September 11, 2025 • 15 mins
What does it really take to transform your nerves into confidence when speaking in front of an audience—no matter how big or small? In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I take you behind the scenes of my own speaking journey, sharing raw stories, practical takeaways, and the coaching that helped me grow in unexpected ways.
This week, I pull back the curtain on my experience as part of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. After years of preaching the importance of lifelong learning, I put myself on the line—joining the team, earning advanced presenter certifications, and even making a run at standing on stage at the International Maxwell Conference. Today, I want to show you what growth looks like up close, and how vital it is to seek feedback, embrace vulnerability, and focus on progress over perfection.
To help me along this journey, I worked closely with Roddy Galbraith, none other than John Maxwell’s own speaking coach. If you’ve ever wondered whether even the best need coaching, this episode is for you. Roddy pushed me to look deeper at my message, delivery, and what I genuinely wanted my audience to walk away with. Together, we honed a simple three-minute story—one I’d performed more than a hundred times—transforming it from a personal anecdote into a powerful teaching tool.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- My own public speaking horror story—the first time I had to speak in college and what happened when anxiety got the best of me
- How that one embarrassing moment became the foundation for my growth as a speaker and coach
- The grueling, but rewarding, process of preparing for the Maxwell International Conference, and what it felt like to just miss the finals by two seconds
- A step-by-step look at the evolution of my speech—from the initial draft, through Roddy’s constructive feedback, to the final live version
- The importance of coaching and why even experienced speakers need fresh outside perspectives
- Strategies to shift your mindset from fearing the worst to aiming for the best every time you get up to speak
- Why perfection isn’t relatable, but vulnerability, honesty, and even a little messiness are
- How to take that next step in your own speaking journey—with tools and encouragement for breaking through nerves and building unshakable confidence
If you’re ever wondered how to face your speaking fears, connect more authentically, or grow past setbacks, you'll find tools and inspiration in this episode. Remember, your voice truly does have the power to change your world—but only if you choose to use it.
Thank you, as always, for supporting Speaking with Confidence. If you’re looking to keep leveling up, don’t forget to grab the free eBook, “The Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers and How to Overcome Them,” and sign up for my Formula for Public Speaking course. Progress, not perfection—that’s our north star. Tune in and let’s keep moving forward, together.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tim Newman (00:08):
Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence, a
podcast that helps you build thesoft skills that lead to real
results Communication,storytelling, public speaking
and showing up with confidencein every conversation that
counts.
I'm Tim Newman, a recoveringcollege professor turned
communication coach, and I'mthrilled to guide you on your
journey to becoming a powerfulcommunicator.
I want to thank you all forsupporting the show.
(00:30):
It truly means the world to me.
Last week I mentioned I wasgoing to share some updates on
things that I've been working on, so here we go.
We've talked a lot on this showabout the importance of
lifelong learning and if you'vebeen listening for a while, you
(00:51):
know I don't just talk about it,I live it.
Back in June, I joined theMaxwell Leadership Certified
Team.
I went into coaching andmentorship in speaking, coaching
and training, and let me tellyou it's been transformational.
It's changed the way I approachmy own speaking and it's made
me a better coach to others whowant to become powerful
communicators.
Then in August, I went to theInternational Maxwell Conference
(01:11):
and after all that training, Ibecame a Maxwell Leadership Team
Certified Speaker.
I even got to spend a fewminutes with John Maxwell
himself While filming a promovideo.
He gave me a solid endorsement,which was really pretty cool.
I mean, if you're going to getan endorsement, john Maxwell
isn't a bad choice.
And along the way, I earned acertified virtual presenter
(01:34):
designation, and next week I'mstarting the virtual master
presenter certification, becauseapparently I don't believe in
taking breaks.
Oh, and I've also been workingon a book.
It's coming out in just a fewweeks and I'll keep you posted
as we get closer.
Now let me be clear.
I don't share any of this tobrag.
(01:57):
I share it because I want youto see something important.
You control your actions.
You control your future.
If you want to get better atsomething, you have to work
something important.
You control your actions.
You control your future.
If you want to get better atsomething, you have to work at
it.
