17/10/2025
I’m not great at public speaking, never have been, which seems a bit bonkers considering I have spent most of my adult life chatting to strangers. My first full time job was actually telesales, speaking to people that way didn’t phase me much. But, put me on a stage with a microphone in front of hundreds of people – nope. That is one sure way to see me crumble (my two best men speeches will testify this!)
Yesterday, I was asked to do a Q&A by Charles Wells in front of their management team who had gathered from across the whole of the UK and France. There was a keg of beer on offer as an incentive, which made the idea slightly more appealing. Initially, I thought it sounded awful, but the more I sat with it, the more I thought it would be a good thing to do. Sometimes, the best things come from pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones. Of course, it is a subject that I know well, which probably helped with my nerves. In the end, I enjoyed answering questions and if I managed to inspire a few people along the way, well, that’s certainly a bonus.
We discussed the various challenges that the hospitality industry is facing and with some Freespirit positivity, I hope I managed to portray that this industry is still the beating heart at the centre of many communities and that an amazing, joyful career can come from it. In the end, it was an enjoyable experience and the feedback I received from those who came was really lovely.
Maybe I will do it again, maybe I won’t. But it was a new experience for me and something valuable certainly came from it.
What are you going to do to push yourself out of your comfort zone next week? Now, there’s something to think about!
Big Love
Mark