'Your dream is definitely not for sale'

Even as lakhs of students have received their SSLC and PU results and planning the path they should take in their lives, motivational speaker Craig Valentine had a perfect message for one and all. “Your dream is not for sale.”

He expressed his thoughts at ‘Ovation-2011’ organised by Toastmasters International ‘District 82 - India and Sri Lanka’ at the Infosys campus, here on Friday.  Deccan Herald is the media partner for this four-day event, that began on Thursday.

Reminiscing about events that shaped  his current status as a speaker, Valentine said that he was a ‘serial failure’ in his nascent days at the job, after completing his undergraduation.

When he asked his friend for advise, the latter told him to read as many books as possible.

Heeding to the recommendation, Valentine headed out to a bookstore. After reaching the bookstore, he said that he headed to the self-help section and took out a book and just started reading.

And once he had become confident of public speaking, he wanted to resign from the internet company and go into becoming a full-time professional speaker.

So when he asked his boss to relieve him off duty, his employer said that he accepted to even raise the salary by more than four times, as he was capable of motivating the people around him.

Valentine captured the attention of the audience by recalling humourous examples connected with his life and told them to never give up on their dream.

Awards

A postgraduate from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Trilochan Sastry was presented the leadership award for his outstanding service in improving availability of water resources in a small town of Andhra Pradesh in Ananthpur District.

Addressing the audience, he mentioned that it was the sincerity and character of a person that touches people and lasts the test of time.

Citing a message he saw in a government office that reads ‘My life is my message’, Sastry said that if we build our character, then we will be able to last the the test of time.

Infosys Limited was presented the ‘Corporate Recognition Award’, which was received by Wing Commander (Retd) A R Srinath, Senior Principal with Professional Skills Development, Education and Research, Infosys.

A stellar dance performance by the group ‘Nruthya Udaya’ left the audience spellbound. The performances included the ‘Flight of Gandaberunda’ and ‘Anjali Hastha’, a traditional way to welcome the guests at the event.

Earlier, the event was inaugurated by Dist Gov Nagaraj Rao, who sounded the gong, to announce ‘Ovation-2011’ formally open.

Mentioning that 3,700 members had joined the Toastmasters International District 82, Rao said that it was the highest growth compared to any other clubs in the world.
The even began with a flag march by TI districts of India and Sril Lanka.