So don't let your inner voiceor the people around you keep
you from chasing your potential.
As you know, I close everyepisode with the same reminder
(02:21):
your voice has the power tochange the world, and it really
does, but only if you actuallyuse it.
As part of my certificationprocess, I had to create a
three-minute speech.
It had to tell a story andteach a lesson.
Three minutes sounds easy,right, maybe, but picture
delivering that story in frontof 3,000 people.
(02:42):
That's when three minutesstarts to feel like 30.
So would you preparedifferently for 3,000 than you
would for five?
I hope not.
You should always prepare thesame way.
So here's how it works.
At IMC, every year, about 150people submit their three-minute
(03:03):
speeches.
From there it's cut down to 40semifinalists.
Your video has to be underthree minutes, you have to hold
a mic and you're not allowed touse any notes.
Then these 40 semifinalistsdeliver their speech live on
Zoom with the same rules.
From there, the top 10 givestage time in front of the
(03:24):
entire crowd.
This year I made it to thesemifinal round.
I practiced that speech wellover 100 times and it never
clocked over 2 minutes and 52seconds.
But I didn't advance.
Why?
Because on the live Zoomversion, my speech clocked in at
three minutes and two seconds.
(03:45):
Yep, two seconds too long, andthat was enough to take me out
of the running, which just goesto show, even in the world of
leadership, timing is everything.
But honestly, the ten finalistswere fantastic.
They all brought powerful,funny and meaningful stories to
(04:05):
the stage.
But here's the thing I submittedseven different versions of
that speech.
I work with Roddy Galbraith,who is John Maxwell's own
speaking coach.
Yeah, you heard that right.
John Maxwell has a coach.
So if you're sitting therethinking I don't need coaching,
(04:25):
well you may want to rethinkthat.
Throughout the process, roddyreally pushed me hard.
He stretched me in ways Ididn't expect, and that's what
this is really about.
It's about growth.
So here's what we're going to doin this episode I'm going to
play my first submission andthen I'm going to walk you
(04:46):
through Roddy's feedback andthen I'll share my final version
.
You'll hear how a simplethree-minute story can be
transformed into something thatreally teaches.
So let's get started.
This is the first video Isubmitted.
Let me ask you a questionwhat's the most nervous you've
ever been before standing up andtalking in front of a group of
people?
It could be a presentation, ameeting or even a toast at a
(05:09):
wedding.
Now flip it.
What's the most nervous you'veseen?
Someone Like full-blown panicmode, palm sweating, voice
shaking, maybe even physicallyshaking.
But I can top it.
Let's rewind to the late 80s,mid-90s, back before PowerPoint,
before laptops, before TikTokturned everyone into a presenter
(05:31):
.
I had just gotten out of theArmy, where I was in the 82nd
Airborne Division as an infantrysoldier and I had just started
in college and, like everyoneelse, I had to take a public
relations or humancommunications course.
Does anybody remember thatclass?
How awesome was that?
The first day I walk in, I getthe syllabus, I read it and I
(05:52):
say to myself Self I'm not doingthis.
And as soon as class was over Iwent to the registrar and
dropped the class.
You see, I'm the master ofgetting out of things I don't
want to do.
If there's something I don'twant to do, I find a way to get
out of it.
Give to someone else, pretendit doesn't exist, make up some
excuse, really, whatever ittakes.
(06:13):
So fast forward to my senioryear.
Go visit my advisor and shesays, tim, if you want to
graduate, you got to take theclass.
I said, dang it, or somethingalong those lines.
So I sign up again, I go toclass and get pretty much the
exact same syllabus.
And then the day comes whenit's my turn to speak for the
(06:35):
first time.
I'm nervous, I'm sweating andprobably even shaking a little
bit too.
The presentation is only fiveminutes and I don't even
remember what it's about, butI've got my notes scribbled on
3x5 cards.
My slides are on this clearplastic sheet for the overhead
projector.
Yeah, that's how long ago itwas.
I put my notes on the woodenlectern that is sitting on the
(06:58):
table in front of the classroom.
