I’m home from my trip to Saudi Arabia! What an amazing experience!
Share your comments here about my recent article in Stage Time…
Thanks!
Darren
Darren LaCroix learned how to be funny the hard way by experience. He is a keynote speaker with a thriving publc speaking career. He authored books, CD’s, DVD’s, & other public speaking courses. He gives motivational speeches all over the world including Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia
Thank you, Darren and Ed, for building a bridge to a place far too many of us have written off as ‘too dangerous.’ The only way to change attitudes is one person at a time. Your audiences were lucky to see the best of the USA in you two.
In the eastern province of Saudi Arabia there is a small island by the Arabia Gulf called Dareen. When you come back I will take you to this place. Defiantly you would like it, if not because the nice and friendly residents then because of its name which is close to your name.
Congratulations Darren & Ed for making this trip to Saudi Arabia. Like SA people say many similar stories about Colombo, Sri Lanka. I remember how Darren was “inspired” by his family when he wanted to take up comedy! I invite you to Colombo, the beautiful island in the indian ocean.
Darren, your approach is a terrific example of what needs to happen in this world. People need to reach out a hand in friendship and break through the misconceptions that keep us apart. I am glad that your quote – “If you have any hope, any dream, any desire… don’t go to your family for inspiration. Instead, go to people who have done it. They think differently.” – inspired your audience. It has inspired me, too. I want to change careers and build my own direct sales business. This is something I’ve never done, but I can work with people who have. That is who I will listen to.
AlHamdillah salaama! Welcome home but don’t bother unpacking!;-) We are looking forward to seeing you in Abu Dhabi in only a month!
You’ll be seeing some of the same folks you got to know in Saudi and a whole lot of us from the rest of District 79. Please feel free to bring a whole plane load of other Toastmasters along 😉
Grace
Kuwait
I’m an Indian living in the US (for 20 years.) My dad worked in the Saudi for a decade or so with a lot of Americans there. He worked for a US built power plant. (By the way, some names in the article and the responses seem to come from Indian folks.) I would have easily advised you to go. I think people ‘fear’ what they don’t know. All they hear about in the news are the negative variety.
Darren & Ed, We thoroughly enjoyed ur conferences in Saudi Arabia especially the coaching sessions!
Thanks also for ur valuable feedback about my “Why Not!” speech.
Brindha
Dear Darren,
As usual you wrote this beautiful article from your heart and it was honest and forthright.
I feel you did the right thing by going to Saudi Arabia by listening to people ‘in the know’
People to whom you communicate will always love you and treat you like a king as you reach out to them and touch their hearts.
If you do what most people tell you to do, you will be . . . average. You are definitely not average.
Thanks!
I’m from Saudi Arabia and I’m really glad and proud you made there. In fact, you set an example for “taking risk” in life, something you always told us to do. I’m long time reader of stage time and I also bought “Own the Stage”, I found it very useful and interesting.
Thank you Darren for coming to Saudi Arabia and we look forward for your next visit.
Thank you very much Darren for this nice article. I was one of the audiences in your lecture that was held in Saudi Aramco. It was really amazing! Today, the members of our speech club who attended your lecture were discussing some of the points that you touched.
Thank you very much for visiting Saudi Arabia.
Khalid
D: Your experience mirrors what others have told me many times, namely, that they feel safer in many foreign countries than they do here. Overall, there is less violence and cause for alarm about being out and about. One person said that’s because there aren’t as many so-called Christians in those countries. It seems that Americans tend to bring violence to countries wherever they go. But the native populations except for a very few are hospitable, polite and very eager to have us visit. My daughter prefers traveling in other countries than here because of that very fact.
Dear Darren,
It was a great oppotunity having you here in Saudi Arabia, I believe so many were benefited by your coaching rounds.
I was one of the contestants of Humorous Speech Contest at Division F, and I remember your feedback after my speech, it was really a great honor for me when you said “Man you are really funny”.
I wish to see you and listen to your valuable sessions more and more.
Thanks and best of luck.
A hand of friendship will always meet another hand of friendship. Humanity is stronger than the ‘waves’ that it goes through of violence, ignorance, prejudice … The human values of love, justice, equality and freedom will always prevail even if ignored by some. Good eventually overcomes bad. Darkness cannot cover light for too long, there is always a brand-new morning waiting to emerge.