If you want a sneak peek behind the scenes here it is.
Pamela Confer, who spoke at the August Workforce Wednesday on tools and tips to prepare students for working in the world said this, “There sure are some things that I wish I had known when I was a shy kid growing up.”
She isn’t the only one.
I think most of us, whether we were shy or not, wish we would have known more at a younger age.
For instance, “The better you are able to control your moods and emotions, the better you will be able to make decisions effectively.” - Pamela Confer
Along with that, Pamela shared “how to develop an optimistic outlook” by nurturing these five tools in our lives:
- “Use healthy self-talk.”
- “Keep a gratitude journal.”
- “Minimize negative influences.”
- “Act “as if.””
- “Exercise your sense of humor.”
Well, in my early twenties, I didn’t have these five tools fully activated in my tool belt. You?
I could feel my hand shaking and my insides fluttering as I read the poem and my voice reverberated throughout the venue. I didn’t feel confident speaking in front of a large group of people, or using a microphone period. I just wanted to fulfill my responsibility and sit down.
If only I’d realized then, that being confident doesn’t matter as much as having the courage to try what scares you.
“Our professional ascension is not determined by what we know, but how we act.” - Pamela Confer
Pamela spoke about how “creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability and time management” serves people well in the workforce and life in general.
If we only could be a fly on the wall in people’s personal lives, we would find that not everyone began their days confident and successful and knowing all of the things.
Most people fumble.
They have things to overcome and learn.
Truly successful people never stop engaging, uncovering and discovering their evolving purpose or significance in the world.
“Robert Sternberg, the present-day guru of intelligence, writes that the major factor in whether people achieve expertise “is not some fixed prior ability, but purposeful engagement.”” - Carol S. Dweck, PH.D., Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
MPB is purposefully engaging during this time of so much change in our world by launching a new fifth channel on MPB Television. MPB Classroom TV is specifically created to broadcast classroom instruction to Mississippi students.
MPB is partnering with the Mississippi Department of Education to have teachers and literacy coaches teach lessons that will be available on this channel.
Great things often come out of limitations and change.
To take a look behind the scenes in the MPB TV studios and what’s to come on the MPB Classroom TV channel click here.
The “behind the scenes” reality looks different in each of our lives.
I hid behind my mom growing up and was called shy when I was around people I didn’t know well, yet, this is not who I am or how I act today. Not because I’ve learned to love crowds, or have become more of a “people” person. I haven’t.
However, I have learned to cultivate courage, curiosity and flexibility in relationships and life and to never give up. Life change happens in the context of relationships.
You and I may not always feel confident, but we can take courage, move forward scared and see what will happen. Confidence will slip in, before we know it, as we begin to trust our instincts and practice new skills.
“Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway.” - John Wayne.
If you saddle up and fail, then consider it a gift or an opportunity to learn from.
If you saddle up and win, then you’ll know you can do more than you thought you could.
Either way, it’s a win win situation. There is really nothing but freedom on the other side of the fear that holds us back.
“ [...] it’s impossible to foresee what can be accomplished with years of passion, toil, and training.” - Carol S. Dweck, Mindset
So even on the most mundane days, when nothing revolutionary is happening stay the course.
Take courage.
When you discover what you are passionate about, practice it and don’t give up!