When I was in high school, our football team wasn’t very good. My sophomore year we went 2-8, my junior year we went 2-8, and then my senior year….we went 1-9.
Woof.
Before all of our games my senior year, we had a team dinner. And during that dinner, we had a local church pastor give some remarks to help get us in the right headspace.
He knew we weren’t very good, we knew we weren’t very good, but we also all knew that we had to get out there and give it our best shot. Pastor Meyer would tell us some story that was either a parable, or just a story to inspire us, and then he’d talk to us about the importance of going out there and performing as best we could.
I most distinctly remember him ending several of his talks by spreading his arms, smiling, and nodding his head saying, “There will be a lot of folks watching tonight…put on a show, gentlemen…put on a show.”
For whatever the reason, that line has stuck with me for a long time.
When it comes to any type of performance, where my behavior will be seen — whether it’s public speaking, giving a webinar, recording a podcast…I think about the audience being there to be engaged or entertained, and hear Pastor Meyer.
Even when I’m not feeling totally confident in the outcome, or in my own ability, I still try my best to put on a show.
