When I teach live or present in front of a large group, my heart rate pumps between 115 and 150 beats per minute. All the parts of my body that sweat during exercise begin to sweat. But some parts that never sweat during exercise, like my palms, become slippery, too. It's like my body is trying to sabotage me out of moving a mouse or hitting keyboard keys. Hoping, perhaps, that I'll end the misery if I am failing badly enough.
I've had a theory that nervousness with public presenting is directly proportional to how much value the speaker has to give. It's those who get the most nervous that have the most valuable things to say.
How do you choose which of the millions of scary things to embark on? I like to draw from "deliberate practice" and video games and choose something just outside my comfort zone (and makes my heart beat faster) but I still have a decent chance of accomplishing if I really worked at it. Is that playing it too safe?
I've had a theory that nervousness with public presenting is directly proportional to how much value the speaker has to give. It's those who get the most nervous that have the most valuable things to say.
Louie, I enjoy your newsletter. It's one of the very few I always read.
Another great piece today: choosing the scary option is easier said than done, but it's a forcing function for growth and improvement.
Still scary though...
How do you choose which of the millions of scary things to embark on? I like to draw from "deliberate practice" and video games and choose something just outside my comfort zone (and makes my heart beat faster) but I still have a decent chance of accomplishing if I really worked at it. Is that playing it too safe?