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After watching me present 10 slides on small business growth today, a public speaking instructor told me “If that’s how you act when you’re excited, then I’d hate to see you when you’re disinterested.”

You’d think that would be the worst thing I ever heard after giving a presentation, but in fact it’s not: after participating in a panel discussion last October (and admittedly bombing my way through it), a woman from the audience told me, “You should have talked to people about how to dress for success.  Because you really look nice.  And I bet speaking about fashion would come very naturally to you.”

First of all, 90% of what I was wearing that day came from Target, so thank you.  Second, the only time I don’t want to hear that someone thinks I’m pretty is when I’m right in the middle of trying to say something important.

But six months later, I’ll admit she probably had a point because my presentation today was taped and I really do speak in a monotone and stand with one hand on my hip the whole time. 

“There was one part – one glimmer of hope – where you kind of came alive,” the instructor said as he rewound the tape.  “The part where you were telling a story about how that celebrity you were working with probably had a drug problem and needed to be yanked off the set.  You had personality for that part.”

Imagine that.  I come alive when making fun of others.  Who would have known? 

I guess I’ll have to bring that level of enthusiasm to all areas of my work. 

Or maybe I’ll just Plan B it and become a discount fashion consultant.  Because in the middle of the play back, someone told me that they liked my dress and it’s only from H&M.