bring to mind the entrance to your home picture your front door you’re about to
picture your front door you’re about to
picture your front door you’re about to walk in and to your surprise you see
walk in and to your surprise you see
walk in and to your surprise you see that your home is filled with gifts
that your home is filled with gifts
that your home is filled with gifts wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling gifts
wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling gifts
wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling gifts everywhere you look they’re all wrapped
everywhere you look they’re all wrapped
everywhere you look they’re all wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper with shiny
in beautiful wrapping paper with shiny
in beautiful wrapping paper with shiny ribbons and bows they’re all different
ribbons and bows they’re all different
ribbons and bows they’re all different shapes and sizes so you start to examine
shapes and sizes so you start to examine
shapes and sizes so you start to examine all of these gifts and you notice that
all of these gifts and you notice that
all of these gifts and you notice that they each have a little gift tag and on
they each have a little gift tag and on
they each have a little gift tag and on the gift tag next to the word from you
the gift tag next to the word from you
the gift tag next to the word from you see your own name on every single gift
see your own name on every single gift
see your own name on every single gift these gifts are not for you they’re from
these gifts are not for you they’re from
these gifts are not for you they’re from you and then you look to see what names
you and then you look to see what names
you and then you look to see what names might be next to the word – but they’re
might be next to the word – but they’re
might be next to the word – but they’re all blank
all blank
all blank none of the gift tags say who these
none of the gift tags say who these
none of the gift tags say who these gifts are for so you have no idea who
gifts are for so you have no idea who
gifts are for so you have no idea who these gifts are meant for and you have
these gifts are meant for and you have
these gifts are meant for and you have no idea what on earth you’re going to do
no idea what on earth you’re going to do
no idea what on earth you’re going to do with them that is the question that I’m
with them that is the question that I’m
with them that is the question that I’m here to answer for you today
here to answer for you today
here to answer for you today you see these gifts represent the gifts
you see these gifts represent the gifts
you see these gifts represent the gifts inside of you right now right here they
inside of you right now right here they
inside of you right now right here they are your brilliant ideas your unique
are your brilliant ideas your unique
are your brilliant ideas your unique experiences the wisdom that only you
experiences the wisdom that only you
experiences the wisdom that only you possess but those gifts could remain
possess but those gifts could remain
possess but those gifts could remain trapped inside of you forever
trapped inside of you forever
trapped inside of you forever undelivered and unopened unless you make
undelivered and unopened unless you make
undelivered and unopened unless you make the choice to embrace public speaking
the choice to embrace public speaking
the choice to embrace public speaking yes you heard me if you want to reach
yes you heard me if you want to reach
yes you heard me if you want to reach your full potential in this lifetime you
your full potential in this lifetime you
your full potential in this lifetime you must embrace public speaking and it
must embrace public speaking and it
must embrace public speaking and it doesn’t matter how you feel about public
doesn’t matter how you feel about public
doesn’t matter how you feel about public speaking right now my goal is to get you
speaking right now my goal is to get you
speaking right now my goal is to get you to push yourself outside of your public
to push yourself outside of your public
to push yourself outside of your public speaking comfort zone whatever it is for
speaking comfort zone whatever it is for
speaking comfort zone whatever it is for you if you dread public speaking I
you if you dread public speaking I
you if you dread public speaking I want you to summon the courage to give
want you to summon the courage to give
want you to summon the courage to give it a try if you’re mediocre at it I want
it a try if you’re mediocre at it I want
it a try if you’re mediocre at it I want you to bring more energy and enthusiasm
you to bring more energy and enthusiasm
you to bring more energy and enthusiasm to it and if you’re already a great
to it and if you’re already a great
to it and if you’re already a great public speaker then why don’t you apply
public speaker then why don’t you apply
public speaker then why don’t you apply to give your own TEDx talk it could be
to give your own TEDx talk it could be
to give your own TEDx talk it could be you here on this stage now I didn’t
you here on this stage now I didn’t
you here on this stage now I didn’t start out as a confident speaker far
start out as a confident speaker far
start out as a confident speaker far from it I was a wreck the entire week
from it I was a wreck the entire week
from it I was a wreck the entire week before my very first speech in my
before my very first speech in my
