Skype Video Speech in Germany from California

by Jim Cathcart

I just got off the phone/computer from one the most enjoyable calls I’ve ever made.

Stephanie Charl Schule, a colleague of mine in Hannover, Germany invited me to address a meeting of the folks who are involved in iLearningGlobal.tv there. It was 5pm for them and 8am for me. So I was able to make the call from my computer by simply plugging in an external microphone and using the built in camera on the screen.

As my regular readers know, I’m one of the founding faculty of iLearningGlobal.tv and many of my training videos are featured on their website worldwide. When Steffi contacted me she said that I had many followers in Germany and she’d like to have me address their meeting via Skype call.

Her husband, Paul-Martin Schule, called me and confirmed our connection and the next thing I knew I was looking at Steffi in front of her computer screen with a large screen in the background showing ME! They had a meeting room with about 60 people in attendance and she had it set up to show me on a large screen while she interviewed me. We also took questions and comments from the audience. The sound quality of the connection was excellent.

Here is what the video looked like to them:

Steffi had sent me an outline of probable questions that she would ask me and I sent her my replies to each, so that she could translate the answers into German in advance of the meeting.

During the meeting as I answered each question and told short stories to illustrate, I would pause occasionally so that she could do a live translation for those who didn’t speak English. It really worked. The audience broke into applause on a number of occasions and seemed to truly connect with my message.

At the end of the event we took a little diversion when she asked me how I kept myself motivated. I showed her my guitar, one of two that I keep in my office. Then she asked me to play it. I played a piece of a song and she said the audience wanted more. So I played and sang my own song, Riding Free, plus a John Denver and a Neil Diamond song. They sang along with me, from the other side of the world! That produced much applause and laughter on both sides of the ocean. Great fun!

I asked her to turn the computer around so that I could see the audience and when she did, they gave me a standing ovation! It truly touched my heart. What a wonderful way to connect with people and a perfect way to start this day. By the way, today is the birth date of Cavett Robert, founder of the National Speakers Association. NSA members nationwide are encouraged to spend this day coaching and training others to become better communicators. Tonight I’ll be speaking as keynoter for the 75th anniversary banquet of the Toastmasters International Ventura California club. Thanks for following my blog and please let me know when I can be of service to you.

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