I owe all my training success to the people…
…the bosses who gave me their trust in advance and threw me into the fire of opportunity. Those participants who gave me bad marks in their feedback forms. Those clients who asked me again and again, 'But why don’t you try this… ?!'
In the late nineties, I worked as a translator. Management had entrusted me to translate for the President of Reebok from the stage of Moscow’s famous Metelitsa casino. And I almost disrupted the event, starting a kind of give-and-take with the audience so that even the famous MC Anton Komolov remarked: "How much did you pay this translator for the show?" I was rightly reprimanded for this, and it helped me realize that I am not a translator. I am a speaker.
Even so. I continued my career at a PR agency. And the next "fire of opportunity" was the chance to prep the head of a regional Ministry of Health for a performance on Channel One. And then — the speakers at the EU-Russia Summit, and the president of KPMG, and … Of course, they didn’t know that a guy who yesterday was just a student had written the theses for their speeches, but it worked out so well that a second insight came to me: I am a trainer of speakers.
Then there was my dissertation in the United States on the first Nixon-Kennedy televised debates, a job at the American training company CBSD, my first book and first training courses on presentation skills.
Even so. I continued my career at a PR agency. And the next "fire of opportunity" was the chance to prep the head of a regional Ministry of Health for a performance on Channel One. And then — the speakers at the EU-Russia Summit, and the president of KPMG, and … Of course, they didn’t know that a guy who yesterday was just a student had written the theses for their speeches, but it worked out so well that a second insight came to me: I am a trainer of speakers.
Then there was my dissertation in the United States on the first Nixon-Kennedy televised debates, a job at the American training company CBSD, my first book and first training courses on presentation skills.
"Sergey, can you help us to improve our speaking skills so that even the cleaning lady in the corridor will want to stop at the door and overhear what we have to say about our "reports and plans?" This question from one of my training participants took me by surprise, and I replied: "Sorry, I can’t." So, I got a 2 out of 10 in the feedback form afterwards and the signature read "If you can’t do it- then don’t bother!" Now, that’s what I call feedback! I remember it hurt, and it made me so angry that I did a series of books, video courses and training courses on every aspect of public speaking.
And then there were my own clients who kept asking: “Why do you think that it's only journalists who ask difficult questions? Why just the Media Man?" What about bosses? And clients? And..." That's how "Speaking Under Fire" was born.
"Sergey, but the problem isn't that our audience doesn't argue… it's that they're fast asleep!" OK, here's my "The Lively Presentation" training course.
"But, Sergey, everything's online now! Why aren't you..." OK, ok - Here's "The Battle for Attention Online." Now, you understand why I'm looking forward for the next question my clients may ask.
"Sergey, but the problem isn't that our audience doesn't argue… it's that they're fast asleep!" OK, here's my "The Lively Presentation" training course.
"But, Sergey, everything's online now! Why aren't you..." OK, ok - Here's "The Battle for Attention Online." Now, you understand why I'm looking forward for the next question my clients may ask.
I owe all my training success to the people. The ones that gave me "C-" grades, or put their faith me in advance, and asked "why don’t you try this???" If you haven’t done this already, I’m waiting. Who knows? Maybe a new book or a new training course will come as the result of your question.
© 2021-2022 Sergey Kuzin
By continuing to use our site, you consent to the processing of cookies that ensure the correct operation of the site.