before my very first speech in my college public speaking class I could
college public speaking class I could
college public speaking class I could barely eat or sleep or think about
barely eat or sleep or think about
barely eat or sleep or think about anything else I envisioned every
anything else I envisioned every
anything else I envisioned every possible horrific scenario that you
possible horrific scenario that you
possible horrific scenario that you could imagine projectile vomiting all
could imagine projectile vomiting all
could imagine projectile vomiting all over the front row fainting and falling
over the front row fainting and falling
over the front row fainting and falling to the floor with a fatal blow to my
to the floor with a fatal blow to my
to the floor with a fatal blow to my head or worst of all standing there and
head or worst of all standing there and
head or worst of all standing there and forgetting everything I plan to say as
forgetting everything I plan to say as
forgetting everything I plan to say as the entire class howled with laughter at
the entire class howled with laughter at
the entire class howled with laughter at me can you relate this kind of
me can you relate this kind of
me can you relate this kind of catastrophizing by the way is one of the
catastrophizing by the way is one of the
catastrophizing by the way is one of the reasons that psychologists label the
reasons that psychologists label the
reasons that psychologists label the fear of public speaking an irrational
fear of public speaking an irrational
fear of public speaking an irrational fear the things were so afraid of do not
fear the things were so afraid of do not
fear the things were so afraid of do not actually happen so I didn’t vomit I
actually happen so I didn’t vomit I
actually happen so I didn’t vomit I didn’t faint and I didn’t forget all my
didn’t faint and I didn’t forget all my
didn’t faint and I didn’t forget all my points but to be honest that
points but to be honest that
points but to be honest that self-fulfilling prophecies go I
self-fulfilling prophecies go I
self-fulfilling prophecies go I certainly blew it I couldn’t make eye
certainly blew it I couldn’t make eye
certainly blew it I couldn’t make eye contact with a single person the entire
contact with a single person the entire
contact with a single person the entire time I read straight from my outline
time I read straight from my outline
time I read straight from my outline with trembling hands and I only spoke
with trembling hands and I only spoke
with trembling hands and I only spoke for three of the required five minutes
for three of the required five minutes
for three of the required five minutes after that speech I knew that I had two
after that speech I knew that I had two
after that speech I knew that I had two choices I could continue to torture
choices I could continue to torture
choices I could continue to torture myself and let my anxiety run the show
myself and let my anxiety run the show
myself and let my anxiety run the show or I could embark on a mission to
or I could embark on a mission to
or I could embark on a mission to conquer my fear and become a confident
conquer my fear and become a confident
conquer my fear and become a confident public speaker I chose to accept that
public speaker I chose to accept that
public speaker I chose to accept that mission and it profoundly changed the
mission and it profoundly changed the
mission and it profoundly changed the course of my life if you had told me
course of my life if you had told me
course of my life if you had told me back then
back then
back then that just two and a half years after
that just two and a half years after
that just two and a half years after taking that class I would be teaching it
taking that class I would be teaching it
taking that class I would be teaching it I would never believed you but it’s true
I would never believed you but it’s true
I would never believed you but it’s true or that I would happily continue to do
or that I would happily continue to do
or that I would happily continue to do so for 25 years and Counting and I
so for 25 years and Counting and I
so for 25 years and Counting and I certainly could not have imagined that
certainly could not have imagined that
certainly could not have imagined that that choice all those years ago would
that choice all those years ago would
that choice all those years ago would lead me to a career I loved as a
lead me to a career I loved as a
lead me to a career I loved as a consultant getting to travel the world
consultant getting to travel the world
consultant getting to travel the world teaching people to improve their
teaching people to improve their
teaching people to improve their communication skills my mission back
communication skills my mission back
communication skills my mission back then was to embrace public speaking in
then was to embrace public speaking in
then was to embrace public speaking in my own life so that I could unlock my
my own life so that I could unlock my
my own life so that I could unlock my true human potential my mission now is
true human potential my mission now is
true human potential my mission now is to encourage all of you to do the same
to encourage all of you to do the same
to encourage all of you to do the same so now that you know a little bit about
so now that you know a little bit about
so now that you know a little bit about my journey and my goal let’s focus on
my journey and my goal let’s focus on
my journey and my goal let’s focus on two areas why it’s so important for you
