I was offended...

When I got the invitation to host an awards show, I was a bit hesitant because I am a Motivational speaker and I did not see hosting as something I could do with the same level of excellence. However, after giving it a bit of thought I agreed to host the show and was asked to submit an invoice. 

Due to the fact that I was a part of the association hosting the awards, I decided to heavily discount my services to the tune of 50%. 

This proposal was accepted by the planning committee and I began preparing for the event. I rehearsed for weeks; I turned down other events on that day; I got a fresh suit tailored, and I was fired up and ready to go. 

A few days before the event, I got from the organizers who told me that because I am a member of the association, the board of directors felt as if I should have offered my services for FREE and have decided to reject my proposal.

I was stunned. However, I had to make a judgement call considering the time, money and effort that I had already poured into hosting this event with excellence. 

I expressed my disappointment and agreed that I will follow through with hosting at no fee, however; the association needed to provide an event ticket for my wife who was attending with me, as I would not be working for free and buying a ticket as well. 

Reasonable right? One day before the event, I got another call to inform me that the board had rejected my second offer and would not be supplying a ticket for my wife. Further more, they have decided to go in another direction and found someone who was willing to host the event without any such request. 

HMMM.. Jesus take the wheel! I was as angry as I had been in a long. I felt disrespected. 

I called a former board member who encouraged me to call the president of the board which I did. 

The conversation was uninspiring to say the least. What followed was a series of apologies and an invitation to follow through as host which I declined. 

Yes, the other jobs on that date were lost, yes the money on the suit was already spent, yes I will never get the hours of preparation back but I walked away with my dignity in tack. 

I often like to look back and reflect on the early days of establishing myself as a speaker. It's still early, but at least a little more RESPECT is given and I hope nobody ever has to experience anything like that again.