The Thrill of the Stage

Since ending my stint as a semi-pro (online) poker player, there is one thing I've missed - the adrenaline rushes. The suspense of waiting for that last card to come, whose outcome can mean a several thousand dollar win or loss, is both envigorating and exhausting all in the same moment.

Once in a while, I'll get that feeling for a few seconds on a high bouldering problem - but it's nothing like presenting at Ignite. Tomorrow I'll be speaking at Ignite Boulder 6, and my heart is thumping already. It's the perfect mix of nervous excitement.

700 people will be there at the Boulder Theater to watch, but I'd get the same thrill if it were just 50. I'm not normally such a glutton for attention, but for some reason I'm driven by the challenge of entertaining and educating a room full of people.

Tomorrow I'll present: Our Princess is in Another Castle (video is now posted), five minutes about the lessons I've learned in my past life as a video game junkie. I will be trying something a little different this time, and I can't wait to see how it will be received. Will everyone still be talking about it the next day, or will it fade away as another forgettable presentation? That's all part of the thrill.

Extra: Here are my previous Ignite presentations.