two areas why it’s so important for you
two areas why it’s so important for you to embrace public speaking and how you
to embrace public speaking and how you
to embrace public speaking and how you can begin to do it to answer the
can begin to do it to answer the
can begin to do it to answer the question why let’s look at some examples
question why let’s look at some examples
question why let’s look at some examples the list of people who overcame a
the list of people who overcame a
the list of people who overcame a debilitating fear of public speaking to
debilitating fear of public speaking to
debilitating fear of public speaking to go on and become great leaders and
go on and become great leaders and
go on and become great leaders and entertainers is long it includes people
entertainers is long it includes people
entertainers is long it includes people such as Gandhi Barbra Streisand Julia
such as Gandhi Barbra Streisand Julia
such as Gandhi Barbra Streisand Julia Roberts Abraham Lincoln Warren Buffett
Roberts Abraham Lincoln Warren Buffett
Roberts Abraham Lincoln Warren Buffett Tom Hanks Nicole Kidman I could go on
Tom Hanks Nicole Kidman I could go on
Tom Hanks Nicole Kidman I could go on and on but you know their names right
and on but you know their names right
and on but you know their names right you know all those names because those
you know all those names because those
you know all those names because those people worked hard to overcome that fear
people worked hard to overcome that fear
people worked hard to overcome that fear so that they could give their gifts to
so that they could give their gifts to
so that they could give their gifts to the world to us so you’ve heard of all
the world to us so you’ve heard of all
the world to us so you’ve heard of all those famous people but I bet you’ve
those famous people but I bet you’ve
those famous people but I bet you’ve never heard of Mary Ellen Peterson she’s
never heard of Mary Ellen Peterson she’s
never heard of Mary Ellen Peterson she’s not famous but her story is the most
not famous but her story is the most
not famous but her story is the most inspiring one to me as a mother
inspiring one to me as a mother
inspiring one to me as a mother especially
especially
especially Mary Ellen Peterson didn’t set out to be
Mary Ellen Peterson didn’t set out to be
Mary Ellen Peterson didn’t set out to be an outspoken activist but everything
an outspoken activist but everything
an outspoken activist but everything changed for her in the 1970s when she
changed for her in the 1970s when she
changed for her in the 1970s when she gave birth to a special needs baby she
gave birth to a special needs baby she
gave birth to a special needs baby she joined with a small group of other
joined with a small group of other
joined with a small group of other mothers to advocate for their children
mothers to advocate for their children
mothers to advocate for their children other mothers of special-needs babies
other mothers of special-needs babies
other mothers of special-needs babies and together they decided to form the
and together they decided to form the
and together they decided to form the now nationally acclaimed nonprofit
now nationally acclaimed nonprofit
now nationally acclaimed nonprofit organization parents helping parents
organization parents helping parents
organization parents helping parents which Mary Ellen Peterson served as the
which Mary Ellen Peterson served as the
which Mary Ellen Peterson served as the CEO of for four decades secure in the
CEO of for four decades secure in the
CEO of for four decades secure in the knowledge that her gift to the world was
knowledge that her gift to the world was
knowledge that her gift to the world was to help families like her own with
to help families like her own with
to help families like her own with special needs children
special needs children
special needs children Mary Ellen Peterson knew that she could
Mary Ellen Peterson knew that she could
Mary Ellen Peterson knew that she could not afford to avoid public speaking
not afford to avoid public speaking
not afford to avoid public speaking neither can you so you may be thinking
neither can you so you may be thinking
neither can you so you may be thinking well I’m not fighting to save the world
well I’m not fighting to save the world
well I’m not fighting to save the world like Gandhi or advocate for
like Gandhi or advocate for
like Gandhi or advocate for special-needs children like Mary Ellen
special-needs children like Mary Ellen
special-needs children like Mary Ellen Peterson that’s okay
Peterson that’s okay
Peterson that’s okay maybe for you it’s music health business
maybe for you it’s music health business
maybe for you it’s music health business finance love parenting yoga anything no
finance love parenting yoga anything no
finance love parenting yoga anything no topic is too small if it’s what you are
topic is too small if it’s what you are
topic is too small if it’s what you are passionate about and I get it I’m a
passionate about and I get it I’m a
passionate about and I get it I’m a university lecturer and trainer and
university lecturer and trainer and
university lecturer and trainer and coach who teaches communication skills I
coach who teaches communication skills I
coach who teaches communication skills I see people’s reactions sometimes I know
see people’s reactions sometimes I know
see people’s reactions sometimes I know that a lot of people don’t think that’s
that a lot of people don’t think that’s
