I was listening to Rush Limbaugh just now and he said he does not like giving speeches. He is not scared, he says, he just thinks so quickly that it is hard to put all of his thoughts on paper and he simply does not feel that he can do as good a job as the audience might expect. I have seen Rush Limbaugh give a speech and he has nothing to worry about.
However, for those out there who may, like me, feel nervous about giving speeches, it's kind of comforting to know we are not alone and that even those being paid for speaking, have a bit of trouble. The other interesting tidbit Limbaugh also threw out was that he does not take a dime for giving talks to groups. Have you noticed that those accused of being the most heartless, are usually the most generous?
However, for those out there who may, like me, feel nervous about giving speeches, it's kind of comforting to know we are not alone and that even those being paid for speaking, have a bit of trouble. The other interesting tidbit Limbaugh also threw out was that he does not take a dime for giving talks to groups. Have you noticed that those accused of being the most heartless, are usually the most generous?
Labels: public speaking
posted by Helen at 1:49 PM
33 Comments:
@Helen: "Have you noticed that those accused of being the most heartless, are usually the most generous?"
____________
Yes, I have. I've also noticed that those who are credited with having the biggest hearts are usually those who advocate being more generous...with other people's time and money, of course.
I'm sure giving free speeches to groups in no way helps market his tv/book gigs. (Sometimes, seeing a "celebrity" live and in person, makes for a devoted fan for years to come.) I'll stick with the New Testament definition of generous myself -- the widow with a few coins to her name...
That's just me. Y'all are welcome to think Rush generous for giving free speeches to groups like that, I just am a bit more cynical about things like that myself.
I heard the same bit Helen. It seems that he is much better on the fly than when he sits in front of paper. I admire his courage and knowledge base to pull it off!
Trey
I've never been a big Rush fan, but recently he's on target with my own concerns. I have noticed though, that he has not clearly said he isn't interested in a political future. Makes me wonder except he makes tons of money running his show and I doubt he'd last as long in politics.
I've never been a big Rush fan, but recently he's on target with my own concerns.
You're probably not alone in either one...
His ratings have been up a good deal, lately.
TO: Dr. Helen, et al.
RE: Public Speaking
I 'hate' giving speeches.
Indeed, I got an F for public presentation in my junior year in high school English.
Getting the grade, I walked down the hall and joined the debate club. Within three months I my delivery was better than my partner in Cross-X.
I STILL 'hate' public speaking. But I'm not quite so tongue-tied.
However, I have picked up on another 'trick'. A B100 Complex about 15 minutes before 'going on' calms the nervousness dramatically.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[God made the Earth and everything therein for Man.]
"[God made the Earth and everything therein for Man.]"
Which god are you talking about? Being buddhist, I must ask.
which god? the one who makes the grass green.....
regarding public speaking, i never script mine becaue i can never predict the internal states of my audiences before hand. once i`m there they set the tone. besides, 3x5 cards break the flow....
I thought that the Buddha was much more about enlightment and detachment than gods per se.
Trey
It was my understanding that Buddha was an agnostic, and didn't really care who you prayed or didn't pray to.
Back to topic...Ever see the studies? Evil Conservatives are much more generous with their contributions, by far, than the Liberals who want to spend your money anyway.
I agree that church-goers (conservatives) are more likely to donate privately, individually, directly than the secular Left, who believe we ALL need to come TOGETHER and everyone pitch in EQUALLY to help MANKIND. I agree with that. And I agree that the conservatives cringe because the seculars are less directly involved and therefore tolerate so much WASTE, presumably because it's not their money solely being wasted, and they're not close enough to the social problems even to recognize an effective, more efficient way. (see Bush Cheney American war doctrine -- Spartans we are not)
I don't know how generous a soul Rush Limbaugh is though for speaking to groups for free. I keep going back to that widow of few coins...
TO: TMink, Stormbringer, and Mary, et al.
RE: I Thought....
....the topic was public speaking. And that Rush was just an example of how even people spend a LOT of time talking to the public get nervous.
RE: B100s
An anecdote about that business.
Back at the US Army Logistics Executive Development Course (LEDC) in '92, I had to give organize and head a presentation by a team of officers to a national-level Subject Matter Expert on mobilization.
I was so nervous during the rehearsal that the TAC officer thought we'd completely blow it. So did the rest of the team. But I took about seven of the tabs about a half-hour before the presentation.
The briefing went so well that the SME and I got into an esoteric discussion on some of the primary issues hindering mobilization of reserve component formations that were experienced during Operation DESERT SHIELD.
