Dear Lloyd,

We finally got a gold medal in the Olympics after almost 100 years of trying. As a motivational speaker, what lesson do you think we can derive from it?

Jeremy

Jeremy,

There's a Filipino saying that goes, 'Kay haba haba man ng prusisyon, sa simbahan pa rin ang tuloy.' Well, we arrived, have we not?

I'm one with the entire Filipino nation in celebrating the achievement of Hidilyn Diaz for being the first Filipino to ever win an Olympic gold for the Philippines. It was an incredible feat and without doubt, inspiring.

She said on her gold medal-winning lift of 127 kilograms in the clean and jerk event, 'Na-try ko na siya sa training pero hindi ko nagagawa, napu-frustrate ako. Umiiyak ako. Hindi ko ini-expect na mabuhat ko 'yun kahapon. Siguro si God iyon and all the people who prayed kahapon. Sobrang thankful ako sa lahat ng nagdasal and nagnobena.'

I'd like to believe that we are all in a lifelong training program. Everyday, we are training. And while we are at that, we always tend to try something that frustrates us and occasionally, something that makes us celebrate. When she said she tried, and she couldn't make it - in other words she failed - she got frustrated. Right off the bat, it's good to be reminded every once in a while that our first-ever Filipino Olympic gold medalist has gone through training - trying, getting frustrated, failing and yes, crying.

That should make you feel good about yourself. A champion goes through the same painful route as any other human being on the planet.

Yes, she cries. There's nothing wrong with that. It's how we deal with frustration. We let it out, and then try again. How many times have you cried for not getting what you really want? Maybe countless. I've cried many times over when things didn't go the way I wanted them, but I just have to go through with them. We all need to get these pains off our chest and crying is my favorite, too.

And then, yes, sometimes unexpected things happen. She didn't expect to lift it. She did. With or without expectation is irrelevant. It's finished. But how many times did that happen to you? You were in a hopeless, disappointing situation one day only to realize you have gotten through it the next day. It's not new. It happens to many of us. When we think we can't get through, we get through. Miracle? Perhaps. But before the miracle, we trained, we tried, we got frustrated, we failed, we cried. And then, the miracle.

But everyone can notice her another medal. The 30-year-old pride of Zamboanga revealed it was the Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal. After doing everything her mortal being can only endure, she trusted and let God. And then that moment when all the roads you've taken led you on top, get the gold, and salute while the Philippine National Anthem is played in the Olympics for the first time.

You wouldn't know unless you do.

I congratulate those who 'did' their very best to deserve the post-nominal title CPS or Certified Public Speaker. They make up the CPS Batch 5: Kristine Joy Alcantara, Annalice Aliluya, Maylin Cate, Catherine Delos Reyes, Edwin Felix 'Alex' Listana, Marie Ann Maylas, Shannen Marri Morikawa, Joseph Orinion, Dariel Palmiano, Romulo George Pineda, Jr., Dr. Arnel Pedro Rodelas, Mary Loannie Tenazas, and Atty. Joyce Villanueva. I'd like to thank my friend, professional speaker and author of The Nomadic Mindset Kevin Cottam, for being our graduation speaker as well.

These graduates are champions in their own rights. Already leaders and influencers in their respective fields, they took a chance on our public speaking program. They expected one thing only to experience another. Did they know that they will be taught in any other way than the typical classroom lecture format? No. But when they allowed themselves to take in ideas and they opened themselves to new learning, there was a miracle.

You wouldn't know unless you do. Doubt if you must but do it anyway. If you want to feel good about yourself and inspire the people around you - friends or critics - you don't just look at the weight and do nothing. You lift the weight and get the win. Yes, no matter how heavy you think it is.

P.S. The Public Speaking Institute runs a monthly public speaking training course for 2021 through Certified Public Speaker (CPS) certification program. Should you want to improve your communication skill, please go to www.publicspeaking.ph. We'll be happy to assist you.



Sgt. Lloyd A. Luna, PAFR, is the first registered speaking professional in the Philippines. He is a motivational speaker on leadership and best-selling author of Stepback: The Lost Art of Filipino Leadership. He is the chief executive officer of Stepback, a leadership and culture development company that helps leaders and organizations see the bigger picture in life and at work. Visit his website www.stepback.ph or email him at lloyd@lloydluna.com.