Member-only story
When you give your best, you ARE a celebrity.
Have you ever been mistaken for a celebrity? I have.
It all began at the Speaker’s Bureau December meeting. For those unfamiliar, the Speaker’s Bureau is a monthly Toastmasters event. It often invites extraordinary speakers, sometimes even celebrities.
I was there that night, ready to applaud the celebrity-level speeches. Before the meeting began, our host, Tom Jameson, called for a last-minute volunteer to take on the Timer’s role. The original Timer couldn’t make it. I was sitting in the front row. So I instinctively raised my hand. Why not?
Timer is a busy role. I managed the clock, waved timing cards to the speakers, and barely uttered a word throughout the meeting. By the end of the meeting, I approached Tom to give the Timer’s report.
That’s when I noticed a man approaching me. He looked at me up and down, and said, “I thought you’d give us a good show tonight. But you didn’t say a word… Hung.”
Hung?
“Me?” I blinked. “I wasn’t planning to speak tonight. I came to watch and learn.”
“Not speaking tonight? Wow, you’re such a great speaker!” Apparently, he was disappointed.
But I was utterly flattered. A great speaker? I’ve been working so hard over the…
