Thirty-One Days of Blogging - Day 31
Today’s blog is the last day of my thirty-one days of blogging. I won’t blog daily, but I am planning to blog about twice a week. Now I will complete my Top Ten by revealing Numbers One and Two. Number Two was Presenting Three Keynotes in Seven Days. Part of my bucket list was to present keynote presentations. I didn’t plan on doing it in my first year of speaking. As all of you know, this year was very different for all speakers since all events after early March were held virtually. I have crossed the keynote speech item off my bucket list with an asterisk. Once I deliver a full-length keynote in person, I will remove the asterisk.
It is different to present virtually than in person, but different virtual tools are used. Some of the tools you can see your audience, and some you can’t see them. My experience was good, and I learned the key difference about how to adjust your delivery based on the virtual tool. My keynotes were different in topics as the first one was about the Skills Business Analysts Need to Find Success Beyond 2020. I delivered a different keynote twice at two conferences. The title was Bad Things Happen! The Ending Can Be Great! This was motivational rather than talking about core business analysis skills. I have already started to think about my next keynote presentation.
Number One is The Rebranding of My Business and the Birth of the Optimistic Business Analyst. One of my December blogs talked about Team OPBA or Team Alter, the people who make up Biaka Works. They are one of the best graphics/website design companies in the world. No, they are not paying me to say that; actually, I pay them for the privilege to be able to say that definitively. They do more than develop your brand and design; I consider them part of the OPBA family. Biaka was recommended by one of my friends Diana Alt. She is one of the IIBA Kansas City Chapter founders, and I had met her when I spoke for the chapter in July 2019.
When I met Biaka and Avery via Google meet, there was instant chemistry. They were so excited to work with me that I really thought they would jump through my computer screen. Their enthusiasm was contagious so working with a positive person like me was exciting to them. I met them in July 2020, and Biaka Works consisted of Biaka, Avery, and a part-time person. Since July, they have hired about three or four more people; I want to squash the rumor that I am hard to handle.
When we first met, they talked about family importance and how they try to take weekends off. It didn’t take too long for them to start sending me midnight emails on Saturdays. Anyone that knows me has received an email from me at any time of the day. When you can find someone that shares your enthusiasm for what you are doing, that is priceless. That is how Team Biaka and Team OPBA have come together. Avery is the person who created the Judymoji and is protective of them. I could talk about the OPBA brand and Team Biaka for many hours. I won’t do that because I won’t have anything to talk about for 2021. The sky is the limit as I look forward to the future. Happy New Year to all my family, friends, Team Biaka, and Mr. Judy Alter, aka Terry!
