Conquering My Fear: How I Spoke at the Executive Banquet and Achieved My Dream

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Discussion Overview

This thread centers around a participant's experience speaking at the Executive Banquet, sharing personal feelings about overcoming fear and the excitement of achieving a significant milestone within the Pampered Chef community.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shared their experience of being invited to speak at the Executive Banquet and the nerves associated with it.
  • Several participants expressed excitement and congratulations for the speaker's achievement.
  • One participant noted that public speaking is often considered a significant fear for many people.
  • Another participant mentioned the challenge of speaking in front of peers compared to other audiences.
  • Some participants commented on the honor of being asked to speak, especially by a National Executive Director (NED).
  • One participant shared a humorous anecdote about their husband’s experience at the conference, highlighting logistical challenges.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

General agreement exists among participants regarding the excitement and honor of speaking at the event, though individual experiences of fear and nervousness vary.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects personal experiences related to public speaking within the context of a community event, emphasizing emotional responses and peer interactions.

Who May Find This Useful

Participants within the consultant community who are interested in personal stories of overcoming public speaking fears and the emotional aspects of achieving professional milestones.

smspamperedchef
Silver Member
Messages
1,228
Oh my goodness! I so wanted to mention this before but actually kept a secret. Not that anyone asked me to but if I spilled it would have made me more nervous.

Carol Radu called me up personally and asked me if I would speak at the Executive Banquet! I so wanted to tell her "NO"! but I did not. She was asking a few different people to speak about their dreams and how they achieved them. Mine was achieving Directorship. She asked me to speak about Why I wanted to be a Director, What motivated me? What action steps I took to achieve it and how did it feel to finally reach my goal? Plus I had to do it in 3 minutes!!! Speaking in front of people at my shows is easy but getting up in front of my pears (even at a sales meeting) is nerve racking. There were about 170 people in attendance and believe it went well. If you were one of the ones that attended Carol's banquet I do hope you got something out of it and the few others that spoke as well! Just wanted to share! It was an exciting and frightening experience but I'm glad I did it!
 
Congrats!! How exciting! Good for you for getting over your fear and doing this. What an experience!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
I don't know if I actually GOT OVER MY FEAR! but it was pretty neat (once I was done) :)
 
That's awesome! What a neat honor!:)
 
How exciting Sharon!
 
How Awesome Sharon!

What an honor! Especially from a NED!!!
 
Kudos to yudos!!
 
Wow! I am proud of you for doing it even though you were scared!

Isn't it funny how it is so much HARDER to do something like that in front of our peers?!?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #9
PampMomof3 said:
How Awesome Sharon!

What an honor! Especially from a NED!!!
Hey! I looked for you but never found ya! I suppose I should have brought my phone # list or something. Would have been great to meet up.
 
I was there and you were great!!!!!
 
I read somewhere that public speaking is one of life's greatest fears.

Congratulatios on meking a good choice that was successfull!:)
 
  • Thread starter
  • #12
dannyzmom said:
I was there and you were great!!!!!
I would have so liked to meet you!!!
 
Sharon, you didn't look one bit nervous so do not worry about that. Did your husband enjoy conference? It is funny that you did not meet Carolyn since she stood right in front of your table when Carol announced the top ten in sales.

Congratulations Carolyn!!!! You are our Yoda here at Chef Success--LOL!
 
MGG said:
Sharon, you didn't look one bit nervous so do not worry about that. Did your husband enjoy conference? It is funny that you did not meet Carolyn since she stood right in front of your table when Carol announced the top ten in sales.

Congratulations Carolyn!!!! You are our Yoda here at Chef Success--LOL!

I'm your Yoda - LOLOL
You crack me up!! :)
 
  • Thread starter
  • #15
MGG said:
Sharon, you didn't look one bit nervous so do not worry about that. Did your husband enjoy conference? It is funny that you did not meet Carolyn since she stood right in front of your table when Carol announced the top ten in sales.

Congratulations Carolyn!!!! You are our Yoda here at Chef Success--LOL!
She did huh? HMMM. Well, wasn't thinking too much of Chef Success then so it didn't register. Oh Well.
I think my husband had a good time but was disappointed that he had to walk forever just to find a bathroom outside of general session. They had guards right in front of the men's room and wouldn't let men even go in to use it for a moment. Needless to say he was NOT happy!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What motivated you to speak at the Executive Banquet?

My motivation stemmed from a desire to share my journey and inspire others in the direct sales community. I wanted to show that overcoming fears can lead to personal and professional growth, and the Executive Banquet was the perfect platform to do so.

How did you prepare for your speech?

I spent weeks preparing by outlining my key points, practicing in front of friends and family, and visualizing my success. I also sought feedback to refine my message and boost my confidence.

What fears did you have to conquer before speaking?

My biggest fears included public speaking anxiety and the fear of judgment from my peers. I had to remind myself that everyone in the audience was supportive and that my story could resonate with many.

What was the most rewarding part of speaking at the banquet?

The most rewarding part was receiving positive feedback from the audience. Knowing that my story inspired others to pursue their dreams made all the hard work and fear worth it.

What advice would you give to someone considering speaking at a similar event?

I would advise them to embrace their fears and view the opportunity as a chance to grow. Preparation is key, and practicing in front of a supportive audience can help build confidence. Remember, your story is unique and valuable!

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