This is a picture of me speaking on stage 2 years ago in front of 7000 people. Look at the glow of happiness, the determination, the buzz from inspiring others, the focus…tells a beautiful fairytale, but we never know the story behind it until it is told.
Behind that success on stage is a story of gloom leading up to it…anxiety, tiredness, belittlement, but it’s always the darkness that makes the story a true success.
In my days leading up to the event I was excited but also anxious. I suffer from anxieties towards huge events which lead me to sometimes have days with little sleep. When I was announced as a speaker for the event literally the whole of the group went crazy about me they were excited to see The Man of Sattitude on stage, however I had anxieties for the few months leading up to it…I probably won’t sleep, It’s a new thing for me how would I cope in front of such a huge audience? On top of that, I was staying in a hotel…how would I sleep in an environment I am not used to? That increased my anxiety further.
The big day was on Saturday th 6th of January 2018, on the Thursday night leading into Friday I did not sleep a wink. I was nervous, frustrated, angry. I was to rehearse on that Friday but I didn’t sleep so I was pretty upset, but I had to pull myself together to just do it. All evening that night I was anxious, I didn’t want to meet anyone, just tried to rest as much as I could…BUT I COULD NOT LET THIS BEAT ME, so go out I did and meet some friends. I started to feel relaxed, and I also spoke to a few people about how I was feeling. When told this was exactly what they went through when they spoke It relaxed me a little.
So I went back to the hotel early and went to bed, feeling a bit more relaxed but I wasn’t falling asleep as the adrenaline pumped around me. After listening to some music I felt more relaxed and eventually fell asleep…it was like yoga, only with music that motivated me more.
I was so happy when I got up having slept, I was excited and ready to rock, but now the anxiety of speaking in front of a huge audience, for the first time, kicked in….NO,NO,NO, I was not going to let it beat me so I rehearsed a few times, put my positive music on and turned that anxiety to excitement and focus.
1 hour before gearing up to speak, I was confronted by some leaders in the business telling me that I was not worthy of standing with the line up of other speakers. They had all been on various overseas destinations and had big teams. I had not qualified for 1 in 11 years and had a very small team…but What defined me was being different and also the character I became that inspired many. Highlighting this fact to these egotistical fools and just freezing past them with confidence gave me that extra motivation to su play be my best.
When I spoke I did what no other speaker ever did at that showcase.. I did not use PowerPoint, just me and the stage. I felt incredible, and most importantly…I DID IT!
In life, you will always face challenges towards doing what you love, but it is always how you respond that truly matters. Your life’s challenges are what truly make your journey the greatest fairy tale as it is from these journeys you grow and become stronger.
#Sattitude #MindsetMaster #PositivityFreak #DarknessIsGlory #NeverGiveUp #Focus #Determination #WillPower #StoryBehindSuccess #Defiance