Henry Rose Lee – spy extraordinaire!
Picture the scene. I’m at a global conference in a luxury hotel, in the centre of a large, European city. I’m the keynote speaker and I confirm that my name – Henry Rose Lee - is completely made-up.
I changed my name 20 years ago because I hated it, and I wanted to reinvent myself.
I tell my audience that my name is made up, and I jokingly explain that I had to change my name because I am in witness protection, or I’m a spy, or I’m a voice over artist.
Then I add that one of those statements is true.
So, there I am delivering my keynote, getting a few laughs, and making sure that a lot of insights are being delivered.
Then we stop for a break. In the break, a straight-talking Ohio cowboy sidles up to me and says “I know you actually ARE a spy”.
I laugh and say “How do you know that?”.
He leans in, and whispers “Because you’re so good at blending in and being invisible. No one notices you until you start speaking!”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Is my speaking career that bad? Or that amazing?
Answers in the comments section please. In invisible ink.
Or in code.
