Anju Gattani's Blog - Posts Tagged "public-speaking"
Life - the real roller-coaster
Hi,
Saturday, March 30, was a special day in my life as an author. I was invited as the Chief Guest to the North South Foundation's annual event at Georgia State University - a series of academic competitions for kids (spelling & geography bees, essay writing, public speaking, math...). I was asked to speak to the attendees and their parents and judge the public speaking and essay competitions.
I didn't know what to talk about and we'd just returned from our trip to Orlando, Florida - home of the roller-coasters, 3-D simulation rides and mountains of fun! Switching gears to the competitive atmosphere was a kick in the behind - a wake-up call to the life of every struggling writer and author.
Competition.
It's there from the first word we write, to the last word in the last chapter... From the moment we start submitting queries, partials, full manuscripts to agents to rejections to final publication of the novel... I've been through it all, like many of you, and I didn't know what to share with these bright minds with a future sparkling ahead.
I knew one thing - I had to be positive.
So I talked about the momentum of roller coaster rides I took that week, and how I lost my voice during the thrill of the rides. I talked about what competition brings out in each one of us as an individual and how winning the trophy doesn't determine success or failure. Competitions bring out the best in us and give us a sense of achievement no one can take away. They give us skills that won't lessen with time or deteriorate from lack of winning the 1st place. Set-backs are stepping stones to success.
"Life," I ended "is a roller-coaster. Enjoy the ride!"
Saturday, March 30, was a special day in my life as an author. I was invited as the Chief Guest to the North South Foundation's annual event at Georgia State University - a series of academic competitions for kids (spelling & geography bees, essay writing, public speaking, math...). I was asked to speak to the attendees and their parents and judge the public speaking and essay competitions.
I didn't know what to talk about and we'd just returned from our trip to Orlando, Florida - home of the roller-coasters, 3-D simulation rides and mountains of fun! Switching gears to the competitive atmosphere was a kick in the behind - a wake-up call to the life of every struggling writer and author.
Competition.
It's there from the first word we write, to the last word in the last chapter... From the moment we start submitting queries, partials, full manuscripts to agents to rejections to final publication of the novel... I've been through it all, like many of you, and I didn't know what to share with these bright minds with a future sparkling ahead.
I knew one thing - I had to be positive.
So I talked about the momentum of roller coaster rides I took that week, and how I lost my voice during the thrill of the rides. I talked about what competition brings out in each one of us as an individual and how winning the trophy doesn't determine success or failure. Competitions bring out the best in us and give us a sense of achievement no one can take away. They give us skills that won't lessen with time or deteriorate from lack of winning the 1st place. Set-backs are stepping stones to success.
"Life," I ended "is a roller-coaster. Enjoy the ride!"
