Burlesque BNI

Article contributed by Lisa Mackay.

Last week I did my first Burlesque dancing lesson (for exercise purposes of course, but if it helps me attract a bloke, I’m not going to complain!)

Well I turned up with about a dozen other women (it was a women only class) dress in lycra gym gear as instructed. Well I am not exactly a small girl, and I do tend to avoid any images of myself if lycra if at all possible, so the first indication about just how far out of my comfort zone I was about to get was the full length mirrors along one wall of the studio.

Then the instructor turned up… a Latin America beauty with long flowing locks, curves in all the right places, and non in the wrong places. And she proceeded to tell us that Burlesque was all about flirting and teasing (in a suitably sultry Latin American accent!!). She then proceeds to sashay across the dance floor in full flirtatious mode indicating that we should copy her every move.

I have absolutely no problem standing up in front of a board room and holding my own; a conference of 100 delegates, no problem; I have even sung at BNI (twice!!). But crossing that dance floor I felt like some 13 year old geek at their first school disco!!

So what does this have to do with BNI?

Remember the first time you had to stand up and do your 60 seconds, waiting whilst all these super confident, experienced BNI’ers did their 60 seconds, praying that somehow the floor would swallow you up before it got to you?

How many of you have now got into the comfort zone of paying vague attention to the 60 seconds, maybe scribbling a few notes in prep for your 60 seconds, or just relying on the fact that, when it is your turn to stand you will open your mouth and out will pop 60 seconds somewhat about your business?

Conclusion

For any visitors or newbies here today… we have all had the feeling of dread, don’t worry it does get easier

For the old hands… be supportive and welcoming to the newbies (remember how grateful you felt to that boy/girl who broke the ice and asked you to dance at the school disco!)

And for next week, push yourself out of the comfort zone, be a little different/creative/zany with your 60 seconds. You only have to push out of your comfort zone as far as you want, we are not asking you to do your 60 seconds in burlesque dance style… unless you want to?