Given a Small Chance
Several weeks ago I received an email from a work colleague. In that email she asked me if I would be the keynote speaker for an annual career event for students from an area college, College of Saint Elizabeth. I did a praise dance in my seat upon reading the words in the email. This was the type of chance I was looking to receive in order to help me achieve my dream of being a professional speaker.
In my mind, when I hear “keynote speech,” I envision an audience of thousands of people and delivering a speech 30 minutes to an hour. The opportunity I was given was nothing like that. I was going to be speaking to small audience. There would only be nine students, a panel of six to seven fellow colleagues, the career counselor, a mentor, a moderator, and possibly a small group of supporters of our colleagues. That was it. In addition, I was allotted 15 minutes to speak.
I recall my excitement in telling people that I was being given an opportunity to give a keynote speech. Each time someone congratulated me on having such an opportunity, I responded by saying, “It is not big, but it is an opportunity.” I see that small chance differently now. It was more than opportunity. I believe that one small chance will one day lead to something amazing!
No Matter How Small, Make the Best of Your Moment
Is there something in your life that you viewing as, “Eh, it's not that big?” If it is something that will help get you to where you want to go, make the best of it.
I had 15 minutes to give advice to a group of young women that will help them in the next phase of their life. For that 15 minutes, I prepared much like if I were going to speak for an hour to a room packed with thousands of people who had waited months to hear me speak.
After I had finished speaking, the mentor for the students gave me her business card. She wanted to know more about my speaking. Later that day I had a notification on my Twitter page. I had been given a shout from the career counselor. The next day she and a student provided testimonials for my speaking website, pamelaburke.com.
I don't have it twisted. I am sure it will take me some time to make it to that stage with an audience numbered in the thousands and me having so many speaking requests that I have to say no to some of the opportunities, but until such time, I will make every small chance that I get count. That is because one day the collection of those small chances will lead me to something truly amazing!
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