that a lot of people don’t think that’s as important as math or art or history
as important as math or art or history
as important as math or art or history but I do it’s what I care most about and
but I do it’s what I care most about and
but I do it’s what I care most about and so I bring all my energy and passion to
so I bring all my energy and passion to
so I bring all my energy and passion to every talk I give on communication
every talk I give on communication
every talk I give on communication skills in fact that’s why I’m here today
skills in fact that’s why I’m here today
skills in fact that’s why I’m here today I was asked to give three little
I was asked to give three little
I was asked to give three little one-hour workshops on communication
one-hour workshops on communication
one-hour workshops on communication skills for a student group here on
skills for a student group here on
skills for a student group here on campus that I had never heard of and of
campus that I had never heard of and of
campus that I had never heard of and of course I said yes
course I said yes
course I said yes I love to do that kind of thing but I
I love to do that kind of thing but I
I love to do that kind of thing but I didn’t know if any of those students
didn’t know if any of those students
didn’t know if any of those students would have already taken a class with me
would have already taken a class with me
would have already taken a class with me so I spent hours coming up with all new
so I spent hours coming up with all new
so I spent hours coming up with all new examples and stories they even made up a
examples and stories they even made up a
examples and stories they even made up a new acronym and I showed up that first
new acronym and I showed up that first
new acronym and I showed up that first day at that first workshop so excited to
day at that first workshop so excited to
day at that first workshop so excited to be there to give it my all and to engage
be there to give it my all and to engage
be there to give it my all and to engage with those students even though I had no
with those students even though I had no
with those students even though I had no idea that in that audience sat the
idea that in that audience sat the
idea that in that audience sat the curator of this TEDx conference it was
curator of this TEDx conference it was
curator of this TEDx conference it was an audition even though I had no idea
an audition even though I had no idea
an audition even though I had no idea that it was and that’s why I’m here
that it was and that’s why I’m here
that it was and that’s why I’m here I hope all these examples have proven to
I hope all these examples have proven to
I hope all these examples have proven to you that you every single one of you
you that you every single one of you
you that you every single one of you cannot afford to avoid or suffer through
cannot afford to avoid or suffer through
cannot afford to avoid or suffer through public speaking if you do you will
public speaking if you do you will
public speaking if you do you will absolutely miss out on opportunities to
absolutely miss out on opportunities to
absolutely miss out on opportunities to share your gifts with the world so now
share your gifts with the world so now
share your gifts with the world so now let’s look at how you can begin to do it
let’s look at how you can begin to do it
let’s look at how you can begin to do it a couple of ideas regarding how you can
a couple of ideas regarding how you can
a couple of ideas regarding how you can begin to do it it all comes down to
begin to do it it all comes down to
begin to do it it all comes down to being confident building up your
being confident building up your
being confident building up your confidence if you google the definition
confidence if you google the definition
confidence if you google the definition of the word confidence you’ll see
of the word confidence you’ll see
of the word confidence you’ll see something along these lines belief in
something along these lines belief in
something along these lines belief in someone or something firm Trust Trust is
someone or something firm Trust Trust is
someone or something firm Trust Trust is the key to become a confident speaker
the key to become a confident speaker
the key to become a confident speaker you must trust yourself and your
you must trust yourself and your
you must trust yourself and your audience to trust yourself you’ve got to
audience to trust yourself you’ve got to
audience to trust yourself you’ve got to believe that you have something of value
believe that you have something of value
believe that you have something of value to share I know you do I just wonder if
to share I know you do I just wonder if
to share I know you do I just wonder if you know that you do and you not only
you know that you do and you not only
you know that you do and you not only need to know that you have something of
need to know that you have something of
need to know that you have something of value to share you need to believe that
value to share you need to believe that
value to share you need to believe that you already have everything you need to
you already have everything you need to
you already have everything you need to do it you’ve done harder things in your
do it you’ve done harder things in your
do it you’ve done harder things in your life I guarantee you have one of the
life I guarantee you have one of the
life I guarantee you have one of the speech classes that I teach here on
