Love What You Do

On Friday I spoke to the Intergovernmental Training Council for the State of Texas. The opportunity, not so ironically, came to me because of a connection I had made through the Ripple several years ago. My colleague and friend Gordon Leeks has been a big fan of the Ripple concept and when the opportunity arose he suggested to the council that I would be a good presenter for them. An endorsement that I appreciate more than he could possibly know.

I will admit I was a little nervous going into Friday. Whenever you find yourself speaking to an audience of people who do what you do, it can be a little nerve-racking. As I drove there that morning I had this incredible internal dialogue with myself as I tried to calm my nerves a bit. Though I get nervous almost anytime I speak, I challenged myself to rise about my nervousness and not worry about impressing them. I reminded myself to forget doing my presentation like I would expect they would expect it to be done; I wasn't there to do their presentation, only mine. I had to be myself and not be intimidated by their years of experience and their potential reaction to a concept that might seem at first a bit foreign to them.

After all, they don't know the power of the Ripple - I do.

The presentation went smooth as butter. I hit all of my high points and managed to take them through the roller coaster of emotions that my presentations are designed to evoke. The cogs were turning and I could see that my presentation had not only been successful...it had been a hit. I was thrilled and as I walked "off stage" I smiled to myself and thought that's the way to do it Harper!

As I packed up my stuff to leave one of the women in the group came up to me and paid me one of the neatest compliments I have ever been paid. She said, "In all my years of going to trainings and presentations, I have never seen anyone with as much passion and enthusiasm as you have. I thoroughly enjoyed what you had to say and I actually learned something that I am anxious to apply. Thank you." She shook my hand and gave me a wink. Wow! How cool is that?

I love presenting on the Ripple. I don't care what kind of audience, group or company it is. I know somewhere somehow the message that I give can and will make an impact on someone. Because I love what I do it becomes that much easier to overcome any self-doubt or nervousness that might otherwise try and derail me from my message. I know that without a doubt I was born to do what I am doing right here, right now.

What about you? Do you love what you do? Do you get an opportunity to be passionate about the work that you do? If not please, please take a hard look at that. Don't waste time on something that isn't you...something you can't put 100% of yourself into. It's an overused saying but life really is too short!

Take the chance. Find your passion. Do what you love. The world will rise up to meet you if you do.

Trust me. If I can do what I love you can too.

Ripple On!!!