Putting Off Work That Needs to Get Done

I'm teaching a new class at a community college on Saturday, July 16th called Get Published! The Ins & Outs of Magazine Submissionsand I'm not ready.  Oh sure, I know enough to talk my way through the three hour class, but I want the experience to be more.

I've had "work on course outline for magazine writing class" on my "To Do NOW" whiteboard for the past 2 months, and yet I've probably spent no more than 2 hours total on it.  It's not that I'm worried about getting it done--I always get everything done--but I want to produce quality work and if I throw it together last minute, it will be less than what I know I'm capable of.

There are 2 reasons I see for why I'm avoiding working on this.

1. First reason is that since I am a list-maker, nothing gives me greater joy in life than crossing items off my to-do list.  So I end up spending my time on small projects instead of tackling the big ones.

2. The real reason is I'm not sure what to expect.  I haven't taught the material yet so I can only guess how long it will take to cover each section.

I've taught my Scared Speechless course so many times I can adjust it to 30 minutes or 2 hours at whim.  I know how long it takes to cover the material in each section, I pretty much know by now what questions will be asked, and I feel confident steering the discussion.

This is all new and it's intimidating.  And probably the 3rd reason I'm not devoting time to it is I work best on deadline.  I don't like working on deadline, but I really do some of my best work. If I start too early on a project I'll spend 3 days mulling over a paragraph because I know I have the time to do so.  If the article is due tomorrow, I plow forward and get the s--- done.

Speaking of which, the "small" task on my to-do list was to blog about something.  The big one remains to work on the course.  Blair is out of the house at the property for the next 2-3 hours, the cats are comatose, it's Sunday so there's nothing good on TV--I have no excuse.  It's time to create a course.

Successful Speech

My speech was a success. I didn't include everything I meant to but that's the beauty of public speaking - no one knows that but me. I'm happy to have it behind me though. I have so much work to do my head is spinning and I don't know which way is up. 5 articles coming due (4 of which still need researched), a new class I'm teaching in July on Magazine Writing that I still have to pull the syllabus and materials together for, marketing follow-up, I'm looking to move my blogs to a new forum (squarespace.com) and need to investigate how that might work, I've ignored my public speaking book--supposedly a priority--for close to a month now, and I've got a towering pile of memos and scraps of paper and "to be read" material teetering on the edge of my desk that threatens to topple over and smother the cats.

I've got ideas for 2 new articles which is a joke at the moment as I can't handle what's on my plate. I had to tell my best friend not to come for a visit this weekend just b/c I'm so behind.

It's difficult to judge how drastic the situation is though. I'm not happy unless I'm operating 2 weeks ahead of schedule. I like lots of leeway in case something goes horribly awry. It almost never does, but I like the cushion. So I'm not really behind at this point. I'm more on schedule which to me feels way behind. (Except for not having anything ready for that class. Yeah, I'm screwing myself on that).

Lots more to talk about. I'll use a separate post to start the decorating drama theme.

Last Minute Speech

Question: How do you know when it's time to update your blog?

Answer: When your mother sends you and e-mail that she's tired of looking at your "stupid flowers."

Can I help it if I think it's important that you all experience happiness and contentment vicariously through me? (Please don't send hate mail...)

Okay, the reason I haven't written lately is because I've been burning the candle pulling together a 45-minute speech to deliver to 30 people tomorrow at the District 37 Toastmaster's Leadership Institute Training Session (sounds impressive, eh?)

I got a call from our Area Governer late Sunday night, asking for a "huge favor" and could I please fill in a 9am workshop slot with a 45-minute speech?

"On what?" I asked.

"I don't care."

All-righty. I love free reign. Unfortunately, I couldn't give my standard "Scared Speechless" workshop because the toastmasters attending this session are the officers of the area groups. They're experienced speakers.

I decided to speak on "Establishing Yourself As A Professional Speaker." Great. I loved the topic, wrote it up, then said it aloud.

One rule I teach in my class is that if you're bored giving your speech, you will absolutely bore your audience. I found myself falling asleep 10 minutes in so back to the drawing board.

I gave the speech in front of Blair last night (I never rehearse my speeches with him) and it was extremely helpful. We came up with an intro that was much more on target and let the audience know exactly what I would be covering. So I printed out some handouts a few minutes ago, gathered my business cards, and I'm good to go.

All that's left is to pray to the humidity gods for a good hair day.

High School Horrors

A friend of mine runs a Community In Schools program where she brings community leaders in to speak to kids who are in a school to work transition program. Because I am insane, a nice person, or both, I agreed to speak to this group on the subjects of networking and time management.

First off, I had major flashbacks as I approached the glass double doors leading into the school. It was near the end of the day and there were student announcement blaring over the PA system: "Congratulations to our band that placed fifth in state competition...Don't forget the soccer game this Saturday at rival school....All students driving to school must have car passes. Please see Mrs. King if you do not have your pass..."

It was complete deja vou. I felt 17 and insecure all over again.

But I like to think I covered well. I went into the classroom, peppy and full of energy, ready to WOW those kids with the dynamics of simple networking. They would thank me, remember me. Ten years from now when they were being interviewed by national news on how they achieved their success they would say, "I don't remember her name, but my junior year this woman talked to me about networking and opened my eyes and changed my life. I owe everything to her."

Ta-daaaahhh! I walked in and with a grin asked if anyone knew what networking was.

I was met with crossed arms, blank stares, and bodies slumped in seats as if all bones had been removed and they were doing their best to remain upright.

Okay. New tactic. I asked what sort of work they were interested in. People like to talk about themselves, right?

Wrong. They shifted left, shifted right, glanced uneasily at one another and recrossed their arms.

Mayday, mayday. I pulled out a flip chart. "Let's talk about who you know," I said. "That's the first part of networking."

Dead silence.

Finally, taking pity on me, one teen reluctantly mumbled, "Teachers, I guess."

"Yes! Teachers," I said scribbling. "Who else?"

Slowly they came around and called out names: friends, social workers, doctors, coaches, employers, church members, neighbors, parents, friends of parents, mechanics, hair dressers...we were on a roll.

They perked up a bit more when we got to time management, mainly b/c the class laughed when everyone admitted to horrible time management and they were always forgetting things.

I won't lie. It was a hard class to teach. I didn't realize quite how much I relied on audience involvement from the classes I teach to adult women. But it was eye opening too. I really don't think these kids were unresponsive. Rather, I sensed an uneasiness about opening up in front of their peers. Which I get. If you have a career dream which seems far-fetched, I can see not wanting to blurt it out for everyone to hear and--potentially--make fun of.

Surprisingly, given my not-so-warm feelings toward kids, the class made me want to go teach younger students. I want to get to them before they're closed off by experience and peer pressure. Or else I want to try again and find new ways to reach them. Even if I don't enjoy it, I love a challenge. And these kids presented a big one. I worry b/c the skills I talked about are basic skills needed to move ahead in life. But I'm not sure they "got" what I was saying, or the importance of practicing networking and time management. Admittedly, I only had one hour, but it seems odd no one has talked to these 15 year olds before about how to keep a daytimer and organize their time.

The PA was blaring again as I left, reminding students to prepare for upcoming exams and please bring in cans for the can drive which ends Wednesday.

High school. I'd forgotten how hard (emotionally) it was. These kids need all the support they can get.