In that first year, I miss quite a few singing lessons. Apart from the bout of pneumonia, I am travelling to Sydney once or twice each month to participate in a business development program with a group called Thought Leaders. It is about how to create a business as an information expert; how to capture, package and sell your knowledge for commercial success.
Most of these visits are mid-week, so I miss my Wednesday night singing lesson.
I'm not sure what or how to practise. The rock songs I'm preparing for Weekend Warriors are not really the sort of songs you need to practise. Learn the melody and the words; then sing loudly, so the musicians don't drown you out!
The year draws to an end. I notice that AIIMS School of Rock is having an end of year concert. There are notices advising of the deadline for singers to register. I don't have the confidence to nominate myself. My teacher has not suggested that I perform. I'm not good enough, and I allow the deadline to pass without entering myself into the show.
But the year has brought development of another kind. I've been immersed in the Thought Leaders program; unsurprisingly this course is called The Immersion Program. It's exposed me to new ways of thinking. It represents a new world for me; a completely different way of working. I am dazzled by the options; keynote speaking, training, mentoring, facilitation, coaching and writing. It is very different from legal practice, where you simply do the work that comes in the door; your work chooses you, not the other way around.
Keynote speaking would be great - if I was any good at speaking. For most of my life I had avoided public speaking. I've forced myself to do it professionally. As a lawyer I gave talks to groups of accountants. I worked as a University lecturer for 7 or 8 years, so it became part of my job. I can give a reasonably good lecture. But although I've come a long way during this year, I'm not up to the standard of the "big city" speakers I've been watching. I cannot engage and entertain in the way they do.
But when the new year dawns, my friend Darren offers me a solution to fix this problem - Toastmasters. I visit his club, and by the end of the meeting it is clear to me that this is exactly what I need to build my confidence. I feel drawn to this supportive group of people who are working hard to improve their public speaking skills. I join that evening, and six years later, I am still a member. I can't imagine ever leaving.
The Toastmasters method works brilliantly. You start with a book of ten speech projects; each one designed to develop a particular skill. After that there are advanced project books (including one on Keynote Speaking). At each meeting there is a segment of Impromptu Speaking where you are given a topic and must immediately get to your feet and speak to it for one minute. It makes the adrenaline surge. Being able to give an impromptu speech means that you do not have to be scripted - a skill that has proved invaluable ever since. And, intoxicatingly, there are competitions. In my first year I am shoved into all four contests, including the Humorous Speech Competition. I protest that I am not funny. But no one accepts this - they want me to compete. In the first year my speech is not very funny. But I get a few chuckles, and this provides encouragement to continue. The competition gives you permission to try. Even if it doesn't work, the group will applaud your effort.
I begin to learn that I can be funny, and this is a revelation to me.
All these skills become very useful as I start to perform more often.
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