Friends, just when I think I’ve overcome the languid days of homeschool dorkdom, freeing myself from the stereotypes of maladjusted and socially awkward moments, I’m reminded that I will forever be socially awkward—except with boisterous laughter and dramatic hand gestures [because I’m Hispanic, naturally].
I was invited again this year to host Catalyst Backstage and it’s always an honor to interview top leaders from around the globe in the realm of leadership. I was given the list of speakers I was to interview and began doing my homework. As a totally loud, opinionated, passionate extrovert, I was wildly fascinated with Susan Cain whose TED talk gave me insight to world of introverts. Some of dearest friends are introverts, so I was excited to pick her brain about what it’s like to be quiet, linear, awesome an introvert.
But, in true Bianca form, it didn’t quite work out the way I intended. My mental list of questions were lodged in my throat. Literally. Two minutes into our interview, I begin to cough. Then my cough turns into a choke. And my choke turns into a gag reflex. ON STAGE LIVE. Yup, I’m cool.
So there you have it. My big Oprah debut with Susan Cain is interrupted by a coughing attack. Susan stopped her brilliance to bless me every time I coughed as if I was sneezing until I was coughing so hard I had to walk off the stage. If you listen subtly in the background, you can hear me gagging from a whooping cough on the side of our stage. #Awesome
To do her justice, I’ve attached her brilliant presentation here. To all the introverts in the world, rock on!
For more on Susan or to read her blog, check her out here! Comments, questions, and cough drops will be accepted. 😉
Awesome! Incase you are wondering, I’m totally not laughing at this! 😉
Love you! At least Brian was there so you could walk away?! And you weren’t wearing a headset!
Oh dude I love you! Haha
Hey I know Brian! I’ve led worship with him at our church before. Small world.
Oh my goodness – I LOVE her!
That was just hilarious.
You never came back!!! Oh you’re so funny! Love ya!!!
No way, I was dying! Seriously Blair, I was coughing so hard I was drooling?! Mor.ti.fied!
Oh you poor thing! I feel you there though. I had the same experience – minus the tv cameras and all that jazz – in my car for a good 10 to 15 mins..it was horrible! Finally this week coughing much less thanks for meds!
You looked great though!!! =)
Thanks for the intro of Susan!
This introvert, wishes she had been there to give you a hug.
And everything Susan Cain said is dead on. I`m not weird – book nerd yes – weird no…
Oh and you are cool no matter what ya think!!
Loved her book. I also really appreciated Adam McHugh’s Introverts in the Church. Knowing more about the introvert/extrovert qualities has really changed the way I view people. It has been freeing in allowing myself time away from people to recharge but also explaining to my more extroverted friends why I don’t want to go out every night.