Starting this Wednesday for a whole month, I will be doing stuff so out of my comfort zone that I am sure I must be mad. I 'm going to be doing 4 hours of live radio each week without having ever done it before. It's a local community radio station with an audience of loyal listeners so I want to do it well. I can hear some saying "Then just don't do it" but that's too easy for me! The enticement is that I have been given the opportunity to play a range of music, mainly of my choice ; chat to different people; probably be able (mainly through others) to provide information on a range of topics and hopefully have some fun. In the past I had to have hypnosis to overcome fears of public speaking (for work) so I'm not a natural, but this was hard to resist! Biggest fear? As ever, making mistakes and looking daft.
I did a fair amount of personal development work when I was taking my counselling and then career guidance qualifications, plus bits of teaching, so I looked for some old material to remind myself it's not a big deal (and I am much better these days). I am putting part of this up on the blog, just in case it helps someone else. Keep it in proportion though, some type mistakes have far worse consequences than others!
Do you really think it matters if you made a mistake? Well for me it matters less so with age but it still can tap into a part of me and cause 'a wobble'. I am though, a little more self assured but still work in progress!
Does it stop you trying again? Don't let it. In general, you will only regret what you didn't do....if only I had..............and what's the worst that can happen in most cases?
Some say that mistakes can:
Stretch and challenge you - Most definitely. I believe that we all need to challenge ourselves from time to time - although you won't find me sky-diving, that's a challenge too far. Mine are more emtional than physical!
Give you the opportunity to practice - And we all know that practice makes perfect! Thomas Edison apparently 'practiced' inventing the light bulb over 1,000 times before he suceeded.
Overall, getting ready for success (whatever that means to you personally) means making mistakes so we can then make any adjustments. What really matters is our reaction to them, mainly that we shouldn't let them stop us trying again. It could be seen by some as a mistake revealing all this but hey, who cares, someone still loves me - hopefully!
A Quickie 'bout the Wirral (or rather an excuse for another photo!)
If you read my blog regularly you will know that I want to encourage people to visit parts of the Wirral they haven't seen ever or for ages, despite the fact that you can cross the whole area in about 30 minutes max. We are a microcosm of the country as a whole, illustrated very well by the fact that a man living on the West Kirby/Heswall side will live about 10 years longer than those in Bidston/Seacombe etc.
I probably know most places, which are really just a series of villages (with plenty of history still to be seen), but have been amazed by those who have no idea about the hidden gems or equally, the areas which have been allowed to disintergrate. I believe that, in many ways, we are fortunate to live here and need to take care of it for our children and grandchildren. This photo is of part of Rock Ferry. It looks very run down I know but just out of vision is the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, which goes back to 1840 and was visited by keen sailor, The King of Norway a couple of years ago. I hope to be visiting soon to interview them for the radio prog (see, good fun eh!). The Admiral pub is going to rack and ruin but on Friday I heard that it had been bought and sure enough the For Sale sign has gone. This means that at least this small area will be 'lifted'. This shoreline is close to my heart and it upsets me to see it like this, especially as the promenade (as it once was!) is where I had my very first kiss................rubbish it was too but I soon learnt from my mistakes - with practice making perfect - ha, ha!!!
