Lat week I drove down to Portland to meet a friend and colleague. I’m not overly familiar with downtown Portland, so I brought my trusty friend Maggie to guide me. Maggie is my Magellan GPS.
As we approached the final exit that would take me to my destination, Maggie exclaimed that I should take the St. Helens exit, however pronounced it as the “Street Helens exit.” Made me chuckle as I envisioned the old Star Trek character Data telling Captain Picard the same thing.
The GPS wasn’t perfect. It didn’t understand the abbreviation and improperly pronounced the street. Regardless, I understood what it meant and it ultimately led me to my destination. It wasn’t perfect, bit successful.
Too often, speakers fear not being perfect. That should not be your goal. Success is the goal. You are succesful if your audience is improved. If you focus on your destination (audience improvement), you can easily overlook small errors that are barely noticed by anyone other than yourself.
Whether you are speaking, consulting, coaching, or working, always remember that it’s about success, not perfection!
© 2009 Dan Weedin – All Rights Reserved
