Putting the late in elation
I always arrive at classes ten minutes early, to check the equipment is functioning and upload my ppts. Always!
I arrived for a guest MBA lecture on ‘branding’ at 6.20pm for a 6.30pm start. Opening the classroom door I saw a sea of angry faces.
“When does this session start?” I asked, panic hidden.
“20 minutes ago!” the brusque reply.
Arghhh! Panic to maximum! Fight or flight?
FIGHT!
Apologising first, I launched into action, ignoring my preparation. Talking my favourite subject I knew within seconds that this would be good. They forewent their break, just to keep me talking.
Elation!
- Category: True Stories Told As Fiction
7 comments add one below
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
I like wung, pastparticiplewise! It was instant fear with a real go/no go decision that could have gone either way. But you’ve got to choose life, so... somehow I took charge. Someone immediately challenged me (good!) on something I said about KitKat and I gave a pretty good answer. The rest of the class probably thought what an arrsehole the challenger was and were in my hands from then on. I gave them the choice of a break in the lesson, but they said they wanted me to push on through without, including my earlier challenger. Fortune favours the brave! I felt awesome!
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Christopher over 5 years ago
Glad it turned out well. How did the mix-up in the starting time occur?
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Thanks Christopher, all my other evening classes in that building (a mansion which is an exact copy of Chequers, our Prime Minister’s official country residence) started at 6.30pm. The MBA was, it seems, different and started at 6.00 pm. It was a one-off for me, but I should have checked... Ho-hum!
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Jamie Clapperton over 5 years ago
Felt relieved for you! :-)))
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
Thanks Jamie. It was stressful until my mojo came flying back!
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Peter Henderson over 5 years ago
Know what it's like. Thankfully I only did it once and it was 10 minutes. I did my lesson plans the night before so like you I had them up to their neck in thought processes before they could say Boo.
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Neville Hunt over 5 years ago
It’s magic when it goes so well, isn’t it Peter?
