When I entered the Toastmasters International Speech Contest back in early 2015, I ran into a bit of a problem with my speech title.Here’s why:The title, Louder Isn’t Always Better, which isn’t terrible, didn’t do much for my speech besides exist.With the division contest just 2 days away, I practiced my speech at another Toastmasters club in hopes of some … Read More
3 Steps To Overcome Self-Conscious Thoughts About Your Voice
How Your Voice Contributes To Your NervousnessWho are you? Your gesturing, your style of speaking, your voice (trying to sound like Darth Vader even though you sound like Pee Wee Herman?), the content you choose to speak about (do you give a crap about your topic?), and lastly, the words you use (do you intentionally use jargon instead of simpler words that mean … Read More
The Truth About Filler Words [Ah’s and Um’s]
Ah. Umm. Uhh. And-so-uh-umm-hmm-urrr. Filler words. Evil filler words. Last week at a Toastmasters meeting we had a discussion about filler words and their role in public speaking, or more precisely, whether they should have a role or not. In Toastmasters, there is something called an “Ah Counter.” Can you guess what they do? I don’t want to insult your … Read More
Find An Audience Who Gives A $h!#
“You can’t please everybody.” Have you heard that before? I have. It’s accurate. There are many different tastes, preferences, perspectives, values, morals, standards, etc. Here’s why this is important. When you decide to put yourself “out there,” you open yourself up to criticism and people’s opinions—and they have every right to offer them. Usually opinions and harsh criticism can hurt … Read More
Power Words Will Flat Out Make You More Interesting When You Speak
Just like some acid trips are better than others, there are words that are better than other words, too. Therefore, word choice is a hell of a drug. I wrote a chapter about the importance of using the right words in my book The Perfectionist’s Guide To Public Speaking, and in this post I’m going to build on it. We’re going to … Read More
The Ultimate Reason Why You Should Overcome Your Fear Of Public Speaking
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my mission on this planet (and this site!). How do you explain to someone a feeling or a frame of mind that they’ve never experienced? How can you articulate the real power behind something life-changing?For starters, here it is in words: To help others overcome the fear of public speaking so they can … Read More
5 Ways To Ensure You Don’t Sound Like A Robot
Attention all humans! Okay, okay, robots are welcome too. Just turn your emotion controls to ‘OFF’—or risk being offended. Today we talk about a subject that can save humanity. Or at least defend against a level of boredom that is entirely unnecessary. You’ve no doubt experienced a speaker with some or all of these special traits. Perhaps you’ve been scarred for life. … Read More
Overcome Your EGO And You Can Overcome Your Fears
The thing that holds us back the most in this world, is ourselves—at least what we think is us—the EGO! The reason is fear, and how the ego holds us back is through the struggle against being exposed to fear. The E-G-O is feisty and it claims that it simply doesn’t want you to get hurt.Gee, thanks! Sounds like a good thing doesn’t it? … Read More
Public Speaking Anxiety: Fear The INSTANT Fix!
Whenever you see someone offering INSTANT tips and tricks for overcoming the fear of public speaking, please do me a favor. Be vigilant. Extend your B.S. antenna and jab it squarely into the chest of the messenger. It’s non-sense. There is no magic pill that you can catapult down the hatch and in an instant be cured. There are methods that work, methods … Read More
5 “Don’ts” That Will Make You A Better Speaker
There are a ton of things that can either make you a better speaker, or not. And personally I think it varies from person to person. Some can get away with being theatrical and over-the-top. Others, not so much. Take slouching for example. This gets associated with a lack of confidence and being “unprofessional.” I would never advise anyone … Read More