speech classes that I teach here on
speech classes that I teach here on campus is for the educational
campus is for the educational
campus is for the educational opportunity program which serves
opportunity program which serves
opportunity program which serves historically low-income first-generation
historically low-income first-generation
historically low-income first-generation college students and I’ll never forget
college students and I’ll never forget
college students and I’ll never forget when I first started teaching that
when I first started teaching that
when I first started teaching that particular course many years ago sitting
particular course many years ago sitting
particular course many years ago sitting in my office talking to a young woman in
in my office talking to a young woman in
in my office talking to a young woman in that class as she looked me straight in
that class as she looked me straight in
that class as she looked me straight in the eye and said with complete certainty
the eye and said with complete certainty
the eye and said with complete certainty I am never going to be able to get up in
I am never going to be able to get up in
I am never going to be able to get up in front of the class and give a speech
front of the class and give a speech
front of the class and give a speech there’s just no way she was terrified
there’s just no way she was terrified
there’s just no way she was terrified she also shared some of her life
she also shared some of her life
she also shared some of her life experiences with me things that I could
experiences with me things that I could
experiences with me things that I could not fathom homelessness witnessing gang
not fathom homelessness witnessing gang
not fathom homelessness witnessing gang violence domestic abuse drug addiction
violence domestic abuse drug addiction
violence domestic abuse drug addiction incarcerated family members
incarcerated family members
incarcerated family members I used that information to convince her
I used that information to convince her
I used that information to convince her that giving a five-minute speech in
that giving a five-minute speech in
that giving a five-minute speech in front of 24 other students was going to
front of 24 other students was going to
front of 24 other students was going to be way easier than all the things she
be way easier than all the things she
be way easier than all the things she had already been through and survived in
had already been through and survived in
had already been through and survived in her life that the courage it took her to
her life that the courage it took her to
her life that the courage it took her to break out of that kind of environment
break out of that kind of environment
break out of that kind of environment and make it to college to a university
and make it to college to a university
and make it to college to a university was way more courage than she would ever
was way more courage than she would ever
was way more courage than she would ever need to become a confident public
need to become a confident public
need to become a confident public speaker thankfully she believed me and
speaker thankfully she believed me and
speaker thankfully she believed me and it was one of the most rewarding
it was one of the most rewarding
it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire career to watch
experiences of my entire career to watch
experiences of my entire career to watch her blossom over the course of the
her blossom over the course of the
her blossom over the course of the semester into a powerful articulate
semester into a powerful articulate
semester into a powerful articulate speaker and in fact her final speech was
speaker and in fact her final speech was
speaker and in fact her final speech was one of the best I’ve ever seen she moved
one of the best I’ve ever seen she moved
one of the best I’ve ever seen she moved us all to tears as she shared the ways
us all to tears as she shared the ways
us all to tears as she shared the ways that we could contribute to a world
that we could contribute to a world
that we could contribute to a world where children don’t have to grow up the
where children don’t have to grow up the
where children don’t have to grow up the way that she did I have been privileged
way that she did I have been privileged
way that she did I have been privileged to see hundreds of other students in the
to see hundreds of other students in the
to see hundreds of other students in the educational opportunity program with
educational opportunity program with
educational opportunity program with similar backgrounds go through the same
similar backgrounds go through the same
similar backgrounds go through the same exact transformation over the years if
exact transformation over the years if
exact transformation over the years if they can do it so can you
they can do it so can you
they can do it so can you now you not only have to trust yourself
now you not only have to trust yourself
now you not only have to trust yourself you need to trust your audience you need
you need to trust your audience you need
you need to trust your audience you need to believe that the people in your
to believe that the people in your
to believe that the people in your audience are kind and compassionate the
audience are kind and compassionate the
audience are kind and compassionate the vast majority if not all of them are I
vast majority if not all of them are I
vast majority if not all of them are I guarantee you they are on your side
