The Jaipur Lecture

It was going to be my 1st time, I was going to deliver a lecture, having an interactive session and a one on one session with students of my Alma Matter’s subsidiary campus. For many years, I had this inherent thought, desire and feeling in me that one day I will address students at my college or school. This surely was the Law of Attraction for me. To be honest with you, I never indulged in any kind of public speaking in my school or college. It was certainly my stage fright and shyness.

So last week when I met the Dean in Delhi, that future happening was sealed. I left a cold Delhi at 6 to arrive in a wet Jaipur a few hours into the day. Post lunch the palpitations started in me. But I was kind of prepared, the presentation was rehearsed, notes written and most importantly I decided to play the same by the ear. I tried to make the same interactive and engrossing.

I started with the usual round of introductions and thanks. Thereafter I presented my company VetServ, which I head. I started with our customized standard corporate presentation. For 15 minutes there was keen interest amongst the audience and the Dean took over. He projected my presence as part of their placement exercise!

I’ve always seen and observed that presenters are generally less bothered about their voice, clarity of thoughts and overall presentation. Many a times a good subject and discussion goes down the drain due to a poor presenter. Just as a poor idea brilliantly executed chances on its survival. Than a great idea with poor execution, which generally dooms.

Post Vetserv introduction I delved on the subject, as to what the students want? It was clear to me that like always, this audience too didn’t have a clear idea either. So I proceeded to show them a sample of how one can list ones wants. Thereafter I said, one may physically see if the want is 70-80% satisfied by doing a certain thing like taking a job or choosing a life partner etc. I suggested that one could also attach certain weights to the wants and work out a more mathematically accurate result.

I was introduced to this concept by Mr. Manoj Pant and has worked as a guiding light. I always believe that it needs to be passed on and benefits be shared. It is important to share one’s knowledge and wisdom for the overall benefit of the society. A simple thought that if I have a dollar and you have a dollar, we exchange it, we still have a dollar each. But if I have an idea and you have an idea, we exchange it, we have 2 ideas each.

Q&A followed my presentation. I was there upholding Afghanistan, its pride and challenges. I naturally shared my ideas, my thoughts and emotions about working in a conflict zone. But somehow people who haven’t been in these kinds of situations seldom understand one’s point of view. Is that human nature or lack of exposure? I do not know.

Post Q&A I did what I treasure the most. I showed them the 1st 20 minutes of the movie, “The Secret”. This cast a spell, on the students. I sincerely recommend everybody to watch this movie. It has an amazing power to turn you on and keep you engrossed. The Dean had also not heard about it and praised me for showing them.

More or less I had lived my dreams, my thoughts and certainly they manifested into reality. I was happy, but there was still something lacking. I immediately figured it out, it was humour. There was no way I was going to end like that, so I played a humourous video clip. Much to the amazement of the students, I got a thunderous applause and wound up the event.

Dean congratulated me and thanked me for the job well done. He surely popped in an offer for me to visit the college next month. I suppose it was a win win situation for all. I had made a certain start in public speaking and would go on updating my knowledge and wisdom interacting with young minds.

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