Sometimes things don’t work out the way you plan.
Technology doesn’t do what it’s supposed to. Email doesn’t get delivered. The package doesn’t get there on time. The kids color on the couch with permanent markers and you can’t get it out.
Today I got a reminder that all you can do is keep going.
While I was presenting my Twitter webinar, InstantTeleseminar, Skype, my internet connection, or all three, decided to go berserk on me and kick me out of my own call. I panicked for about 15 seconds before I grabbed ahold of myself and figured out how to get back on there. (So if you’ve listened to the replay, that’s what the 2 minutes of silence in the middle was about…)
But just keep going…
And you know what? It was fine. I apologized to the listeners, thanked them for their patience, and just kept going. Was I flustered? Absolutely! But it wasn’t going to do anyone any good if I held on to that or hid under my desk.
Earlier this week I was on a webinar that didn’t happen because another system went crazy and wouldn’t let the host talk to us. Audio’s kinda important so the host rescheduled. And we showed up for the next try, which went smoothly. It was worth it — he had great content to share and I needed to learn about it.
Someone needs you to be brave.
You’ve got something to share. Your audience is waiting to hear it (or read it, or see it, or get it in their mailbox, or whatever method fits for what you do).
Don’t let technology, or Mercury, or whatever else is happening get in your way. Push through it and just keep going.
Pep talk over. Now, go be productive!
Oh, and if you missed the Twitter class, opt in here and it’ll send you a replay link right away:
https://michelleshaeffer.com/live-training/are-we-tweeting-yet/
My sentiments exactly Michelle :)
Yep, technology (and computer) issues are never fun… I hope your computer is behaving itself today. :)
I love the image you used, Michelle! Way to go for keeping on going and only panicking for a few seconds :).
I had to grab that one when I saw it. Perfect. LOL
You’re absolutely right, Michelle. Although, if that had been me, I might have considered (for about one second) to crawl under a rock and forget the whole thing. Good for you for recovering so quickly and getting back on that horse! :)
We’ve had some interesting teleseminar adventures, haven’t we Lis? LOL
Brilliant message Michelle,
Once we accept that things are going to go wrong sometimes, we can relax and just get on with being our best. I use Skype to hold therapy or coaching sessions with my clients and we’ve had problems with it in the past. The first time it happened I was really disappointed and felt that I hadn’t given my clients my best. But then we talked about it and accepted that things will sometimes go wrong and we came up with a back up plan in case they did in the future. Now we’re all happy and I don’t feel responsible.
Heather x
I like that perspective, Heather. Just accept that it can and will sometimes happen and do our best anyway. :)
So true, Murphy;s Law is always in the background ready to get you but it is not a reason to stop going forward.
It is, isn’t it? Always waiting for the opportunity to strike!
I had to laugh at the things that you mentioned could go wrong.. as I have had those too.. except it was not permanent marker on the couch, but oil pastel on the wall. Yikes! You can’t even paint over that stuff.
Good for you for keeping on keeping on. I can most relate. This month I started a 28 Day Wholistic Living Challenge, and Everyday there is a new technology something that happens with it!! lol. Today I sent out the 22 day to my entire autoresponder list by mistake.. even the ones who are really only on day 3! yikes! But there is not much you can do but laugh and think oh well. It’s not such a big deal.
thanks for sharing.. it’s true. we just have to keep ” Doing it!”
Peace and light
Elissa Joy
Yikes! Oil pastels are not fun to remove… perhaps a good time for some wallpaper? :)
I’ve gotten emails like that from lists I’ve been on before, and it always makes me smile to see that other people are human, too.
I just found your blog and I know I’m not going to be very productive around the house today because I will be too busy trying to read everything on your blog!
I love what I see so far and I am looking forward to reading your many posts! I’ve followed you on facebook too!
(¯`v´¯).~KerrieLynn
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Blog: ?KLsCupboard
Facebook: KLs Cupboard
Twitter: KLs Cupboard
Aw, thanks KerrieLynn! I hope you find what you need, and don’t worry — my blog will be here tomorrow, too. :)
I love this post Michelle! It is so very true. You have to take the good with the bad in life. Just because things don’t do the way we want them to doesn’t mean we need to give up. It just means that it wasn’t right for us at that time.
Yep, sometimes it’s just something we’ve got to get through and try again later. :)
Quite frankly, I thought the music that was playing during the technical glitch in your webinar presentation was beautiful — a nice little relaxing interlude, if you will. :)
Of course, I listened to the replay. So, for all I knew, you planned it that way. You know … like recess at school. LOL
Talking about ‘kids’ and things going wrong …
When my twin girls were about two years old, they took black, red, and purple crayons and drew all over the wallpaper in their bedroom. And not just one wall — all four.
The only thing that would remove the crayon “drawings” was what I’ll call an “art eraser”. Some people call them “gum” erasers. It took me weeks and weeks of going from one little section to the next to get all the marks off the walls. Aren’t children precious?
You recovered nicely from your webinar mishap, Michelle. Me? I’d be crawling under my desk. :)
I’m glad you mentioned that — I figured it was silence, didn’t realize IT played nice music. Recess! Next time in the beginning I’ll have to mention that my phone may decide to take a recess…
That sounds like quite an… adventure… with the erasers. It’s one of those tough things. We want to encourage their creativity, but only in the areas/spaces we define. lol
I definitely needed this post–thanks so much! This week I had nothing but delays with the website projects I have been working on, severely setting my writing back. The pep talk is very much appreciated. :)
Those weeks can be tough to survive, but just one day at a time, things will get back on track. :)
Hi Michelle,
We’re bound to run up against resistance at one time or another, awesome reminder here.
Things might not go smoothly, but we can go smoothly. Whatever happens, we choose how to respond to it. Either we hide and give into our fear or simply move forward and do what we set out to do. The more situations like these we encounter the easier it is to deal with them in the future.
Thanks for sharing Michelle!
RB
I like this: “Things might not go smoothly, but we can go smoothly.” What a great way to phrase it, Ryan. Thanks!
Hi Michelle, glad you just kept going. I have been on calls where there were technical problems and honestly, I sympathize with the host. We the audience know the challenges and how at times, they just dont’t cooperate. It has happened to all of us at one point or another. So good for you to just keep going. You provide so much value that we would all be losing out if you just stopped!
I’ve been on some where the call ended and I’ve sympathized with the host, too. Technology is not as reliable as we’d like it to be…
Reading the blog and then the comments made me think about how there seem to be several reactions people live with-
those that are too afraid to do anything public because they want everything to be perfect – so nothing ever happens
those who when something happens rant and rave and blame everyone in sight for what happens
Those who get on getting on and realise that things happen – some appear good. some appear bad but in reality it is just life.
Michelle – you cope and you move on. Keep a sense of humour and life will always seem full of adventure. I must go listen to the replay. Bravo magnificent one.
That really does sum up reactions well, Roberta. Fear, Blame, or Forward Motion. Let’s keep choosing Forward Motion! :)
Isn’t that the truth. Technology is an amazing thing, but it can be what stresses us out the most! I’ve been on a few webinars, calls, teleseminars lately where the technology didn’t work. We found another way and made it work!
Great post,
Tammy
Great insights Michelle. I believe if everything doesn’t go according to the plan it’s probably because something better than the plan came along. Hooray for something better Michelle! :)
Lynne
Yep, something better is coming along – just got to keep going and keep trusting. :)
Is this some kind of a wake up call? I think it is! Thanks for this awesome post ;) Despite encountering setbacks of any sort, it is essential to keep your eyes on the goal and keep hanging in there!