Really? I Should Take Time OFF????

As I sat with last year's District 18 Contest winner, Marin, after my own contest win, she recommended that I do some things differently than she did.  First, she said with vehemence, "Take this week off..... at LEAST!  If you can manage two weeks, take two..."  What??? Take time off?  But, I have to begin to prepare for the Convention!  I have to make adjustments to my semi-final speech!  I have to begin working on my World Championship speech! (If I am so blessed to have the opportunity to give it)  I can't take time OFF.... I have too much to do...

Her response?  "You don't HAVE to do anything..... right now."  She said her one regret was that she jumped from the District speech contest immediately into Semifinal prep mode.... and by the time she got to the Convention she was so exhausted, she didn't have much of a chance to really enjoy it.  Wow!  That spoke volumes to me!  I have attended two Conventions now... and LOVED them both!  I can't imagine attending this year's Convention and not enjoying it... maybe she had a point.

So, here I am, doing everything possible to take time off from my speech(es).  Do you know how difficult that is???  I've spent months practicing, fine-tuning, adjusting.... to suddenly stop doing that.... it's like ripping off my own arm... (ok, well my jaw...).  But, as time goes on, and the glow of victory begins to fade... it has become a little easier.  And, I'm beginning to see the benefit of a break.

If you are familiar with my "Time Out" speech (it's on YouTube.... and it's really, really bad - you've been warned), then you know how much I value the importance of taking a little time off.... from life.

How many times do you END your work-week with the feeling that you accomplished nothing?

How many times do you BEGIN the work-week already exhausted having not rested during the weekend at all?

How many times have you... spun your wheels only to go nowhere?

Uh-uh... that's what I thought... week after week after week, right?

A few years ago, my husband and kids asked me what I wanted for Christmas... Guess what I asked for...  Jewelry?  No.  Some DVDs?  Nope...  A trip to Mars?  Well..... you're close...

I asked for TIME OFF!!!  I wanted just ONE weekend without playing chauffeur... one weekend without laundry... one weekend where I didn't have to cut up anyone's meat!

Guess what???  I got it!!!  A few months later hubbie took Darling Son camping for the weekend and my parents took Darling Daughter to their place... AHHHHHHH!  Relaxation AT LAST!!!

Guess what I did with my time?  Absolutely NOTHING!!!  At the end of the weekend, I was rested... I was rejuvenated... I was.... missing my family terribly :)

 See?  Absence really DOES make the heart grow fonder!

My takeaway for you? I only want you to "Take" one thing:   Time Off!  Take 30 minutes and enjoy a cup of coffee for once.  Take an evening and spend it with your friends talking about nothing.... Take a Saturday at the park... without your iPhone! (Gasp!  Perish the thought!!!) Take.... Time.... Off!!!!!

I might even take two...

Who is it REALLY About?

Still high from my District International Speech Contest win, I think it's time to look back. What have I learned in the last 3 years so far? I've learned to fail... and get back up; I've learned to fall.... and get back up; I've learned what winning feels like... and get back up (nearly collapsed on the floor when they called my name for first place!). What's the theme here? GET BACK UP! Last year I didn't make it past Area (that's the 2nd level of competition if you're un-familiar with how Toastmasters does it). I was devastated! I didn't realize it at the time, but my husband said I moped around the house for weeks! That is until..... I was asked to be the Contest Master for the District International Speech Contest. What an honor! I couldn't believe it! I decided to try and make the experience as close to the International level as possible for the speakers (considering I had been in the audience for several of them). I set up the stage like they do at International; I created the Certificates like they do at International; I even made sure they had a "green" room to rest and prep. I KNEW this was going to be FUN!

Soon after the word got out around the District that I would be the Contest Master, I received dozens of emails, text messages, FB posts, and voicemails. All saying, "Hey, Liza! This is a GREAT opportunity for you to showcase your skills!" My reply? No way! This is NOT about me, this is about Them! This is THEIR show! I want to spend as little time on stage as possible. And, ya' know what? It went off without a hitch! The contest was awesome and I had an absolute BALL!!

Fast forward to the plane ride out to Vegas for the 2011 Convention. I began thinking about my next contest speech. "Hmmm, what am I going to talk about? What do I want my audience to hear? What message do I want to give?" Did you notice how many times I said, "I?" WAY too many! A little voice in the back of my head reared up and roared up:

"Hey IDIOT!!!! It's NOT about YOU! It's about THEM!!!"

What do you mean?

"It's not about YOU! It's about THEM!!! Your AUDIENCE!!!" {Lightbulb!!!}

Do you know how long people have been trying to tell me that? TOO LONG!! Yes, it is my story. Yes it is my speech. But, my JOB is to make that story RELATABLE to my audience! DUH! Once I realized that, I felt a huge burden lifted off my shoulders!

As a result, here I am a District Champion on my way to the International Speech Semi-Final round competition. And, I can't WAIT!!!

What is YOUR speech about? YOU? or THEM?