World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Saturday 18 April 2015
Highlights: Exploring local area.
This time for my flight from Hong Kong to Delhi I had a seat mate, a big Indian fellow, meaning I had limited access to the aisle. The flight was fine enough, or fine enough for someone who has been awake for over 18 hours when it began. They sprayed all passengers on approach to Delhi, that was something new.
Friday 17 April 2015
Highlights: Free seat next to me
So the next adventure begins this time it’s India and Japan, countries I’ve heard a lot about from good friends and I now get to experience for myself.
I’m looking forward to seeing the Taj Mahal with my own eyes, visiting Sikh Temples, experiencing India chaos and Japan order. Hoping I can avoid getting sick in India (fingers crossed)! (more…)
One of the great things about international travel is it gives you time to reflect. At least international travel from Australia as since we are so far away from the rest of the world you are usually going away for a while. For me this time it is 5 weeks.
When leaving for a length of time you start thinking of what you are leaving, who you are leaving, family, friends, work, your local routine (for me tennis and footy). I love the excuse it causes to talk to people you know you should see more often.
Some of my friends are going though extremely difficult times. Others are having their first baby or expanding their family or getting married. Some friends are starting new careers or businesses or purchasing their first home. Life can be amazing, fun, difficult, frustrating and sad all at the same time.
I’m blessed with what I have but in particular with individuals who put up and even embrace my not so great attitudes and characteristics, people who want me to succeed, who help me when I’m down and trust me to help them when they need it most.
It has been 2 years and 2 months since I returned from my last overseas trip. During that time I have experienced some difficult mental health issues, I had to fight to keep my job and on keeping it work harder than ever before. I learnt a lot, like I’m tougher than I sometimes realise, and that I have some people who always have my back even when doing so can hurt their immediate needs. I learnt I can motivate people, I can help mentor and support people so they can learn from my challenges and experiences. I learnt I’m not a bad speaker and I’m a good strategic thinker. But most importantly I learnt that events and situations are never as bad as they seem.
I like my life situation, yes I fall down, I’d like to be fitter and healthier and more attractive, but I have a group of wonderful people in my life. People who I love and who love me. People I can’t wait to see again and tell them about the next adventure or experience. Let the adventure begin!
Friday 03 April 2015 – Monday 06 April 2015 – Photos
My first tournament since starting a gym program with personal trainer Kevin and I had high expectations. I even re-entered the singles event for the first time in 4 years. While the results didn’t go my way I definitely felt it wasn’t due to lack of fitness or motivation I was unsuccessful, maybe skills and bad luck :). I can only hope with 12 more months of gym work I will be even stronger.
Results
D Singles 3-7 (lost 4 sudden death games)
D Doubles 3-7 (with Reagan, lost 5 sudden death games), 7-0 (forfeit)
C Doubles 2-7 (with Leon, lost 3 sudden death games), 4-7 (lost 1 sudden death game)
** Note at this point Saturday night I had lost 13 sudden death games in a row (out of 28 games lost) and received a pizza award!
D Mixed Doubles 7-0 & 5-7 (with Kara, won 1 sudden death game, lost 3 sudden death games)
So the story was losing all these close games. I felt I was playing well but just kept up coming short. I didn’t really get any easy opponents and I could definitely see some of them on the nearby courts!
But this isn’t just about playing tennis. It’s about taking a break from the city and having some fun. Watching Erin do the bunny hop song was a definite highlight 🙂
Catching up with Catherine and her fast growing 3 year old daugther Hannah and their family let to some fun and games. Quality time with the grestest mother – daugther combination I’ve meet in Lyn and Elle Longmuir is always fun.
So it’s another year over and now time to concentrate on the upcoming India and Japan trip which is only 11 days away.
So I’m thinking of changing my job description to ‘professional speaker’ and giving my staff a photo so they remember what I look like. Over the past three weeks I’ve been engaged to present at three different types of events to approximately 1,500 people;
1) At the SMSF Association National Conference (19 February 2015);
2) On the internet via 4 SMSF Professional webinars (25-26 February 2015); and
3) At the MCG before 300 people at the Super Day Event (4 March 2015)
The events received some media coverage which has meant that I need to now undergone formal media training. I guess this means I’ll learn how not to provide too much information 🙂
The differences in events was at the National Conference I was sharing the stage with Belinda Aisbett, a leading industry professional, at the webinar I was responding to questions without the advance of seeing the questioner or hearing the tone, and at the MCG it was a traditional presentation standing on a stage with the lights almost blinding me.
The National Conference presentation was also video recorded and the webinar has an audio / visual recording (visual was presentation slides only not my face!).
It’s getting hard to remember a stage when I disliked presenting. I recall a very senior executive over 8 years ago challenging me to present and engage more directly with clients. This has really openned up so many doors, oportinuties and experiences. It has allowed me to become better aware of what is actually happening in the industry, hear directly from some very smart people. Presenting has also forced me to think more strategically. What is the message I what out there? What have we done recently? How can we provide better services.
I’ve recently started telling the two cadets I mentor and the other two cadets I supervise that this is the skill to develop if you wish to stand out from your peers. Most people don’t like presenting and will actively resist requests to do so.
My advise is very simple just know your topic and think you are just talking to 1-3 people not 100+. Scripts are good but don’t be an actor, be yourself, react to the audience and let them see you are human. I’m still trying to work out the non-visual webinar medium but hopefully I’ll figure it out as well.
Nathan's Insights 