From Glossophobia to Public Speaker
You can do it too by joining the Speaker Visibility Tour Challenge
Do you get nervous speaking? 75% of people surveyed say they fear it more than death!1
I used to not be a a fan. That might surprise you since you probably only know me as a podcaster, but there was a time when speaking into a microphone made my stomach turn.
Over the course of my career as an event planner, I spoke to large groups on several occasions. I presented to aspiring event planner hopefuls at least twice. Giving young people the naked truth about the industry was quite fun. But I wasn’t doing that as a speaker, simply a veteran of the industry.
I didn’t consider “public speaking” a career. I hired speakers, I wasn’t one myself.
Little did I know what was in store for me!
About 15 years ago, one of our local industry groups was looking for a presenter on Twitter and my name came up. Why? Because I was one of the first members on Twitter. That alone made me an expert. (lol)
Let’s remember what the social media landscape was like in 2010-ish. It was very early days, before anyone knew what an “Elon” was. At the time, the phrase “social media” hadn’t yet entered our cultural lexicon. Instagram wasn’t really a thing yet and Facebook was still about pokes (remember them days?).
The main question was: what is Twitter?
I don’t remember much from that day but I do vividly recall the stomach-cramping nerves when walked in and saw my name on the screen.
The only other parts I remember from the speech itself: telling the room full of boomers that not being on Twitter was like not being in the yellow pages, and that we ran out of time due to their questions.
There were a LOT of questions. The audience really had zero clue about social media, much like Jon Snow:
We had to move the Q&A out to the hallway so the hotel could reset the room, and for weeks after people still emailed me questions about how to navigate Twitter.
Because it turns out anyone can be a speaker! All you need is knowledge the audience doesn’t yet have, and really not much more of it.
So if you’ve been held back by the belief that you have to be an expert on a topic in order to deliver a presentation about it, slap that belief out of your head right now.
I was tapped to give that presentation because I was actively using a technology that most people weren’t (yet) or were too scared to use.
That’s it! And because I had knowledge they didn’t have but that they wanted, they trusted me when I said: get on Twitter.
Obviously I wouldn’t give that advice today.
Today I would simply advise you to consider adding public speaking to your CV. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker looking to level up, interested in getting started as a public speaker, or somewhere in between, I’d recommend getting started with my friend Steph Wharton’s Visibility Tour Challenge (aff link).
What is that? An easy but impactful opportunity to create your speaker persona, including:
30-days of video curriculum prompts designed to help you pitch and create content, plus some confidence-building journalling prompts throughout)
Daily message support on Slack (Feb only) for all your logistical questions, to pick my brain, and get coached throughout the challenge!
Accountability emails with reminders and a guide with real life examples to make sure you do the work and attract the coolest speaking opportunities
Access to the private community on Slack filled with speakers for extra accountability, community, collaboration potential, and added exposure
I’m doing it—again—and it starts February 1st!
Look, the truth is that we’re all gonna be called to present something at some point. Could be as simple as a report at work, a Career Day talk at your nephew’s school, or as big as a commencement speech at your alma mater. If any of those circumstances were to present themselves today, would you be ready?
Or would a fear of public speaking hold you back?
Join me and Steph as we go through it together! It’s only $55 and you get to keep access to everything you learned after the event is over, plus all the coaching in the month of February.
I’ve already done it once and I’m excited to do it again. Because it turns out, I AM a speaker, and a damn good one.2
I love what I do and I’m excited to support you in becoming one, too.
Article: What We Fear More Than Death
You can check me out in Chicago in April, details coming soon