Today, on day six of being open ~ and of course it was day six because my name is Six and things happen in sixes or on the sixth or 16th or 26th, at 6:00 or some multiple or divisor of six. But I’m not obsessed about it at all ~ today, I finally had my first trial lesson. Although I had practiced giving trial lessons during my scheduled hours, because… well, why not? I am an Advanced Toastmaster, I know all about being prepared. So I practiced and tried to pace things as I imagined they would go. What I didn’t imagine was my first trial student being a green candidate. I had imagined pink, orange, red, and yellow. But green … somehow, I forgot to think about what their abilities and weak areas might tend to be. But there we were. I did my best (although of course hindsight glares at me through those special lenses). I thought on my feet, and tried to remember what Gavin taught me. But it all happened so quickly!
Perhaps it should have gone on about another 10 minutes, but I didn’t realize the time until he was out the door again. I guess I was more nervous than I expected to be. I think (I hope) my Toastmasters training helped me to focus on the student; I reminded myself before he arrived that he was probably nervous himself, he didn’t need me to be, as well. But for the first time in my life, I was giving a trial lesson for my own business, MY English school! It was, at the same time, (being the first one), both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. But I tell you this: now I understand the “dry palm and a smile”!
Oh, and Gavin ~ guess what? This was the flower shop guy! I think it’s a good sign that he was my first trial student. I don’t know if he’ll sign up or not. He did take an application, and his other school contract is up next month. We shall see. But now I know how it feels, and I know it will be easier going forward. I believe I reached a milestone today, yippee!!
~ sue (six)
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