Fear of Public Speaking | Step 1

Public Speaking Tip #1 - Know thyself

His palms are sweaty... knees weak... arms are heavy...

Public Speaking Fear

So you've taken up the mic and now it's your turn to speak. And... you're scared to death. GREAT! There's a reason fear of speaking is the #2 reason people piss themselves.

 There's a story of a man who had to give a eulogy at his brother's funeral. Ready to do his brother justice, he boldly walked to the podium and pulled out his speech. He looked at the audience... and suddenly froze. He started to tremble. The audience believed he was upset  over his brother's death, but this wasn't the case.

The brother clasped his sweaty hands together, took a deep breath and said,

"Is there room for two in that casket?"

HA! Isn't this so true? Public speaking will literally make you want to DIE. Luckily there's hope.

Secret #1 - EVERYONE fears public speaking

Ask any speaker in the world, "Do you get scared when you speak?" and they all say the same thing. "Absolutely".

Everyone feels fear. Michael Jordan did before big games, Muhammad Ali felt it before fights... It's NATURAL.

Accept it, don't reject it. The first step in overcoming your fear is to quit denying it. Saying, "oh... I'm not scared" does absolutely nothing for you. It seems obvious. You've this far right? You obviously know you're afraid. Let me ask you something, just because someone "knows" they're overweight, does it mean they accept themselves? Does it mean they are ready to face the gym?

Just because you told google you're afraid to speak doesn't mean you've accepted it.

If you're reading to read or reading to SPEAK, then do this next exercise, before you read any further.

Bookmark this page, WALK AWAY from the computer, and go to the bathroom. Look in the mirror and say to yourself with ENERGY and PASSION, "I'm SCAAAAAARED OF SPEAKINNNNNN! and IT'S O KAYY"

I was raised by a black woman and when she made me do this, she said "You gots ta speech it! Speech it like you in church!"

Leave your mirror wet with spit. MEAN IT.

Come back after you feel a sense of relief. I'll be waiting.