Dont bite off more than you can chew!!

This is part 2 in Overcoming Butterflies

Dont bite off more than you can chew!! Or retranslated: master your material and keep to a theme.

Churchill's maiden speech was well recieved. He spoke on his recollections in the Boer War where he was captured, escaped, and mades a triumphal reentry into Natal, and fought is one of the first to enter Ladysmith and Pretoria when these were recaptured.

His second speech was not so successful.

Perhaps Churchill thought he needed to make his mark so he covered everything from finance, foriegn policy and education even attaccking the Prime Minister.
Churchill blew it! Why. because he thought he would not have enough to say! As intellectual as Churchill was he could never cover so much in one speech.

Later, Churchill advised young diplomat on this very point. The young man talked on many important things but when he asked Winston for advice, churchill replied "You didnt have a theme".

To lead we need to be clear in our intention and everything we say must amplify and explain that intention. To put in Churchill's words, we must stick to a theme.

Clarity of intention comes from focusing your efforts on where they will do the most good.

Talking, or writing about, marketing? Marketing is a huge topic. Do you mean internet marketing? Perhaps you could focus on Search Engine Optimization, or how to write selling articles. If your a teacher perhaps you could write about marketing products to the education sector. Don't write about archaeology, but rather the development of bichrome pots in ancient Philistia. Keep the focus narrow and explain that well. Master a concise topic and become an expert.

Butterflies come from the fear of looking stupid. However, if you can explain to someone something they doid not know then you have done what is expected of you.

At the time you face an exam you must know more than anyone else - even if you forget it next week.

when you speek in public you must have examined yout topic - your narrowly, clearly defined topic - better than anyon else. You must have examined the topic from a variety of angles and be totally confident in it. If you walk on the platform fully prepared, then you can feel you know more than anyone else in the audience.

That expertise gives confidence!

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Dont think of fear as a deterrent. Its a kick in the rear to prepare

"Dont think of fear as a deterrent. Its a kick in the rear to prepare."

Those words came from Helen Hayes a stage performer of over 60 years experience. She admitted to nerves, describing pre curtian jitters as a "familiar companion that nagged me to do my very best."

In other words dont let fear intimidate you. Even Winston Churchill fainted at one of his first public presentations.
The fear of looking foolish is so strong that psychologists have claimed that the most common nightmare before a public presentation is a dream of being naked before an audience. By the way Winston Churchill initially overcame his fear by imagining his audience were naked. however, he did develop a method based from his experiences as a young army officer on the Afghan border. He realized that he had to overcome every nervous mannerism or his men would give way to fear, and as chrchill admitted "only a fool is not afraid of being shot at."

Churchill learned to control his emotions, at firast tightly gri[[ing the lectern until he could look into the eyes of his audience.

Just as an army officer cannot aord to let his men see his fear, you should never give your audience anty excuse to doubt your ability.

The British foreign Office motto became Churchill's own adage: "Never excuse, never explain, never complain."
So many speakers begin with the aside "I am not a very good speaker" or "I did not get time to prepare" as if somehow this will somehow buffer them from a negative audience. Allit does is plant a seed of doubt ibto your audience mind!

If they dont know, dont tell them!

Actress Ethel Barrymore, who turned down Winston Churchill's proposal of marraige, also faced the jitters in her career of six decades. She advised Churchill: "Winston, you've just got to put on an act!"

So if your nervous, act like a season professional, skilled, suave, persuasive and feel the confidence you desire.

Step 2 in the Balle against nerves in a few days!

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