Using a quote: “Many of us here in this room are familiar with the Gandhi quote: ‘Be the change you wish to see in this world.’ I’m here to inspire you to take that challenge.” “‘I hated every minute of training, but I said “Don’t quite. Suffer now, and live the rest of your life a champion.”’ Like Muhammed Ali, many of you are here today with a desire to succeed in athletics.” Using a personal anecdote: “The other day I walked out of London Drugs and the alarm set off. I laughed it off, only to realize a moment later that my kid had put a small but expensive item in my shoulder bag, a FitBit. I was mortified. Especially being that I’m in theft prevention, and today’s event is precisely on that subject.” “This past autumn I fell prey to an unknown bug and was bitten many, many times, most often at night. I must tell you, these bites made mosquito bites looked like a vacation. We ransacked our house, especially our bedroom, in search of the culprit. We were completely baffled by this seemingly invisible devil in our midst. Finally, exasperated, my husband tried an old trick — he set up a small lamp at night, placing a bowl of water under the light. The next morning we discovered tiny floating fleas! These near-microscopic but very aggressive biters had taken up residence, via our dog. They then proceeded to make themselves comfortably at home, and somehow in our bed. As an animal nutritionist, this illustration ties directly into why I am here today — to speak with you about animal health and how the health of your dog or cat connects to the health of you and your families. Some strategies are available to make your cohabitation with your pet a safe and thriving relationship.” Using a story about another’s experience: “The famed Oscar Wilde — Irish playwright, poet, and author — was a man caught in the human struggle to know himself and be accepted as such. Born in 1854, Wilde grew up and married a woman with whom he had two children. It was at this point in his life, however, that Wilde clearly was unable to adhere to society’s standards and laws of the time. He became lovers with Lord Alfred Douglas but was consequently accused of homosexuality by Douglas’ father. Wilde sued his lover’s father for libel and lost. Subsequently, Wilde was arrested, tried, and imprisoned for gross indecency, and spent 2 years in a hard labour camp, a period of time that destroyed his health and reputation. Shocking as this story may seem today, there are still great strides to be made in furthering the human rights and acceptance of the LGBT community. Will you join me in walking on this journey of empowerment and acceptance of ourselves, and endeavor together to accomplish genuine equality in the world in which we live?” “It is my pleasure to announce a 14% increase in company revenue this quarter! I want to thank each and every one of you for investing your time and energy to making this the most exciting time in the company’s history! Let’s take a look at our next step together.”