guarantee you they are on your side
guarantee you they are on your side aren’t you on my side right now yes they
aren’t you on my side right now yes they
aren’t you on my side right now yes they want you to win your audience’s they’re
want you to win your audience’s they’re
want you to win your audience’s they’re cheering you on
cheering you on
cheering you on don’t you do that when you’re in the
don’t you do that when you’re in the
don’t you do that when you’re in the audience we don’t sit there wishing that
audience we don’t sit there wishing that
audience we don’t sit there wishing that the speaker will be boring or will fall
the speaker will be boring or will fall
the speaker will be boring or will fall apart in front of us we want the speaker
apart in front of us we want the speaker
apart in front of us we want the speaker to win remember that when you’re the
to win remember that when you’re the
to win remember that when you’re the speaker not long ago I was about to
speaker not long ago I was about to
speaker not long ago I was about to start a training program an all-day
start a training program an all-day
start a training program an all-day training program for executives of a
training program for executives of a
training program for executives of a fortune 500 company and just as I was
fortune 500 company and just as I was
fortune 500 company and just as I was about to begin the day somehow my foot
about to begin the day somehow my foot
about to begin the day somehow my foot caught on the computer wire and I
caught on the computer wire and I
caught on the computer wire and I tripped right in front of them and I
tripped right in front of them and I
tripped right in front of them and I stumbled and I Teeter and tottered back
stumbled and I Teeter and tottered back
stumbled and I Teeter and tottered back and forth and forward and back and I
and forth and forward and back and I
and forth and forward and back and I couldn’t get my balance for what felt
couldn’t get my balance for what felt
couldn’t get my balance for what felt like forever
like forever
like forever and finally in my last attempt to steady
and finally in my last attempt to steady
and finally in my last attempt to steady myself I kicked my foot out tugged the
myself I kicked my foot out tugged the
myself I kicked my foot out tugged the wire and watched as my laptop computers
wire and watched as my laptop computers
wire and watched as my laptop computers slid across the desk and slammed onto
slid across the desk and slammed onto
slid across the desk and slammed onto the hard floor with a bang I hadn’t yet
the hard floor with a bang I hadn’t yet
the hard floor with a bang I hadn’t yet said a word they’re all staring at me
said a word they’re all staring at me
said a word they’re all staring at me this is not the impression you want to
this is not the impression you want to
this is not the impression you want to make on fortune 500 senior executives
make on fortune 500 senior executives
make on fortune 500 senior executives write that you’re gonna spend the entire
write that you’re gonna spend the entire
write that you’re gonna spend the entire day with before you’ve said a word all I
day with before you’ve said a word all I
day with before you’ve said a word all I could do was trust that they were human
could do was trust that they were human
could do was trust that they were human beings just like me so I looked at them
beings just like me so I looked at them
beings just like me so I looked at them and all I could see on their faces was
and all I could see on their faces was
and all I could see on their faces was concern and empathy that empathy feeling
concern and empathy that empathy feeling
concern and empathy that empathy feeling of who that could have been me or more
of who that could have been me or more
of who that could have been me or more likely that has been me at some point
likely that has been me at some point
likely that has been me at some point right we’re all in this together so all
right we’re all in this together so all
right we’re all in this together so all I could do was say the first thing that
I could do was say the first thing that
I could do was say the first thing that came to my mind which was to look at my
came to my mind which was to look at my
came to my mind which was to look at my laptop and say I hope it still works
laptop and say I hope it still works
laptop and say I hope it still works because I really like the PowerPoint
because I really like the PowerPoint
because I really like the PowerPoint slides I created for you today and they
slides I created for you today and they
slides I created for you today and they laughed and they were happy when it
laughed and they were happy when it
laughed and they were happy when it worked just fine rest of the day went
worked just fine rest of the day went
worked just fine rest of the day went great nobody expects perfection from you
great nobody expects perfection from you
great nobody expects perfection from you and your audience is perfectly fine with
and your audience is perfectly fine with
and your audience is perfectly fine with a mistake here or there as long as you
a mistake here or there as long as you
a mistake here or there as long as you move on don’t make a big deal out of it
move on don’t make a big deal out of it
move on don’t make a big deal out of it the people in your audience are your
the people in your audience are your
the people in your audience are your allies not your enemies earlier in this
