Motivational Speeches
January 19th 2009 09:58
Over the weekend we've had out half-yearly company conference and awards ceremony in Sydney, and were surprised that the company had invited Kieren Perkins to be our guest speaker.
As much as we all liked him, we really weren't really that keen on sitting there for an hour listening to someone blab on their life and career.
Over my life so far I've had my share of listening to motivational speeches. We had someone come speak to us once a year in high school and at my university graduation we had the then-CEO of IBM speak to us about his career and opportunities in IT in general. As much as all of these people were motivational and all encouraged us to do our best and never give up, none really stood out to make that much of an impact as Kieren did on Saturday afternoon.
And yes I was surprised, as he would have to be on the top of my list of the best speakers I've heard so far - even better than those in the finals of a Toastmasters contest.
At first, like all over speakers he spoke about his childhood and various stages of his life. He mentioned good and bad things and was in general quite a modest sportsman. I think what was different about his speech, was that even though he was talking about him and swimming, he didn't forget who he was talking to, and tied it up all in the end. He spoke of his childhood failures in swimming and how he learnt to keep a long term goal yet still not to lose sight of the everyday. He was happy as long as he was improving on his times even if he came last in a race, because, as he taught us - as long as he was moving forward, it means his efforts are paying off.
Did you know that even though he lost the race at the Sydney games to Grant Hackett, he in fact did one of his best person times? Even though for everyone else, he had lost the height of his career, to him, he did his best and could not be more happy about it.
And that, he reminded us, is what we should aim for. Doing our personal best. Sometimes you cannot always compare to others as things always change and the best is always going to be challenged. However compete with ourselves, and know that at the end of the day we have achieved what we wanted, and that we could not have done any better than we just did, then we have achieved something.
Of course, we all want to be the best in everything and have the best in everything, but with that we forget that to achieve the big goals in the end we all have to step up a little at a time. So even though you have aim to be the best in 2 years time, don't forget that it is TODAY you need to make sure you put your efforts in to get just that little closer to your goal.
He also taught us about team work. Swimming, although is seen to be more of an individual sport, is actually a team sport. Behind each swimmer you have a coach, you have physio, you ave doctors, you have scientists and you have family. Each and every person has a role in our success and each and every person should be recognised for everything achievement. And to relate to our job, he said "even if you are the best sales person here, you would not be the best if your company does not exist to support you."
So yes that was a mighty motivational weekend we've just had, and I am going to live each day to my fullest.
Will you join me?
As much as we all liked him, we really weren't really that keen on sitting there for an hour listening to someone blab on their life and career.
Over my life so far I've had my share of listening to motivational speeches. We had someone come speak to us once a year in high school and at my university graduation we had the then-CEO of IBM speak to us about his career and opportunities in IT in general. As much as all of these people were motivational and all encouraged us to do our best and never give up, none really stood out to make that much of an impact as Kieren did on Saturday afternoon.
And yes I was surprised, as he would have to be on the top of my list of the best speakers I've heard so far - even better than those in the finals of a Toastmasters contest.
At first, like all over speakers he spoke about his childhood and various stages of his life. He mentioned good and bad things and was in general quite a modest sportsman. I think what was different about his speech, was that even though he was talking about him and swimming, he didn't forget who he was talking to, and tied it up all in the end. He spoke of his childhood failures in swimming and how he learnt to keep a long term goal yet still not to lose sight of the everyday. He was happy as long as he was improving on his times even if he came last in a race, because, as he taught us - as long as he was moving forward, it means his efforts are paying off.
Did you know that even though he lost the race at the Sydney games to Grant Hackett, he in fact did one of his best person times? Even though for everyone else, he had lost the height of his career, to him, he did his best and could not be more happy about it.
And that, he reminded us, is what we should aim for. Doing our personal best. Sometimes you cannot always compare to others as things always change and the best is always going to be challenged. However compete with ourselves, and know that at the end of the day we have achieved what we wanted, and that we could not have done any better than we just did, then we have achieved something.
Of course, we all want to be the best in everything and have the best in everything, but with that we forget that to achieve the big goals in the end we all have to step up a little at a time. So even though you have aim to be the best in 2 years time, don't forget that it is TODAY you need to make sure you put your efforts in to get just that little closer to your goal.
He also taught us about team work. Swimming, although is seen to be more of an individual sport, is actually a team sport. Behind each swimmer you have a coach, you have physio, you ave doctors, you have scientists and you have family. Each and every person has a role in our success and each and every person should be recognised for everything achievement. And to relate to our job, he said "even if you are the best sales person here, you would not be the best if your company does not exist to support you."
So yes that was a mighty motivational weekend we've just had, and I am going to live each day to my fullest.
Will you join me?
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Hi Katyzzz - it was compulsory, but the company always put up a good party so I didnt mind the free grog after wards