Update on Yes, and something I should have mentioned earlier

I've had a few challenges

So, in my 30 days of Yes, I've had a couple of opportunities to push myself so far. I guess they've been quite simple in reality, but it's interesting what sort of things will push my buttons.The first one was simply signing up for a course that I thought I shouldn't be spending money on - but it wasn't a lot of money, and it is a skillset I need. I think that 'no' response is just a built in reaction to feeling ripped off by other 'experts' (there's a whole post from last year on that one). Then there was signing up to a free course that I probably don't have the time for, with someone I don't know, where we have to do group work. I've also sent off two emails to podcasts I would like to be on - a challenge from a webinar I did that I have been procrastinating on. Actually, if there are any podcasts that you think I should pitch for, please let me know.

Remember that you can challenge me on this one - is there anything you think I'm too cautious about? Anything you would like me to share or do?

Went to TED2016 Opening

This year TED did something different, you could see the opening session of TED2016 in the cinema. Sadly in Australia, we had to wait a fortnight, but it was worth it. There were a couple of incredible talks in that session - I can't wait to see Dan Pallotta's talk again when they put it online. I had an interesting realisation though, I'm not sure that my brain wouldn't explode being at a TED conference and being bombarded with all of these ideas in quick succession - not that I'm likely to ever get the chance to find out.

Not sure why I didn't mention this

Did you know I'm an activity for ESL students? Well how would you, since I've never mentioned it. I'm not even entirely sure why I've never told you guys this; maybe because it's a little too surreal. I think it's because it sounds a little like bragging, and I'm not comfortable with that.When you look at my list of 'featured in' this is what I'm referring to when I say featured in National Geographic Cengage. They've done a series of ESL books partnering with TED. The books have a range of stories, and then refer to one or more TED Talks. I was contacted late in 2014 to ask for permission to publish the 30 days of Drive image, and my photo in the series. Now that is a weird email to get.I didn't mention it at the time because of one of my many 'broken' traits - I usually don't talk about things like that until they happen. It's like being published on the TED blog. I'd mentioned something exciting was happening, but until it was published I didn't explain what. My brother is much the same with this, I think it's one of our 'nurture' traits - waiting for the other shoe to drop, or being disappointed so often that until it's real you don't acknowledge it. Self-publishing my book was different, because I controlled the whole thing; when it is something someone else can take away - well that's a whole other story.When the National Geographic/TED series published early in 2015, I still failed to talk about it. Part of me said I should publicise that the right way, so what was the delay - in reality, I think it just felt weird to talk about it. I should have been promoting crap out of that though, because I am the first story in the first of four issues! They sent me a copy, I've included photos below, and that just made it even more surreal.So, I am an activity for people with English as a second language. They read a short story about My Year of TED and then have some questions to answer. It's bizarre, and gratifying at the same time. It's part of the Changing Your Life chapter, and I'm very proud to be included in it, and that they thought my experience was worthwhile including.What prompted me to finally tell you about it? I was talking with a friend just before I published my book, about how exciting it all was, and that I didn't sound very excited. That made me think about the nurture trait again - I could talk about the book because I controlled it, but I was still not allowing myself to emotionally get too invested in it. Look, maybe it was fear or the amount of work I still had to do at the time that was tempering my excitement - but I feel like it was a little more to do with waiting for something to go wrong. Or maybe I just don't excitement very well; I have a sneaking suspicion that this is part of it.I don't think I'm alone in this either. How do you deal with exciting opportunities? Do you tell everyone early? Or are you a little more like me, and wait until it is real? I'd love to know that I'm not the most broken in this regard.