Walking The Talk

I went on to finish what I had to say but now I felt slighted instead of feeling grateful

One of the highlights of our recent National Sales and Marketing Conference was an inspirational talk by one of the country’s top motivational speakers.

In one of the exercises he made us shake hands with a partner while we looked behind them, as if distracted by someone or something.  The takeaway from this exercise is to make us realize the value of focus.  Without focus, the speaker said, there’s no value and impact to what we are doing.

After the talk I went over to him to thank him for inspiring us and for sharing his valuable insight in inter-personal engagement with us.   The lessons have been clearly etched in my mind.   I shook his hand, and then realized that “Thank you” were my only words that he heard.   A colleague of mine had come up along side me and called him.   As he became distracted,  Mr. Motivator shifted his attention and started to talk with her – while shaking my hand.    I went on to finish what I had to say but now I felt slighted instead of feeling grateful.   The famous speaker had just contradicted himself after only a few minutes.   He did not practice what he preached.  He failed to walk the talk.