“I see something in you, but I don't know what that is.”
That phrase came from Dananjaya Heittarachchi, the 2014 World Champion of Public Speaking, a taste of victory.
Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is to tell them what potentials and possibilities we see in them.
Gabor Mate, the renowned therapist calls it compassion of possibility which is a very important attitude to develop
if you’re in the business of motivating and counseling people.
Today, I want to share with you my experience giving someone a taste of victory.
This story is about Jhon Anderson Manurung, a Toastmaster from Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia
When pregnant with Jhon, his mother had a vision. Jhon was speaking in America.
So she gave him an American name to fulfill that vision. When he grew up John realized that he too wanted that dream. Jhon thought where would he need to start to realize that dream?
First, he would need to polish his English. Where could he do that?
Bali. There are more English-speaking people there than in Riau. Jhon came to Bali not knowing anyone. But he knew Toastmasters. He actually helped start the formation of Pekanbaru Toastmasters Club, but left before it was officially chartered. He showed up at the Magical-Bali club meeting on October 27, 2019, When asked to introduce himself, he said:
“I have a dream to be a public speaker in America. I knew I just have to come to Bali, even if I don’t know anyone and don’t have a job waiting for me”
I truly admire gutsy people who are willing to take the risk to go to a completely new place where they don't know anybody to follow their dream.
During the meeting break, I went to him and said:
“Jhon, you don’t have a job, and there are a few members here who may be able to give you a job. What do you think about doing a sales pitch of yourself to the group? You can save yourself a few phone calls asking for a job.”
Without missing a beat Jhon said: “I’ll do it”
Amazing, right? I went to the Toastmaster of the Meeting (Emcee) to arrange it.
So when the MC invited him to give his pitch, he just went up and did it.
Without preparation, with swag and confidence, he spoke in front of a group of people he doesn’t know. For me, that ranked as the best Table topics speech ever.
And I thought… this kid is special, even if I didn’t know what it was about.
By the way, he did get some interviews out of his pitching.
He joined Magical-Bali TMC a year later.
For his icebreaker speech.
He spoke about his experience coming to Bali and going through some rough times, and then said something that completely took me by surprise.
He told me that what boosted his confidence so much and made him believe in himself was what I said to him on a couple of different occasions:
“You’re special, Jhon. I don’t know what it is yet.”
Was I channeling Dananjaya Hetiarrachi? Or was I speaking my thoughts out loud?
In retrospect, I know that I often say a variation of this to people when I genuinely see their potentials.
Maybe it’s my gift, or maybe it’s from being a life coach, I have a knack for seeing possibilities and potentials in people after a short observation and listening to a few words they say.
But I believe any of you can do this if you just allow yourself to be sensitive and trust your gut feelings.
I don’t always remember who I say it to, sometimes in passing, sometimes to people I don’t know.
Ladies and gentlemen, words have the power to elevate people’s life and make them believe in themselves.
If you see something special or a great possibility in someone, even if you don't know the person, tell them what you think of their potentials. For example:
“You've got what it takes to be a great singer, you know.”
“You have a special way of listening to people, I think you can be a great coach or therapist.”
“You can go far as a motivational speaker.”
“Your writing really gripped me, you may consider being a professional writer”
So, in closing, I would invite you again to exercise your compassion of possibility to give as many people as possible a taste of victory.
Whenever you see great possibilities in somebody, please don't keep the thoughts in your head. Let them know you believe in them. You never know how many words might give them wings that they don’t otherwise believe they have.
And when they do, that would your own sweetest taste of victory.
Ask yourself, who around me can I give a taste of victory to right now?
