The Power of Perception

I have been watching a lot of TED talks over the last week and the presentation from Jane McGonigal really captured my interest.  Now, Jane is a very knowledgeable woman and very versed in game theory and the world of gaming, but it was not her speech that i was most drawn to, it was her.  I was very impressed with her poise, confidence, command of the stage, and how she looks young and professional but not naive or in-experienced.


Today i am in a class called Dynamic Business Communicator.  It takes the components of presentation and communication and breaks it down into core skills.  In order for us to reflect and learn about our communication; all of our presentations are video taped.  Immediately following the presentation we watch our recordings. This allows the learner, me, to see and feel the difference between what it feels like to present and how the presentation is perceived.


My first thought, upon watching my recordings, is how impressed i am with myself.  With my changes over the last few years.  With my intentional and deliberate changes and self improvement. I look professional.  I look like an adult.  Sure, yeah, i know this, but sometimes you don't feel it.  Watching myself in the third person was, is, eye opening and i am proud!

Nearing the end

I just counted the weeks on a calendar and to my shock and surprise, this is the end of week 7.  Its almost over.  My first reaction?  THANK GOD!

This has been a humbling experiment where i have been on top of the world, making mad gains (or losses as the case may be), been frustrated and later resolved.

I can, with all honesty, say that i never want to do a challenge like this again.  The emotional roller coaster has been too much for me to handle and i, personally, need to have a slower, steadier approach to my personal changes and goals.

Challenge recap:

Week 1- shock week- is it possible to eat that many veggies? yes.

Week 2- i can do this :)

Week 3- i rock at this, already down a size!

Week 4- total derailment - business trips, parties and weddings, oh my!

Week 5- am i still in the game? 

Week 6- yes, i am still in it....damage control

Week 7- emotions get the best of me, harnessing the power of week 3, back on track success on the scale

One more week to go, lets see how strong i can finish out...

+ 10

Week 4...
Monday- 6 am flight to Sunnyvale - full day business meetings - carby catering - barely even breaks to pee
Tuesday- more meetings, more carbs - still no time to pee, 9 pm flight to Burbank
Wednesday- more meetings, lunch with the team, 5pm flight to Portland - hectic travel and rigid diet don't go together, living off caffeine
Thursday- 6 am flight to Newark - wedding - and carbs - here we come
Friday thru Sunday - its a blur.... people, drinks, food, partying, no sleep

Monday... back home... standing on the scale... +10 lbs.

I can rationalize it until I am blue in the face, but instead I'll just go do some sprints.