People, events, words, and images all inspire me. What inspires you?
In honor of black history month, www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
Here are a few amazing people whose words I cherish. In addition, I often share these quotes with learners. May they inspire you beyond this month.
Dr. .Maya Angelou continues to inspire
Dr. Maya Angelou (speaker, poet, author, activist)
“If you get, give.
If you learn, teach”
I’m not the only ‘teacher’ in my workshops. I often encourage learners to teach each other to reinforce the skills for themselves and give their peers a different perspective from mine. This quote also serves to remind us of the commitment to helping each other in the workplace and in life.
Booker T. Washington (educator, advisor, orator)
“I have learned that success is not to be measured so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed.”
Measuring success by a position in your organization can be very limiting. Many achievements in the workplace come from individual projects, relationship making, and learning by mistakes. So much about failing and learning from challenges indicates true success.
Cicely Tyson (actress)
“Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew”
One of my favorite moments in any workshop is when someone shares an insight they are having about themselves for the first time. This honesty is so refreshing. It builds trust between participants and is the first step for an individual to make changes.
Jackie Robinson, (first African American baseball player in the Major Leagues)
“Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you are wasting your life.”
This quote reminds me of this courageous man, my love of baseball, and the importance of getting in the game. Not sitting back and wasting your precious life. It’s about finding what’s in your ‘circle of control’ and exercising that which you can say, do, and think to impact change for yourself or for others.
Also by Dr. Maya Angelou
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
I frequently call on this quote to express that presentation skills are not just about giving your audience information. Memorable presentations evoke a feeling and action often achieved through personal stories. Developing Powerful Presentations
