I was working with a client helping him with his presentation and as we were beginning to work, I noticed that at the top of all his pages, he wrote the letters ATAP, and I thought well now that’s interesting I wonder what that means. So, I asked, and he replied, “Well, when I was in high school, I had to give the valedictorian speech for my school, and I was nervous until a friend pulled me aside and gave me some advice. He told me at the top of every page I should write ATAP, and it calmed my nerves and ever since then every time I have to speak, I put that on my page because when you think about it friends All Things Are Possible – ATAP and then he put a little arrow pointing up…reminding him that All Things Are Possible.
I admit I thought that was a really good idea, especially for somebody who may be nervous about speaking or isn’t sure that their message is what they think people want to hear. So, I thought it would be a good thing to share with you today because I’ve actually started putting it on the top of my pages. The fact is when you stop and think about All Things Are Possible it is a great way to start any presentation that you may give and really who says it isn’t possible? Well, it is probably that little voice in your head or the voice of others, you know that voice the one that talks to you about you and can say the meanest things. Some of you need to turn off that voice and consider the options so you might find your way to possible.
Now the skeptic might scoff at such a simple thought, but I wonder why it couldn’t be true. I’m not saying it will be wine and roses because it might be beer and daisies, but the fact is if all things are possible, and you start with that mindset, I believe you’re setting yourself up for the best possible scenario. Because when all things are possible, and you make the choice to believe that to be true it helps you show up for success. So, for those of you who are nervous when you speak or before your next presentation remember, All Things Are Possible and only you can make the choice to believe.
As your friend and speech coach, let me give you a couple of tips that might actually help you along with All Things Are Possible. I want to talk for a minute about something I find so important: Do not major in the minor. Otherwise, you’ll wind up with a below-average speech or presentation. Let me say that another way that might hit closer to home is to don’t major in the minor. Otherwise, you’ll wind up with a below-average life.
As I travel and speak to all types of groups, I see that many people have come to a stop in their life at any age because they’re worried, they’re worried about life and death and kids and parents and money and health and wrinkles. They are worried about things that happen and things that don’t. So, how can I tell you to stop worrying about everything – let me start with the basics of not worrying about making mistakes everybody makes mistakes, it’s not the end of the world but what I find for too many folks don’t take the simple steps to do something big or small because they live in fear and that is why so many accomplish nothing in their amazing life because they’re stopped by fear. Many times, the thing they fear never happens.
I have a friend who wears an oversized button, that says life is not a dress rehearsal. I think that is an interesting statement that she wears, it really does put it in perspective. Friends now is the time you have to speak the truth out loud. You need to speak to be heard, you need folks to hear what you have to say and if you don’t speak there is a good chance that you and they are going to live a very tiny, little, forgettable life, and because of that I think you might have given your best life away so remember – life is not a dress rehearsal.
Let me add to that a thought, I’ve been speaking across the country and for some people, the only voice they will ever hear is your voice. Think about that you might be the only voice that somebody actually hears and listens to and for that reason I believe it is vitally important that you start speaking out loud and that you speak life into your friends and family who for many have no one to be that beacon of hope for their future.
Isn’t that amazing that it could be you.
I love the quote that I heard years ago it says, we’ve been telling people that this is the 11th hour now I think we got to go back and tell people that this is the hour. Friends now is the time; this is a place and starting today I want you to commit to living your best life ever. You could do so much more than you think you can, so much more than what you’re currently doing, this is not a to-do list. For some of you, I need to talk about your to-don’t list so maybe you’ll give yourself a little bit of a break — what I’m talking about is a life well lived.
There’s so much more to you than you realize you have many more capabilities than I believe you’re utilizing but you’ve got to turn off that small voice in your head that says you can’t and hear the loud voice that says you can. Start viewing the world from the rightful place where you’ve been given, and you are standing. Stop majoring in the minor – life is too short to waste in fear. If I can convince you that All Things Are Possible, and you stop majoring in the minor and that you take a second and realize what you have to offer many folks would love to hear from you and have and share.
People say to me all the time, but Deb, I don’t have anything to offer. I disagree; I meet people every day when I hear their life stories, I am constantly amazed at how much they do for others. For some of you if I could get you to slow down and not work so much for others but maybe put some of that energy into working for yourself, I believe you could turn your life around.
One way I encourage folks to do that as a speech coach is in the power of autosuggestion. Autosuggestion is when you pick a word that can help redirect your negative thoughts and help you find strength when you’re slipping away. I’m not sure what your word is going to be. You know it’s different for everybody but friends you’ve got to catch yourself and grab hold of something that can quickly reverse your negative thinking and restore your confidence. If I were to ask you what word you would say to yourself that would help you through a difficult time? What word or words would you use? Think about that – what word would you be able to cling to that could help you through a difficult time?
I always joke with my friends that I wake up every morning and say, Deb Sofield, you are a Rockstar, you are so funny, you are so wise, and I think about the line from the movie The Help You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important (my favorite line of that movie). The fact is I take inspiration anywhere I can find it, and I encourage you to do the same, so daily it sinks in and daily you (and I) realize that we’ve got great value.
Dennis Waitley, a national speaker says there are two primary choices in life to accept conditions as exist or accept responsibility for changing them. It’s very interesting when you think about that, you can accept what is or you can accept responsibility for changing them. I hope that as you’re looking to this next week and as you put that list together you will think about if you will accept life as it is and what would be the outcome, versus if you were to make a change, it could be a little change, or perhaps using autosuggestion it might be a big change. So, claim your word to make the change.
I have seen so many times in business and life that small things seem to knock good people down and if that is you, I think you’ve got to find that lifeline, so find your auto-suggestion word and use it. For me many times is the old commercial, Just Do It or Deb get off the phone and get to work or quit scrolling on Facebook… the fact is I know I waste a lot of time, and I would do well to remind myself that All Things Are Possible and focus on the words that can help.
Dear reader, get to your very best place so you will thrive you’ll need to stop majoring in the minor and you can create an amazing opportunity to change the outcome for what serves you best. Remember All Things Are Possible ATAP; and I encourage you to write it on the top of your next page for your amazing life.