I opened my mouth and promptlythrew up in front of the entire
class.
Yeah, that happened, but thegood news is I did get out of
that first presentation.
Now fast forward again.
Today I'm a recovering collegeprofessor.
(07:19):
I teach, I coach and I speak infront of audiences regularly.
So how do you go from throwingup in front of an entire class
to standing on stage, confident,clear and actually enjoying it?
It starts by recognizing thereal issue that anxiety, that
tight-chested panic we feelbefore we speak.
(07:39):
It's not the fear of theaudience, it's the story we're
telling ourselves.
It's the fear of being judged,of messing up, of not being
perfect.
But here's the thing beingperfect isn't relatable.
Vulnerability is, honesty isand messy is.
(08:00):
So if you've ever felt thatsame nervous energy, that voice
in your head saying who do youthink you are to be up here, I
get it.
I still live it.
But I want to help you findyour way past it without needing
to carry this around with you.
Let's change your mindset fromwhat's the worst thing that can
happen to what's the best thingthat can happen, and let's have
(08:21):
some fun while we do it.
Let's get clear on your message.
Let's make you a confident,powerful communicator who wants
to share and grow your influence.
Thank you.
(08:52):
Here is Roddy's feedback,kind of point out a few things
that maybe could help take it tothe next level.
I think we could have a bitmore variety in the delivery.
Uh, and three and a halfminutes, it feels it feels
longer than it needs to be, eventhough you need to get it down
to 250 really, or under, becauseit has to be under three
minutes.
So, you want to give yourself alittle bit of leeway.
So, uh, for stage time, youneed to get it down to um 250 or
(09:13):
under really, but you've got afew weeks to get there.
But a bit more variety in thedelivery, I think would be good.
Letting your personality out alittle bit more smiling.
I like some of the deadpanhumor, but it'd be nice to see a
bit more variety.
Um, I would skip the beginningabout you know what's the most
nervous you've ever been?
What's the most nervous you'veever seen?
I don't know that.
It adds too much, tells uswhat's coming, but it's not a
huge deal.
But I would just start straightinto the story.
(09:35):
And late 90s, early 90s, late80s, early 90s um, thank you for
your service, by the way.
Um, I think just decide when itwas.
When did you, when did youleave and what you're, what
you're doing I like the like Iwas.
It caught me by surprise.
So you throw up in front of theentire class.
That's probably the best bit,um, so so, uh, that bit I like
(09:56):
recovering college professormake it about you and your
growth.
Don't don't make it about theaudience.
It's better if you stick withyou and what you've learned.
Um, relatability is huge.
Not being perfect, people don'tspeak perfectly, um, so that
kind of vulnerability, I think,is a great way to connect.
It's kind of conversational,but it's a little too kind of
laid back and same me.
(10:18):
So I think you need to mix itup a little bit, try and let
your personality out a littlebit more, get it down under
under three minutes, ultimately,and then think about one big
thing that we can take from thisthat you learn, that you're
sharing your journey from.
I think that would be a greatkind of goal for this.
There's not that much.
The best bit about it is youthrowing up, and so I feel like
(10:41):
you're a strong speaker withlots of stories, and this is the
first one.
So I think you probably want totry you know a few more if you
can in the time you've got andthen pick your favorite to focus
in on for the final run.
So I'll talk a little bit abouttimings on.
On the call um, yeah, so, sostrong, but I feel like it needs
(11:01):
more, mainly in the delivery.
Also, like a point from theaudience's perspective what are
they going to take from this?
Don't don't make it about theaudience, make it about you and
what they're gonna take fromyour, your, your growth, your
journey.
And really we want one thinggreat job.
Well, tim, looking forward toit.
Strong, start, speak to yousoon, take care, bye, bye, god
bless right.
(11:22):
He was really spot on witheverything he said throughout
the process.
The one big thing that Istruggled with was the one
message I wanted the audience toget and did you notice?
he also said I should shoot fortwo minutes and 50 seconds or
under.
There's that two seconds again.
Now here is the final liveversion.
It was August of 1989.
(11:43):
I had just finished three yearsas an infantry soldier at the
82nd Airborne.
