Talks

When my 1st book – The Magic that’s Ours was published I met with a school head who was interested in buying copies for her students. During our meeting she asked if I would be interested in speaking to the students and parents at the end of year prize giving. “Sure” I replied, unsure of what to expect.

On the fateful day, sitting on the stage, drenched in my nervous sweat, the concerned head mistress leaned across and asked if I was OK – that’s how much sweat was pouring down my face.

That was my 1st experience at speaking publicly. Even though I lost about 3kg’s in weight that day, I loved the experience, was taken aback by the positive response and decided that public speaking was for me.

Since then I’ve spoken at countless schools across South Africa, during literacy related days, general assemblies, and end-of-year prize giving ceremonies. The age groups I’ve spoken to have varied from Grade 0 to Grade 12, to College students and at two of the biggest National Book and Literacy festivals in South Africa repeatedly.

I was recently invited to present my latest talk, “YOU have the recipe for your own success!” to students and interns at the Red and Yellow Creative School of Business. The same talk – abbreviated, was also presented at Pecha Kucha in Cape Town.

The topic of my talks – similar though varied as per the different age groups, include my personal story, tongue in cheek references to successful people, interactive exercises and photographs I’ve taken throughout my life.

They also include:

• How reading builds self- confidence, teaches us new things, can lead us on adventures both real and imagined, and stimulates the gift we all have – our imagination.
• How the next generations’ dreams are our future, how having goals to pursue is important and how they do have the recipe for their own “success”