This week's issue is slightly different than usual public speaking topics.
It's all about storytelling.
"All stories worth telling or hearing have a 5-second moment in a person's life"—Matthew Dicks, author of the book Storyworthy.
A moment of important realization.
A moment of life-changing truth.
A moment of facing the harsh reality.
A moment of vulnerability and weakness.
You get the idea, right?
Reader,
Can you identify my 5-second moment in this story?
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It's a typical workday in February of 2013.
This is sixth month into my first job ever.
It's freezing cold outside, but I'm sitting in my warm and cozy cubicle at the workplace in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, pretending to be busy with something important—or at least that’s what I want to believe
I think I like my first job... funny colleagues, caring friends, and a comfortable work environment.
Though I am concerned and unclear about my personal and professional growth at this job... That's probably okay.
I think I'll get enough opportunities to grow and learn in the future.
I'm also exhausted from excessive commuting so I'm anxiously waiting for the week to end... I will sleep for as long as I want.
Suddenly, my cellphone rings ... 📲
Oh, it's the general manager, calling from the company's head office.
Odd... She never called me before. But why today?
"Waqas, where is Osama?", Asks the General Manager in a dead serious tone.
NOT Osama Bin Laden ... but my friend and colleague Osama.
"Osama is here somewhere, Ma'am", I reply with hesitation.
"No No No. Tell me exactly where Osama is RIGHT NOW?" She demands, raising her voice which makes me pissed off.
But, in reality, Osama is no way near the workplace.
He asked me to cover up for him, as he had "something important" to take care of... Which I'm sure is dating a new girlfriend.
So I decide to stick to the plan:
"Ma'am, I already told you ... Osama is here somewhere in the building". I too respond with a raised voice.
She then hangs up the phone... without saying another word.
Uh ho! This is not good.
A couple minutes later, I find myself pondering on how the heck she could possibly know I was lying.
Was it my hesitation?
Does she have cameras installed in the office?
Or maybe someone from the staff gave her a tip?
I don't know but what I do is I've made a big mistake that might even cost me my job.
And this is Pakistan... I may not get another job for at least a year. More than half of my fellow graduates are still jobless. I'm no Einstein.
Now, I'm scared to death. I'm sweating with bullets.
I'm feeling insecure and thinking about my possible bleak future ...
What would I do with my life without a job?
After a few hours into this agony, I'm told that company's CEO called an urgent meeting in the BIG conference room.
This is it ... I'm gonna get fired today!
This is the end.
The walk from my cubicle to the conference room feels like the longest walk of my life.
I enter the conference room, and the meeting room is full of all my colleagues and staff members ... and the CEO, who sure resembles a lot with Osama Bin Laden right now.
And yes, the CEO made sure to invite everyone to witness my humiliation.
"Today, one of you not only lied but also misbehaved with one of our company's top executives which is unacceptable at my company."
... the CEO jumps right into delivering the morality lecture without mentioning my name.
I’m sweating bullets, thinking I’m about to be fired.
I'm also preparing myself to get fired.
Maybe, I deserve it... I'm a big liar after all.
But the lecture drags on for 10 minutes... 15 minutes... and 30 minutes which starts to feel like 30 hours.
He keeps repeating himself, getting louder and more aggressive.
Wait... I’m confused now: why this unending morality lecture and insult?
My thoughts start to wander: “Is this a lecture or a TED Talk on how to bore people to death?”
I wonder... “Maybe he’s trying to set a world record for the longest lecture on ethics."
I then realized his hidden agenda... He wants me to confess and apologize in front of everyone
HECK NO!
I'm not gonna give him the satisfaction... I'm not gonna apologize in front of everyone after this disrespect and embarrassment.
As the lecture continues, I have an epiphany...
I have a college degree in electrical engineering and yet he is making me feel like a used toilet paper.
I don't have any respect, any foreseeable future, or any learning whatsoever in this job.
I am always exhausted because of my commute, and I barely get any rest.
Then what the heck am I doing here?
That was the moment my mind became crystal clear. I gained clarity like never before.
A week later, I resigned.
The amount of happiness, boost in self-respect, and mental peace I gained after resigning from that job was beyond my imagination.
That public humiliation turned out to be a silver lining in the cloud.
THE END.
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In Matthew Dicks' words ... Storytelling is like time traveling.
When told in the right way, it should take readers and listeners back to the same place and time when the story actually took place.
Hopefully, today's story achieved at least a fraction of that.
When I first started storytelling in public speaking, I instantly fell in love with it ... though I have a looongggg way to go.
That's a wrap!
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BRINGING IT HOME
TL; DR
- Storytelling in public speaking is what separates engaging speakers from boring ones.
- All stories worth telling or hearing have a 5-second moment in a person's life.
- If your story doesn't have a 5-second moment, then it's not a story, it may just be an anecdote.
Feel free to reply to this email if you have questions or feedback on this newsletter.
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Best,
Waqas, Founder & Speaking Anxiety Coach
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