allies not your enemies earlier in this
allies not your enemies earlier in this talk I shared with you how terrified I
talk I shared with you how terrified I
talk I shared with you how terrified I was of public speaking when I was in
was of public speaking when I was in
was of public speaking when I was in college and I also told you about how I
college and I also told you about how I
college and I also told you about how I overcame that fear but please do not let
overcame that fear but please do not let
overcame that fear but please do not let that lead you to believe that it’s
that lead you to believe that it’s
that lead you to believe that it’s always easy for me it is not I choose to
always easy for me it is not I choose to
always easy for me it is not I choose to challenge myself in new public speaking
challenge myself in new public speaking
challenge myself in new public speaking situations constantly this for example
situations constantly this for example
situations constantly this for example I’m not used to having lights on me and
I’m not used to having lights on me and
I’m not used to having lights on me and cameras filming me in a microphone this
cameras filming me in a microphone this
cameras filming me in a microphone this is new for me this is scary to be
is new for me this is scary to be
is new for me this is scary to be completely honest with you most of this
completely honest with you most of this
completely honest with you most of this version of this talk was composed in a
version of this talk was composed in a
version of this talk was composed in a complete fit of panic at 3 a.m. a few
complete fit of panic at 3 a.m. a few
complete fit of panic at 3 a.m. a few weeks ago and most of it was also
weeks ago and most of it was also
weeks ago and most of it was also inspired by a two-hour desperate
inspired by a two-hour desperate
inspired by a two-hour desperate FaceTime conversation with Carina the
FaceTime conversation with Carina the
FaceTime conversation with Carina the curator I had spent too many sleepless
curator I had spent too many sleepless
curator I had spent too many sleepless nights and stressed out days trying to
nights and stressed out days trying to
nights and stressed out days trying to figure out what to say in this talk so I
figure out what to say in this talk so I
figure out what to say in this talk so I reached out
reached out
reached out her for help and we sat there across
her for help and we sat there across
her for help and we sat there across staring each other across our computers
staring each other across our computers
staring each other across our computers through FaceTime in our pajamas on a
through FaceTime in our pajamas on a
through FaceTime in our pajamas on a Saturday morning for two hours sifting
Saturday morning for two hours sifting
Saturday morning for two hours sifting through a Google Doc with my ninth
through a Google Doc with my ninth
through a Google Doc with my ninth crappy first draft of this talk and I
crappy first draft of this talk and I
crappy first draft of this talk and I asked her to just tell me what I was
asked her to just tell me what I was
asked her to just tell me what I was trying to say and thankfully she had the
trying to say and thankfully she had the
trying to say and thankfully she had the answer
so public speaking and getting
so public speaking and getting comfortable with public speaking and
comfortable with public speaking and
comfortable with public speaking and being a confident public speaker is
being a confident public speaker is
being a confident public speaker is required if you want to reach your full
required if you want to reach your full
required if you want to reach your full human potential it is not optional it’s
human potential it is not optional it’s
human potential it is not optional it’s not your home that’s filled with gifts
not your home that’s filled with gifts
not your home that’s filled with gifts it’s you and there are people out there
it’s you and there are people out there
it’s you and there are people out there that those gifts were meant for people
that those gifts were meant for people
that those gifts were meant for people who need them people who are waiting for
who need them people who are waiting for
who need them people who are waiting for your gifts so the next time that you’re
your gifts so the next time that you’re
your gifts so the next time that you’re asked to speak the next time you get the
asked to speak the next time you get the
asked to speak the next time you get the opportunity to speak whether it’s in a
opportunity to speak whether it’s in a
opportunity to speak whether it’s in a meeting at work in a class at a funeral
meeting at work in a class at a funeral
meeting at work in a class at a funeral or a wedding or at a TEDx conference
or a wedding or at a TEDx conference
or a wedding or at a TEDx conference first I want you to say yes with
first I want you to say yes with
first I want you to say yes with enthusiasm and then I want you to look
enthusiasm and then I want you to look
enthusiasm and then I want you to look deep inside yourself and find that
deep inside yourself and find that
deep inside yourself and find that perfect gift that’s in there wrap it up
perfect gift that’s in there wrap it up
perfect gift that’s in there wrap it up in gorgeous wrapping paper put a big
in gorgeous wrapping paper put a big
in gorgeous wrapping paper put a big pretty bow on top of it and give it away
”
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