I was asked to give a talk today on building a network and maintaining and improving client relationships to a group of young French account executives. I was the lunch time entertainment - lucky them.
Now, I love to talk and I really love to meet people and I really really really love to help and inspire the people that I meet. If, of course, it is appropriate to help and inspire them - I don't go around pretending to be the guru of inspiration with my friends - but if I am "hired" to do such a thing I grab the chance and try to rise to the task.
I have to admit though that after a whole 3 1/2 days in my new job, being introduced as the Manager of blah blah blah at Well Known French institution - I felt a bit intimidated by the expectations.
You see, so far at my new job, I have spent my time wondering just exactly how I am going to do what I have been hired to do. Everything seems so loose and full of buzzwords (I hate buzzwords, they are so excluding, if you don't know what they mean you feel like such a dummy.)
But I now have something on my side that I was missing when I was younger.
Age. And the perspective that comes with it. That perspective allows honesty. And honesty will always endear you to a crowd.
That is what I used today as all eyes were on me awaiting my words of wisdom. They knew quickly that I was brand new in my position and what I was going to offer was my experiences trying to succeed at challenges similar to some of theirs'.
You want to know something? It worked.
You go girl! so, glad to hear your first "assignment" went well, and you kept your perspective! Age can help at times!!
Posted by: Carrie | July 31, 2009 at 04:30 PM