I was 21.
I already knew everything, andoff to college.
I went Like every other collegefreshman.
Public speaking 101 shows up inmy schedule.
But I already knew how to givea good presentation, so I didn't
need it.
I dropped the class Fastforward to my senior year.
My advisor says Tim, if youwant to graduate, you got to
(12:06):
take it.
So I gave in.
And the day comes to get myfirst presentation.
And I'm a wreck.
I'm nervous, I'm sweating, I'mprobably even shaking a little
bit too.
I've got transparencies for theoverhead projector.
Yeah, remember that ancientthing.
This is pre-PowerPoint,pre-laptop and definitely before
TikTok.
I put my notes on the lecternin the front of the room.
(12:28):
I opened my mouth and promptlythrew up in front of the entire
class.
Yeah, that happened.
My professor was horrified, butthe students got a good laugh
out of it and just like that Iwent from paratrooper to the guy
who puked in speech class.
(12:49):
You see, up until that point,success for me came from work
ethic.
I was never the fastest, thestrongest or the smartest, but
no one was going to outwork me.
I had that oh yeah, watch mechip on my shoulder If you told
me I couldn't, or hit me with Ibet you won't.
I'd prove you wrong everysingle time and I'm sure you can
(13:12):
imagine some of the situationsI got myself into with that
mentality.
But this was different, becausethe voice telling me I couldn't
do it was mine and this didn'thave anything to do with work
ethic.
I'd always wanted to be ateacher, but how was that going
to happen if I can't even give afive-minute speech without
(13:32):
throwing up?
And it took time, buteventually I realized the
problem wasn't the speech.
The problem was me making itabout me and trying to be
perfect.
I had to shift my focus awayfrom trying to look and sound
good to providing value.
I had to be open to letting thepeople trying to help me
(13:54):
actually help me and not tryingto do things my way all the time
.
I had to be open to thecoaching.
I had to be open to thecoaching.
I had to be open to actuallyimplementing their suggestions,
and I had to admit that maybe,just maybe I wasn't the smartest
person in the room, becausebeing perfect that's not
(14:15):
relatable.
Vulnerability is, honesty is,and messy is.
Today I'm a recovering collegeprofessor and still obviously a
work in progress, and every nowand again that voice still kind
of creeps in says who do youthink you are to be doing this?
And I just laugh because I knowexactly who I am.
(14:36):
I'm the guy who puked in speechclass and now I teach people
how not to do that, thank you.
You can see the improvements ofthe messaging, the words, the
variety of the delivery and thefacial expressions.
Without Roddy's help, there'sno way my final version would
have been anywhere near thequality it was.
And that's the thing.
If you want to grow as acommunicator, it's going to take
(15:03):
some work.
So let me ask you what'sholding you back from your next
breakthrough?
If you're ready to take thatstep, I'd be glad to help you
get there.
Remember we're looking forprogress, not perfection.
That's all for today.
Be sure to visit Speaking withConfidence podcast to get your
free e-book the Top 21Challenges for Public Speakers
and how to Overcome them.
You can also register for theFormula for Public Speaking
(15:26):
course, always remember yourvoice is the power to change the
world.
We'll talk to you next time,take care.
Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence, a
podcast that helps you build thesoft skills that lead to real
results Communication,storytelling, public speaking
and showing up with confidencein every conversation that
counts.
I'm Tim Newman, a recoveringcollege professor turned
communication coach, and I'mthrilled to guide you on your
journey to becoming a powerfulcommunicator.
I want to thank you all forsupporting the show.
(00:30):
It truly means the world to me.
Last week I mentioned I wasgoing to share some updates on
things that I've been working on, so here we go.
We've talked a lot on this showabout the importance of
lifelong learning and if you'vebeen listening for a while, you
(00:51):
know I don't just talk about it,I live it.
Back in June, I joined theMaxwell Leadership Certified
Team.
I went into coaching andmentorship in speaking, coaching
and training, and let me tellyou it's been transformational.
It's changed the way I approachmy own speaking and it's made
me a better coach to others whowant to become powerful
communicators.
