Last week we spent a great four days in Wollongong (Aust.) working on an Appreciative Inquiry summit for a client.
Neil Samuels and Sue James led the Appreciative Inquiry facilitation, Donna McGeorge did the graphic recording.
My job, for this assignment, was to deliver specifc Tai Chi energizers throughout the summit and to link them in with the Appreciative Inquiry themes.
I had a narrow stage on which to strut my stuff but it was good fun to have 160 people do Tai Chi and Chi Kung exercises. There was good chi in the room and it helped energise the participants for the other segments.
Besides the summit, I enjoyed staying in the Novotel hotel where the summit was held. My room number was 911!
My highlights apart from the summit itself were:
- Walking along the beach in the morning and taking photographs – one elderly man offered me a deal of life time and said ‘you take the pictures and I will make the money.’
- The terrific food – I was a real guts and ate everything that I could fit on my plate and then some more. Well, you never know when your next meal will come along.
- Sitting outside my room, stretching my long skinny legs onto the balcony rail – watching the clouds, sea, shoreline of the beach, people jogging, surfing and walking their dogs.
- Walking along Wollongong beach at night after a party.
Lowlights
- Sitting cramped in one airline (not Quantas) we travelled on. I wish they would provide me with a crowbar so I can leverage myself in and out of the seat. Results for sitting cramped up were a left knee and calf muscle that were not happy.
- Listening to annoying and loud music when taking off. Next time I’m getting a seat on the wing!
- Travelling through Sydney to Wollongong. The suburbs never ended, like the bumper to bumper traffic. All this on a Sunday!
It’s interesting that as a presenter people see the fun side of what I do, but what they don’t realise is all the hours of preparation required to make the presentation successful.
On one of the days Sue and I spent 15 hours working. Much of that was behind the scenes getting stuff ready for the next day.
But that is all part of being a presenter. You do whatever is required to make the event a success.
That’s what professionals do.
Oh, they also have fun – otherwise what’s the point.
Footnote: I will post up more photos on my facebook page.
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