Public Speaking – Speaking to Urban Audiences (Bronx, NY)

 

Tonight was special. For the first time in a LONG time, I almost cried. I love what I do more than ever before.

 

First of all, let’s start with last night. I had a chance to see my absolute favorite female singer, Ledisi, at The Blue Note in New York. I was about 20 feet from her and one high note away from rushing her on stage and hugging her around the ankles. She put me in the Spirit.

 

I opted not to go back to Manhattan today because I had to get caught up on tons of work and finish my new brochure. I didn’t even eat until 4pm. The school called me at 4:30pm and said they were outside my hotel to pick me up. Yikes!

 

I got myself ready, having just enough time to hit the ‘hot spots’ in the shower. My mind was on marketing, not my message. Outside of my Ledisi high, I was empty.

 

The talk was in another gym. Strike one. The mic went out and they could barely hear me without it. Strike two. The students were obviously tired and had no interest in anything more than getting extra credit for attending. Strike three.

 

But something inside wouldn’t let me quit. After the LSU Debacle, I couldn’t go out like that. I have a rule that I won’t lose twice in a row. So I kept on, finding the angle that would work.

 

Eventually, I found it. A guy who walked in late and sat in the second row holding a hamburger, got so into it he didn’t even finish his food. I could see two girls tearing up in the back. A few more heads began to nod. They were all the way tuned in.

 

SPRINKLE OF WISDOM- If you haven’t learned anything from reading my blog, you should know to NEVER give up. You have to have enough resources to pull from that will enable you to go a totally different direction when necessary. The difference between a bad crowd and a good crowd is your skill in convert them.

 

I actually ran out of time. I was in the last 10 minutes of my talk and people started getting up and walking to their next class. Strike four! I just stopped cold turkey in the middle of my sentence. It didn’t matter, they couldn’t hear me anyhow.

 

To my surprise, even those who were walking out stopped and led the standing ovation. They bum rushed me at the book table. I was worried I was going to have a Ledisi moment. I was guarding my ankles.

 

The guy with the hamburger came up to me and whispered, “I’m homeless, but I believe I can make it.” Another guy asked for me to sign his book, his eyes were red and teary. He said,”I’m raising my two kids and your relationship with your dad reminds me of my life. “I hugged him like my father used to hug me when he was alive. I told him he was a great father and tried to hold it in myself.

 

Speaking to an urban, non-traditional crowd is the best. When they hate you, they hate you. But when they love you, no paycheck can match the level of pride you feel when you literally give someone reason to give life another shot.

 

This is God’s work.

Connection is key,

 

Jonathan

“The Connection Coach”

 

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