Then in August, I went to theInternational Maxwell Conference
(01:11):
and after all that training, Ibecame a Maxwell Leadership Team
Certified Speaker.
I even got to spend a fewminutes with John Maxwell
himself While filming a promovideo.
He gave me a solid endorsement,which was really pretty cool.
I mean, if you're going to getan endorsement, john Maxwell
isn't a bad choice.
And along the way, I earned acertified virtual presenter
(01:34):
designation, and next week I'mstarting the virtual master
presenter certification, becauseapparently I don't believe in
taking breaks.
Oh, and I've also been workingon a book.
It's coming out in just a fewweeks and I'll keep you posted
as we get closer.
Now let me be clear.
I don't share any of this tobrag.
(01:57):
I share it because I want youto see something important.
You control your actions.
You control your future.
If you want to get better atsomething, you have to work
something important.
You control your actions.
You control your future.
If you want to get better atsomething, you have to work at
it.
So don't let your inner voiceor the people around you keep
you from chasing your potential.
As you know, I close everyepisode with the same reminder
(02:21):
your voice has the power tochange the world, and it really
does, but only if you actuallyuse it.
As part of my certificationprocess, I had to create a
three-minute speech.
It had to tell a story andteach a lesson.
Three minutes sounds easy,right, maybe, but picture
delivering that story in frontof 3,000 people.
(02:42):
That's when three minutesstarts to feel like 30.
So would you preparedifferently for 3,000 than you
would for five?
I hope not.
You should always prepare thesame way.
So here's how it works.
At IMC, every year, about 150people submit their three-minute
(03:03):
speeches.
From there it's cut down to 40semifinalists.
Your video has to be underthree minutes, you have to hold
a mic and you're not allowed touse any notes.
Then these 40 semifinalistsdeliver their speech live on
Zoom with the same rules.
From there, the top 10 givestage time in front of the
(03:24):
entire crowd.
This year I made it to thesemifinal round.
I practiced that speech wellover 100 times and it never
clocked over 2 minutes and 52seconds.
But I didn't advance.
Why?
Because on the live Zoomversion, my speech clocked in at
three minutes and two seconds.
(03:45):
Yep, two seconds too long, andthat was enough to take me out
of the running, which just goesto show, even in the world of
leadership, timing is everything.
But honestly, the ten finalistswere fantastic.
They all brought powerful,funny and meaningful stories to
(04:05):
the stage.
But here's the thing I submittedseven different versions of
that speech.
I work with Roddy Galbraith,who is John Maxwell's own
speaking coach.
Yeah, you heard that right.
John Maxwell has a coach.
So if you're sitting therethinking I don't need coaching,
(04:25):
well you may want to rethinkthat.
Throughout the process, roddyreally pushed me hard.
He stretched me in ways Ididn't expect, and that's what
this is really about.
It's about growth.
So here's what we're going to doin this episode I'm going to
play my first submission andthen I'm going to walk you
(04:46):
through Roddy's feedback andthen I'll share my final version
.
You'll hear how a simplethree-minute story can be
transformed into something thatreally teaches.
So let's get started.
This is the first video Isubmitted.
Let me ask you a questionwhat's the most nervous you've
ever been before standing up andtalking in front of a group of
people?
It could be a presentation, ameeting or even a toast at a
(05:09):
wedding.
Now flip it.
What's the most nervous you'veseen?
Someone Like full-blown panicmode, palm sweating, voice
shaking, maybe even physicallyshaking.
But I can top it.
Let's rewind to the late 80s,mid-90s, back before PowerPoint,
before laptops, before TikTokturned everyone into a presenter
(05:31):
.
I had just gotten out of theArmy, where I was in the 82nd
Airborne Division as an infantrysoldier and I had just started
in college and, like everyoneelse, I had to take a public
relations or humancommunications course.
Does anybody remember thatclass?
How awesome was that?
The first day I walk in, I getthe syllabus, I read it and I
(05:52):
say to myself Self I'm not doingthis.
And as soon as class was over Iwent to the registrar and
dropped the class.
You see, I'm the master ofgetting out of things I don't
want to do.
