He was chuckling as he came back into his office, telling me it was the worst tape he had ever heard, and asking if I could start the following weekend.
And I did.
It was probably 3 months before I was allowed to do an actual show…had to learn how to run the equipment by running the board for the Sunday morning block of public affairs programming, but it was paid learning and showed me a way into a world I never knew existed.
And it was lessons I never forgot throughout 32 years in the radio business…a business I had a natural aptitude for, apparently, because 30 years of that career was in major market radio.
Never be afraid to ask something you don’t know.
Never be afraid to try something you haven’t done.
Never be afraid to stretch your wings to test how far they can take you on the winds of opportunity.
# Posted By Sandy Weaver Carman | 11/18/08 3:34 PM
Your story is terrific too!
Here’s what I’ve decided: I’m never sorry about something I did. I only have regrets about the things I didn’t do.
There’s a corollary to this: everything works . . . if you do it. [In other words, cold calling works . . . for people who cold call!]
Off to DO something – W!
PS – Benefit update: Leslie just invited George and I to dinner at her home, with with two other couples we don’t know!
# Posted By Wendy Kinney | 11/18/08 4:14 PM
Go get those benefits, Wendy…you EARNED them!
# Posted By Sandy Weaver Carman | 11/18/08 6:50 PM
Elizabeth just friended me on Facebook.