Potential has no expiry date
Yesterday I spent the day with the fantastic Players Executive Programme Team at FIFA in Madrid, recording modules on how to be a great public speaker. And as much as I love public speaking, I wasn’t born a public speaker!
Instead I spent almost 30 years in the corporate world, attending conferences and watching others command the stage. I would observe body language, tone, energy, the words that they used. I would make notes not only about the content, but also what I would do if I had the chance (and the ideas!).
At 45 — and having been passed over for a C-suite job — I took a leap, leaving my corporate role to work for myself and becoming a professional speaker was something I wanted to do. But desire wasn't enough; I needed to build (and continue to do so!) genuine expertise that would truly impact audiences.
I invested everything in my development: immersed myself in structured training courses with truly inspirational people, studied countless videos in the evenings and at weekends, and spent lots of time thinking about how I would stand out from the crowd.
I practiced relentlessly in front of mirrors and to imaginary audiences! When I got the opportunity to speak, each piece of audience feedback (positive and negative) shaped my growth. Every speech became an opportunity to refine my message and delivery.
This is a story that I share with others when they’re starting their own journey as a novice speaker because no one is born with a microphone in their hands.
Your untapped potential (or ambition) might look different. Perhaps you've got a creative talent buried under daily tasks, or leadership qualities hidden behind a desk job. The months and years on your calendar don't define what you can achieve. Your current role doesn't limit your future possibilities.
Your potential has no expiry date. The only barrier to achieving it is the decision to begin.