If there's something I don'twant to do, I find a way to get
out of it.
Give to someone else, pretendit doesn't exist, make up some
excuse, really, whatever ittakes.
(06:13):
So fast forward to my senioryear.
Go visit my advisor and shesays, tim, if you want to
graduate, you got to take theclass.
I said, dang it, or somethingalong those lines.
So I sign up again, I go toclass and get pretty much the
exact same syllabus.
And then the day comes whenit's my turn to speak for the
(06:35):
first time.
I'm nervous, I'm sweating andprobably even shaking a little
bit too.
The presentation is only fiveminutes and I don't even
remember what it's about, butI've got my notes scribbled on
3x5 cards.
My slides are on this clearplastic sheet for the overhead
projector.
Yeah, that's how long ago itwas.
I put my notes on the woodenlectern that is sitting on the
(06:58):
table in front of the classroom.
I opened my mouth and promptlythrew up in front of the entire
class.
Yeah, that happened, but thegood news is I did get out of
that first presentation.
Now fast forward again.
Today I'm a recovering collegeprofessor.
(07:19):
I teach, I coach and I speak infront of audiences regularly.
So how do you go from throwingup in front of an entire class
to standing on stage, confident,clear and actually enjoying it?
It starts by recognizing thereal issue that anxiety, that
tight-chested panic we feelbefore we speak.
(07:39):
It's not the fear of theaudience, it's the story we're
telling ourselves.
It's the fear of being judged,of messing up, of not being
perfect.
But here's the thing beingperfect isn't relatable.
Vulnerability is, honesty isand messy is.
(08:00):
So if you've ever felt thatsame nervous energy, that voice
in your head saying who do youthink you are to be up here, I
get it.
I still live it.
But I want to help you findyour way past it without needing
to carry this around with you.
Let's change your mindset fromwhat's the worst thing that can
happen to what's the best thingthat can happen, and let's have
(08:21):
some fun while we do it.
Let's get clear on your message.
Let's make you a confident,powerful communicator who wants
to share and grow your influence.
Thank you.
(08:52):
Here is Roddy's feedback,kind of point out a few things
that maybe could help take it tothe next level.
I think we could have a bitmore variety in the delivery.
Uh, and three and a halfminutes, it feels it feels
longer than it needs to be, eventhough you need to get it down
to 250 really, or under, becauseit has to be under three
minutes.
So, you want to give yourself alittle bit of leeway.
So, uh, for stage time, youneed to get it down to um 250 or
(09:13):
under really, but you've got afew weeks to get there.
But a bit more variety in thedelivery, I think would be good.
Letting your personality out alittle bit more smiling.
I like some of the deadpanhumor, but it'd be nice to see a
bit more variety.
Um, I would skip the beginningabout you know what's the most
nervous you've ever been?
What's the most nervous you'veever seen?
I don't know that.
It adds too much, tells uswhat's coming, but it's not a
huge deal.
But I would just start straightinto the story.
(09:35):
And late 90s, early 90s, late80s, early 90s um, thank you for
your service, by the way.
Um, I think just decide when itwas.
When did you, when did youleave and what you're, what
you're doing I like the like Iwas.
It caught me by surprise.
So you throw up in front of theentire class.
That's probably the best bit,um, so so, uh, that bit I like
(09:56):
recovering college professormake it about you and your
growth.
Don't don't make it about theaudience.
It's better if you stick withyou and what you've learned.
Um, relatability is huge.
Not being perfect, people don'tspeak perfectly, um, so that
kind of vulnerability, I think,is a great way to connect.
It's kind of conversational,but it's a little too kind of
laid back and same me.
(10:18):
So I think you need to mix itup a little bit, try and let
your personality out a littlebit more, get it down under
under three minutes, ultimately,and then think about one big
thing that we can take from thisthat you learn, that you're
sharing your journey from.
I think that would be a greatkind of goal for this.
There's not that much.
The best bit about it is youthrowing up, and so I feel like
(10:41):
you're a strong speaker withlots of stories, and this is the
first one.
