Don't Get Terrified, Get Jerrified

A question, a cartoon, an inspiration…

- Sridhar Ranganathan

Come on boy, you just saw the 29 others speak. All you have to do is to tell something about yourself, your life. Why are you so terrified?” Robert, the motivational trainer was prodding this 21-year-old timid and trembling trainee. Standing there, I asked myself, 'What do I have in me to speak on?' My thoughts went back to the first 20 years of my life.

'Could I speak about my education? Hm… I was probably the first to do distant education in a regular school! Education was always at a distance.'

Education? I was terrified.

'Could I speak about my extracurricular activities?' My mom wanted me to become a singer. So, she put me in a music class. The music teacher tried everything to make me sing and nothing worked. Music is not for you, she concluded. My over enthusiastic mom asked, “Should I ask him to stand in neck deep water and practice for his voice to become better?” and the teacher promptly replied, “Yes, that's fine, but make him stand upside down.” The very thought of going to that music class terrified me.

Extra-curricular activities? I was terrified.

'Could I speak on my job?' While many after college were taking the road less travelled; there was no road ahead for me. Without any choice, I got into a completely unrelated job. And there it was a rat race. My colleagues, customers and competitors exposed and exploited my timidity.