Basically it is an awesome night for people who are in business, yet too small to have a Christmas party. It was graciously organised by Leah who runs The Golden Goose and Janna who runs Fletcher Tax.

I was excited to be asked to speak and was determined that if nothing else I wanted to get my message across and inspire people. The other presentations I have done have been more technical, and so writing a motivational speech was much more exciting!

With the Boot Camp that we held last week, I only got a chance to write my new speech the night before I had to deliver it. This didn’t give me much practice time, which doesn’t help when you are trying to get over your fear of public speaking! I sat up writing the night before and then sent it off to Chandell my speaking coach:

Hey Chandell,

What do you think of me reading it verbatim, do you think that would suck?

Please say no!

We spoke on the morning of the big day, and went through a few main tips about the presenting.  Being so late in the game it wasn’t really appropriate to make any major changes but we agreed after this to work on some structure for future talks.

The three public speaking tips I should use:

1. Record saying the speech into my phone, and then play it back several times
2. Practice sending a light from my diaphragm to the audience
3. Visualise the audience being happy and inspired when I finished speaking

The results:

1. Record saying the speech into my phone, and then play it back several times

This was awesome. I am definitely going to record and listen to the speech every time in future. When I did go to present it felt familiar because I had listened to it so many times, even though I had only written it the night before.

2. Practice sending a light from my diaphragm to the audience

With my nerves I forgot to send the light completely, doh! I will try that again next time.

3. Visualise the audience being happy and inspired when I finished speaking

Just hearing this exercise made me realise that I automatically visualise people looking embarrassed for me when I finish.  Not very empowering! So I managed a few moments of this new visualisation before I started.

All in all I was actually happy with what I did. I read my speech word for word which I know is pretty uncool, and not as engaging as it could be… kind of like someone else’s in laws reading a speech at their wedding. Also I was shaking so much I could hear the paper rattling in my hands!

Normally when I present I feel disappointed that I forgot something. This time, because I was reading, I said everything I had planned to say, which was a really good feeling! Now I just have to find the happy medium between reading and speaking.

This is definitely a step in the right direction…   Stay tuned!

The post 3 tips to get over a fear of public speaking + my first motivational speech! appeared first on How To Retire In 12 Months.

It actually all started about 2 years ago when in a fit of frustration I decided to throw myself out there and get some public speaking ‘practice’. This included agreeing to things I would never have agreed to before like entering Miss Bondi (think parading in a bikini on a catwalk), and singing/playing guitar to a group of musicians.

Although I was happy I did it, both of these events were downright terrifying and my “yes” period quietly took a side door and disappeared into the night.

Recently with the book launch I found myself in the position again where I needed to face my fear or be disappointed in  myself for not trying, so in the last 2 months I have taken a different approach…

I asked for help!

To start with I employed the services of an NLP/Public Speaking coach Chandell Labbozzetta from Life Puzzle in Melbourne. In the same week I had the good fortune of meeting Morgan and Mon from The Reelists.

In the course of conversation with Chandell she highlighted the need for a big challenge that would make the coaching worthwhile. This started to sound familiar! So after a couple of confronting days of soul searching and an equally confronting suggestion from Morgan, we devised a cunning plan.

The Goal

Before the end of March 2012 I will speak to a group of 200 people (or more!) and feel happy that I was able to communicate what I wanted to say.

Chandell upped the ante by declaring that her goal was that I wouldn’t even feel nervous!! I would love that to happen but it seems so far away right now!

The twist is that Morgan and Mon are going to film the whole journey and we will turn it into a video that we hope will help other people who suffer from a fear of public speaking too.

Isn’t that cool?!

Last week we started filming the first bits for the video. Lucky for me The Reelists are extremely patient with newbies. At least with this journey I am allowed to be uncomfortable while I learn and grow and I am sure we got plenty of bloopers!

I spoke for Travelogix recently and I can feel something changing already so I am very excited about this challenge. Being the kind of person I am whilst being so afraid of public speaking is extremely frustrating.

So there it is, this is the beginning of a new challenge, so please wish me luck!

I understand that public speaking is something that many people fear, if you are one of them I have a favour to ask. Please tell me what happens to you when you speak in public and why you think you are so afraid?

The post Public Speaking… Announcing the next official challenge! appeared first on How To Retire In 12 Months.

I have been determined to get rid of this affliction and have come to the conclusion that practice and experience is probably what will help me the most. So to cure myself I have been out there making the most of every opportunity I can get regardless of how awful it feels at the time. Here are my thoughts on the matter…

If you could eliminate one self inflicted limitation, what would it be?

The post Does public speaking make you shake in your boots? appeared first on How To Retire In 12 Months.