So I think you probably want totry you know a few more if you
can in the time you've got andthen pick your favorite to focus
in on for the final run.
So I'll talk a little bit abouttimings on.
On the call um, yeah, so, sostrong, but I feel like it needs
(11:01):
more, mainly in the delivery.
Also, like a point from theaudience's perspective what are
they going to take from this?
Don't don't make it about theaudience, make it about you and
what they're gonna take fromyour, your, your growth, your
journey.
And really we want one thinggreat job.
Well, tim, looking forward toit.
Strong, start, speak to yousoon, take care, bye, bye, god
bless right.
(11:22):
He was really spot on witheverything he said throughout
the process.
The one big thing that Istruggled with was the one
message I wanted the audience toget and did you notice?
he also said I should shoot fortwo minutes and 50 seconds or
under.
There's that two seconds again.
Now here is the final liveversion.
It was August of 1989.
(11:43):
I had just finished three yearsas an infantry soldier at the
82nd Airborne.
I was 21.
I already knew everything, andoff to college.
I went Like every other collegefreshman.
Public speaking 101 shows up inmy schedule.
But I already knew how to givea good presentation, so I didn't
need it.
I dropped the class Fastforward to my senior year.
My advisor says Tim, if youwant to graduate, you got to
(12:06):
take it.
So I gave in.
And the day comes to get myfirst presentation.
And I'm a wreck.
I'm nervous, I'm sweating, I'mprobably even shaking a little
bit too.
I've got transparencies for theoverhead projector.
Yeah, remember that ancientthing.
This is pre-PowerPoint,pre-laptop and definitely before
TikTok.
I put my notes on the lecternin the front of the room.
(12:28):
I opened my mouth and promptlythrew up in front of the entire
class.
Yeah, that happened.
My professor was horrified, butthe students got a good laugh
out of it and just like that Iwent from paratrooper to the guy
who puked in speech class.
(12:49):
You see, up until that point,success for me came from work
ethic.
I was never the fastest, thestrongest or the smartest, but
no one was going to outwork me.
I had that oh yeah, watch mechip on my shoulder If you told
me I couldn't, or hit me with Ibet you won't.
I'd prove you wrong everysingle time and I'm sure you can
(13:12):
imagine some of the situationsI got myself into with that
mentality.
But this was different, becausethe voice telling me I couldn't
do it was mine and this didn'thave anything to do with work
ethic.
I'd always wanted to be ateacher, but how was that going
to happen if I can't even give afive-minute speech without
(13:32):
throwing up?
And it took time, buteventually I realized the
problem wasn't the speech.
The problem was me making itabout me and trying to be
perfect.
I had to shift my focus awayfrom trying to look and sound
good to providing value.
I had to be open to letting thepeople trying to help me
(13:54):
actually help me and not tryingto do things my way all the time
.
I had to be open to thecoaching.
I had to be open to thecoaching.
I had to be open to actuallyimplementing their suggestions,
and I had to admit that maybe,just maybe I wasn't the smartest
person in the room, becausebeing perfect that's not
(14:15):
relatable.
Vulnerability is, honesty is,and messy is.
Today I'm a recovering collegeprofessor and still obviously a
work in progress, and every nowand again that voice still kind
of creeps in says who do youthink you are to be doing this?
And I just laugh because I knowexactly who I am.
(14:36):
I'm the guy who puked in speechclass and now I teach people
how not to do that, thank you.
You can see the improvements ofthe messaging, the words, the
variety of the delivery and thefacial expressions.
Without Roddy's help, there'sno way my final version would
have been anywhere near thequality it was.
And that's the thing.
If you want to grow as acommunicator, it's going to take
(15:03):
some work.
So let me ask you what'sholding you back from your next
breakthrough?
If you're ready to take thatstep, I'd be glad to help you
get there.
Remember we're looking forprogress, not perfection.
That's all for today.
Be sure to visit Speaking withConfidence podcast to get your
free e-book the Top 21Challenges for Public Speakers
and how to Overcome them.
You can also register for theFormula for Public Speaking
(15:26):
course, always remember yourvoice is the power to change the
world.
We'll talk to you next time,take care.
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