Public Speaking
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:08 PM
Yesterday, I posted a video of a woman giving an inspirational sharing on life as an “invisible woman.”
Before posting the video, I didn’t know much about the woman, but have since discovered that she is one Nicole Johnson, an author, performer and motivational speaker. She is wildly popular (according to her website) and it is clear that she is very good at what she does—she is an excellent public speaker (and I also really admired her hair and make-up).
One of the comments below the post raised an interesting point, one I’d love to discuss further. In the comments, reader workingmom wrote: If life is that great at home, why does she seek a public forum to tell the rest of us that anonymity is a one of a mother’s tools to sanctity and unselfishness? She doesn’t strike me as having made peace with her anonymity. Sometimes I think speakers tell the rest of us what they themselves really need to hear.
I think workingmom raises a valid point: why would a woman who is that pro-family, that pro-put-yourself-last be out on the speaking circuit? And furthermore, does she really need to be talking about being invisible when she is out in front of thousands of women giving these talks?
While I can’t speak for Ms. Johnson (it does mention she divorced after years of marriage—perhaps she started public speaking to support herself?), I would like to address the last line of workingmom’s comment, which I think is wonderful: Sometimes I think speakers tell the rest of us what they themselves really need to hear.
As someone who does her fair share of public speaking, I can say that I really do agree with that sentiment—so often, as I prepare for a talk, I thank God for the opportunity to speak on a certain topic. For example, I often speak on the concept of Marriage as Vocation, and I always come away so encouraged, reminded again of the importance of what I’m speaking about. As I research for the talk and review my notes, I get a boost, a healthy reminder of the call on my life to be a wife and mother.
But while it is important for a speaker to strive for the ideals they preach, I don’t think perfection should be a prerequisite. Sometimes the most interesting and inspiring speakers are the ones who have struggled in a particular area and who admit that they don’t have it all together—but who are willing to share with the listener the wisdom they have gained along the way. Of course they need to have experienced a degree of success in dealing with the issue at hand, but I don’t think a speaker has to be at perfect zen to talk publicly.
It’s also important to remember that we want to hear from someone who is an “expert” on their subject. When speaking about the trials and challenges of being a stay-at-home mom, for example, I think the best person to speak on that topic would be a woman who stays home—but in order to talk on that subject, she must leave the home (even for a short time), which then has her out in the public arena, and not simply “at home.”
What are your thoughts?
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