Aug 24, 2021
First a confession: when it comes to public speaking, my freak number is off the charts. I know most people don’t like talking in front of groups of strangers – or even groups of friends -- and I know that some people will go to great lengths to avoid those situations.
That’s where my freak factor comes in. I love public speaking. I love doing it, I love talking about it, analyzing other people’s speeches, talking with other people about public speaking, reading books about it, writing articles about it – I just can’t get enough. I have not found a support group for freaks like me and I am not sure it exists. I am starting to think I may be the only one in the world with this problem.
Fortunately for me – and for you –the Guest Czar for this episode wrote a book on transitioning from nervousness and nausea to becoming a passionate presenter. If you get nervous and nauseous when it comes time to present, you are in good company. I will even go so far as to tell you that you are normal. Lucky you.
The good news is that my guest, Mike Acker, author of the book, Speak With No Fear: Go From a Nervous, Nauseated and Sweaty Speaker to an Excited, Energized, and Passionate Presenter, shares some great tips that you and I will both enjoy. Before you roll your eyes and think that Acker is a freak too, I can assure you that he is not. He too hated speaking. As a child, he had a speech impediment. He was terrified of speaking in public. His fears increased exponentially when his family moved to Mexico and he had to speak in Spanish.
Acker was further challenged when his family moved back to the United States and he had to adapt to speaking English again. Oh and in college, Acker lived through one of those nightmarish situations where he was presenting and the walls started to close in on him and his words became garbled. So yeah, I think Acker has earned his stripes in the Public Speaking Haters Anonymous Club.
Fortunately, Acker transformed himself out of the darkness and into the light of becoming an engaging and passionate presenter. Lucky for us, Acker took notes along the way – and he is willing to share. Listen in and take notes so you can put his tips to use the next time you are preparing a presentation to make it a more enjoyable and enlightening event for you and for your audience.
Find out more about Mike, his books, and programs at: www.MikeAcker.com