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From: Alan B (to Steven)
Date: 16 Oct 2010
Time: 13:45:43 -0500
Remote Name: 95.144.72.181
Hi Steven, Thank you, so much for taking the time to read my paper and provide such positive feedback. It was kind of you to write in such a vein. I experienced something similar back in 2000 when I heard someone (who had stuttered severely throughout his life) speaking about how he was enjoying considerable success in public speaking competitions. Addressing audiences had always been my greatest fear. Everything changed when I heard him speaking with such passion and confidence. I wanted to be like him - he became my role model. For the very first time in my life, I believed that I could become a public speaker. He was living proof of that `dream'. When British athlete, Roger Bannister, ran the mile in less than four minutes back in the 1950's, the beliefs of other athletes changed overnight. Prior to his record-breaking performance, everyone considered it impossible to break the `four minute mile' barrier. He proved it could be done. Within a relatively short period, many other athletes were regularly achieving the same feat. The person I heard speaking became MY Roger Bannister. I shall be, forever, grateful, to him for showing me what was possible. I have not looked back since. We perform at a level that is consistent with our beliefs and not our potential.Our beliefs and self-image create the script by which we act out our lives - they set the boundaries to our accomplishments. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we change the way we view ourselves. Steven, keep pushing out those boundaries. Keep speaking with fire and passion – when we let go we overcome our inhibitions. May you continue to go from strength to strength. Thank you, once again. Kindest regards Alan