I was replying to an email on my smartphone this morning. Prior to hitting “send”, there in my signature file, were the letters DTM, after my name. I paused and stared, then thought. DTM stands for “Distinguished Toastmaster”; a Toastmasters International eductional standing of accomplishment. After 20+ years of espousing the Toastmasters tagline, I felt it was time to move on and take a break from that highly regarded public speaking and leadership organization, along with taking a break from anything USA. I chuckled and quickly chanted (mentally) a phrase my late father use to tease me with. It went something like, “yeah, ok, but what can you do? So what?”. That is probably something he would have asked me as a jesture, if he would have seen those 3 letters, DTM, after my name. And I too, quickly repeat that sentiment, asking myself, “DTM? OK, but what can I do?” And who really gives a shit????
After viewing many people being being interviewed online and in the countless number of online coaching and seminars I have attended, I have seen, (and so have you), presenters and facilitators, being interviewed by media, with mounds of books lining the walls behind them, countless number of attendee badges from conferences of 20 years ago dangling from their set lights or neck and wearing various attire of noteable positions they have facilitated with. Let’s not forget how many certificates stand behind them on their office walls. And I am sure you have also. We all have. Thank goodness for wide angle lenses. Otherwise we would not be able to see all of them (and I do mean ALL of them). But in the end, when all is said and done, who really “gives a shit”.
It almost wants to make you say, “Credentials? Well, my credentials are what you see before you. Are you blind? Are you deaf? Can you not hear me? What do you feel? Because in the end, those are my credentials. What I present to your vision – what you see. It is what you hear from me when I speak. And for those EQ’d, what you feel by my presence and participation in your company. Those are my credentials. Also, last but not least, they will be inclined, rightfully so, to ask, “But what can you do? Can you do what I need you to do?”
In the end, wether for a job interview, to fill a volunteer role, or just to spend quality time with you on an outing, the only thing that matters is, “What can you do for me?”
