Public speaking, being the center of attention at a birthday party, and even conversation in large groups has never been my forte as a certified introvert. So among my least favorite job responsibilities is speaking at industry function such as the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Annual Conference in New Orleans.
Unfortunately that was exactly what I was going to have to face and the SAMS conference was as large as it has been in the last four years. I’m starting to get to know some of the faces in the crowd, but that isn’t exactly a great comfort when I am discussing a topic that I know little about. Lithium Ion Battery standards are a topic that is being addressed by a subcommittee that I manage, which doesn’t exactly qualify me to speak on the matter, but that was not going to stop my name from being added to the agenda.
So there I was. I sent a solid week prepping for the 90 minute session and I put my fears in my back pocket to stumble my way through discussing chemistry and physics (two subjects that I all but failed in school) to a group of close to 300 blank stares. Whew… finally done. It’s Miller time.
