Spirit of adventure

My dear friends, Do you like travel ? Going out to see different sights, taste different food, experience different culture.

I do!

But there is a kind of travel, full with risk, with challenges, need the spirit of adventure.  Which I enjoy a lot, but not good at.

Let me share a story of my role model.

Mr. xinyu Zhang. He said to his gf that he will propose to her in the north pole and go to the south pole for their wedding. Sounds super romantic, right ?

Now pls close your eyes. Picture my words.

Imagine now is winter in Beijing. The temperature is 0 degree outside, cold and windy , freezing. You can bearly take your hands out of your glove.

Then we go to Moscow, the temperature is -20. And when you outside for a minutes, you can’t feel your nose. You tongue will stick to the ice m if you lick it.

Then let’s go further north. To a small town called Oymyakon, where the temperature is -71, the coldest place on the earth. If you spy a water and fly it around you for a circle within few seconds, it turns to be a hard ice stick.

Which is worse, on the way to there, there are more than 700KM without any living. If your car’s engine is broken on the way, nobody can help you. And you will be freeze to be dead within 1 hour under that temperature.

Pls think , is this trip romantic or dangerous.

Pls open you eyes.  Yes, he took her to there and proposed there. And proposed to her. This is a guy with spirte of adventure.

If the coldness and dangerous doesn’t scare you, let’s share a story on their wedding journey to the south pole for their wedding.

When I image a trip to the south pole. I will picture a fancy boat. Nice bedroom, warm and safe. But Mr.Zhang choose a small sailing ship! In the heart of the ocean, this kind of ship is like a leaf, can be rolling down with a crazy wind.

He planed to pass Soya Strait which is a military strait between Japan and Russian. Due to there is outrages wind, it’s a super dangerous area. Only military ships go to there, no civilian ship ever passed.

Luckly, after bravely fighting with the wind, they landed on the dumped island of Russia . But they have to face a more desperate situation:

Out of oil = means their engine is not working = the boat lose a leg to move.

The sail was cutted to save their ship when wind almost drag them into the ocean =  they lose another leg to move.

Fresh water pump not working = meaning they will out of clean water to drink. Without water, they will die in few days.

And pls remember, there are no chance will bypass other ships or boat.

How do you feel ? Can you think about any way to rescue them ?

When I read his book to this part, I almost laugh out. The desperate situation is hopeless. How lucky they needs to be to overcome those difficulties!

Miracle do happen! Their ship floated to another island which happened to be a dumped island by the USA army. There they find everything they need: Oil, food, water, tools, even digital game player.    And they finally did successfully made their trip. I can only say: brave people have outstanding lucky.

So those kind of trip is what I meant need “ spirit of adventure”. Not something can do by time and money. Need passion, need to be brave, need to be prepared , and need to not give up.

I start to think maybe I can’t do such a trip. But this spirit may can help me in other ways. How about help me in delivery speech in a publics.

When I facing the microphone, facing the audience, I’m excited, because I know it’s what I want to do , want to improve. But I also have fears in my heart, I have butterflies on my stomach. Same feeling as Mr.Zhang before he begin the trip. It’s is brave that pushes me be back to the stage, again and again. I start to braver little by little. Feel more and more comfortable. Even star to feel the joy of standing here.

If you are brave to be here, then the next thing need is to be prepared.

From a guests, then did my ice breaker, now reach to CC10, each time I standing here, I still feel nervous. But each time, I’m still standing here, because except fear, I’m also brave. And I become more and more brave, start to new body languages, Try role as TM, try GE. The more I be here, the more I will be comfort and confident to speak in public. Eventually I will be able to speak for your team.

I believe you are the same as me.  So, each time we just need to be a little more brave, try a little new things. We will be able to fulfill a wonderful new journey in language, just exciting as Mr.Zhang’s trip.

The spirit of SOA also means be prepared.

When Mr.Zhang decide each his trip, he invested a lot of time to do research. He is only a high-school graduated student.

To be able to drive and repair the ship, he studied the mechanical and become an excellent technician.

To be survive from the cross-sea trip, he studied how to avoid the wind.

He studied emergency rescue skill to save his people if anyone got sick.

Each of his trip is very risky, but he learn and be prepared to reduce the risk to the minimum.

Same for our speech.

To perform good on the stage, we think through a topic and dig out the a valuable message.

We do research to make the content supportive and convincing. CC7: research your topic.

We study the audience, design an attractive opening and powerful closing. CC2 organize your speech.

Think about where to speak loud, where to speak slowly.  CC6 vocal variety.

Spirit of SOA also means to be creative.

mR.Zhang choose sailing ship to go to the south pole, he is the first. Road is a not a road until you walk it through. You can always try new topics, new angels of the points, new speaking style.

For example, CC5 , body language. “age”. You have several way to demonstrate. Should use a paper to write off the paper ? or should I prepare a long paper, tear away the ages ? Or some other ways.

The spirit of SOA also means never easily give up.

While Mr.zhang’s team is facing the hard time, they know hope and never give up is the principle to be a survivor.

For a speaker, never been crashed if you can’t match your expectation. Or you get some negative feedback. we come here to improve, to be better me.

Practice will make us good and stronger. When we pass CC10, check back. I promise you, you will be happy for all the CC projects that you’ve done. You are already a better you.

So, my dear friends, when you choose to stand here, facing audience, have a deep breath, imaging you are sailing. Start from your smile, remind you the spirit of adventure. Start your journey in speaking! The achievement will be out of your imagine.