Bored a man to sleep. Maybe.

One of my long term goals is to teach and today that goal got a beat up by a story I told myself about something happened in my presence..

I put someone to sleep during a 30 min presentation.

A man, at the back of the room, was sitting listening to my talk intently at first. Then 10 min in, I noticed a lot of yawning. Another 10 min, his head against the wall, mouth wide open gaping towards the heavens. Just hope he was learning by osmosis; as he really did need to know the update and how it applies to him. Yes, 30 min is too long to hold anyone's attention. I really wasn't as prepared as I should be.

Afterwards, I received great advice on how to shorten my talk and focus on the keys points (to prevent further sleeping). I rationalized to myself that there had to be a plausible reason why this man fell asleep and camera up with the following options:

1. ​I bored him to sleep.
2. The subject bored him to sleep.
3. He had a late night.
4. He has an infant at home that keeps him up at odd hours.
5. He has a puppy.
6. He moonlights a second job.
7. He is batman.
8. He is reading the same book as me and just can't put it down (except to write this post)

These are examples of stories we tell ourselves. In all likelihood his falling asleep has nothing to do with me. Or had everything to do with me. I'll never know and will need to let it go, move on and refine my public speaking abilities.

The story we tell ourselves about what is going on with someone else will define our future self-confidence when placed in similar situations. The next talk I give I will be better prepared and hopefully no one will fall asleep (fingers crossed).

Going to research lecture tips for how to keep audience awake for the next while and get back to you. Wouldn't want you falling asleep during this paragraph. Ugh, seriously. He fell asleep. Must rise above the story and release the fear.

​I can't sleep as I can't stop thinking about the guy that feel asleep. What ridiculous irony.