Reflections, Resilience, and Readiness: A Recap of the December 2024 PSASA KZN Chapter Meeting
As the year wound down, the KZN Chapter of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) hosted its final meeting for 2024 on Wednesday, 4th December, at 5 PM. Held under the theme “Reflection, Projection & Celebration,” this event brought together 15 passionate professionals who were ready to share, learn and celebrate the journey that was 2024 while looking forward to 2025 with renewed purpose. The atmosphere was lively, engaging and brimming with inspiration.
Reflections, Resilience, and a Year-End Perspective with Jabu Msomi
The highlight of the evening was a powerful keynote by the dynamic Jabu Msomi, who delivered an inspiring talk titled: Reflections, Resilience, and Readiness: A Year-End Perspective. Jabu, an NLP Life Coach, celebrated keynote speaker and the recently crowned Coach of the Year 2024, shared her wisdom and energy with the group.
Her talk revolved around three core themes:
- Reflections:Jabu emphasised the importance of practicing gratitude and celebrating even the smallest wins. Her apt quoting of Nelson Mandela who said that “I never lose. I either win or I learn”, served as a reminder to reframe our setbacks as opportunities for growth. Her reflections encouraged attendees to embrace a mindset of intentional gratitude, which has a compounding effect on both personal and professional success.
- Resilience:Through her introduction of the CROWN Model, Jabu equipped attendees with a practical framework for developing resilience to rein supreme in our personal and professional domains alike:
- C: Clarity – Define your purpose.
- R: Resilience – Persist through challenges.
- O: Ownership – Take responsibility for your growth.
- W: Wellness – Prioritise self-care.
- N: Next Steps – Build intentional and incremental progress.
- Readiness:As the final leg of her motivating talk, Jabu inspired the group to embrace collaboration and innovation as tools to achieve their bigger vision in 2025. Readiness, she explained, isn’t just about planning but also about staying open to opportunities and partnerships that can help expand our impact.
Jabu’s energy and actionable insights left attendees buzzing with motivation and hope as they reflected on the year past and envisioned the year ahead.
The Impromptu Rapid Fire Segment
Adding to the evening’s fun and challenges was the Impromptu Rapid Fire segment. Guests were invited to write random titles on pieces of paper, which were placed into a hat. Each participant then drew a topic and had one minute to speak on it. This exercise tested their ability to think on their feet, build a logical structure, and deliver a meaningful message within a limited timeframe.
The segment was not only entertaining but also empowering, as it pushed attendees to embrace vulnerability and trust their instincts as speakers. For newer speakers, it offered a chance to practice critical thinking, crowd rapport and self-confidence in a supportive environment. The exercise was a hit, with laughter and applause punctuating every performance.
Word of the Year Exercise: A Rock-Solid Reminder for 2025
To close the session, attendees participated in the Word of the Year Exercise, where each guest received a plain white rock and markers. They were asked to write down a power word or guiding phrase for 2025 – a tactile reminder of their core motivation for the year ahead. Each guest had to then articulate to the room the word they’d chosen and the meaning behind it, as a way to speak their word into power and commit to their intention for the year within the group setting. This physical manifestation of their intentions was designed to serve as a daily visual cue, sitting on their desks or in a workspace to inspire resilience during challenging times.
The exercise was warmly received, with words like “Focus,” “Resilience,” “Balance,” and “Thrive” chosen by attendees. It was a simple yet profound way to align the group’s mindset with the theme of readiness for the upcoming year.
Key Takeaways
- Gratitude amplifies success:Celebrate small wins intentionally to build momentum.
- Resilience can be learned and strengthened:Use the CROWN Model to stay grounded and focused on growth.
- Your mindset is your superpower:Train your mind to see challenges as opportunities and to remain positive in the face of uncertainty.
- Collaboration is key to readiness:Embrace partnerships and innovation to achieve your bigger goals.
Closing Thoughts
The December 2024 KZN Chapter Meeting was a fitting end to an exciting year. The reflections, exercises and shared wisdom left everyone inspired and ready to take on 2025 with clarity, resilience, and purpose. It was a celebration not only of the year past but of the collective strength and creativity of the professional speaking community.
A huge thank you to Jabu Msomi for her invaluable insights and to all the attendees who made the evening so special. To connect with Jabu and learn more about her impactful work, follow her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jabu-msomi-m-inst-d-4a1b38140/.
Don’t miss out on future PSASA events as we gear up for an exciting 2025. Stay connected with us for updates, events, and opportunities to grow as a speaker. See you at the next chapter meeting!