Now, whenever I get the opportunity, I advise high school debate contestants to consider taking a B100 before a debate round. That is if they seem overly nervous to me as I judge such an event.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. -- Mark Twain]
Chuck,
Not to correct you buddy, but the original post ended with this, which is also worthy of commenting on:
The other interesting tidbit Limbaugh also threw out was that he does not take a dime for giving talks to groups. Have you noticed that those accused of being the most heartless, are usually the most generous?
Glad to skim over your personal stories, detailing how you faced down a fear like public speaking, and managed to overcome it. I've never had that problem myself, being verbally self assertive and capable of speaking in public myself (the teachers made us read aloud since grade 1). But I appreciate your input in the comments, so please don't think that ours are taking anything away from yours. Good job!
Too chime in on the vitamin topic:
many diets are low in the B vitamins. So don't just pop one when you get nervous, incorporate it into your daily diet, or use a vitamin supplement regularly if you have nervous issues -- fwiw.
Chuck, any ideas how the B100 works? Thanks for the tip.
Trey
TO: Mary
RE: Yeah....
....Rush Limbaugh's approach is IN THERE. But the primary thrust of this topic is getting nervous about public speaking.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[There are only two things more difficult than good public speaking. Climbing a wall that's leaning towards you and kissing a lady who's leaning away from you. -- Churchill]
Not only is it IN THERE, but it also serves as the concluding sentence of the post. Plus, it ends on a QUESTION.
Not sure if you're just joking Chuckles, or if you really have your panties in a bunch because folks are commenting on things other than nervous public speaking.
But I'll bow out now, in case somehow you think the thread is being derailed/monopolized in answering what was perhaps a rhetorical question.
Never seen such sensitivity, but then perhaps blog comment sections differ like that. (?)
Go to it then, your topic of choice...
TO: TMink
RE: How Does It Work??!??!
....any ideas how the B100 works? -- TMink
I have absolutely NO IDEA. All I know is that it works for me and it works great.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Food is an important part of a balanced diet.]
I have a particular fondness for this spontaneous act: http://tinyurl.com/6fp5np
the post is labeled public speaking, so one would assume that it is fair to comment as such.....
...and as i consider public speaking well within the top five of phobias, and that i conquered that fear personally after many years of suffering and limit i feel comfortable in telling my success here, if for no other reason than to encourage others to meet thier fear.
and no, i didn`t take vitamins (though, if it works, go for it) and i was never that personally socially confident to "just do it" .
i applied my own learning in nlp, and it worked first time.
my personal belief is that school terrorises those with any kind of social phobia when it comes to talking in front of the class, and that only the most comfortable of children come away with anything from the experience. most vow to never put themselves in such a position again.
i know. i was one of them, and it was only through the learning of nlp (neuro-linguistic programming) which i use in my work, that i was able to be strong and focused in my public presentations.
now i look forward to them as a promotional tool for my business,and that my guests and i have so much fun.
and limbaugh does it to promote his business, which makes good business sense...and the biblical tale of the old woman with the few coins tells sheep to give all thier money to large corporations to pay executive salaries and advertising costs.
charity has become a vast industry and one that more businesses are cottoning on to to promote themselves, and the labour pool is available at no cost!
little girls and boys block your path as you try to get a coffee on a morning to please their parents by selling you a $1 chocolate bar for $8.50
now i`m off topic.
One way that I got over my fear of public speaking was to take a theologically conservative message and speak in theologically liberal churches. As well as more welcoming, but very large, churches. What a rush, Limbaugh!
One of my favorite teachers once told me that when a new semester began, he was always a nervous wreck in front of his classes till after a week or so.Said that a teacher who wasn't probably ought not to be in the classroom.
ps: on giving. Conservatives give because they believe govt ought not to be involved in things; liberals give less because they believe that is a part of the function of govt...
simple as that. Now you decide which way things ought to go.
fred, well said.
Trey
"my personal belief is that school terrorises those with any kind of social phobia when it comes to talking in front of the class, and that only the most comfortable of children come away with anything from the experience. most vow to never put themselves in such a position again."
School terrorizes anybody with a social phobia in all arenas, not just public speaking, both in the playground (nature of kids) and in the structure of the learning environment. Smart kids and other outliers are told to slow down to the median level of learning, dissenters are hammered down by "because I said so" autocracy, bullies are tolerated with an admonishment to not "tattle", kids who act out extrovertedly get attention or ritalin while quiet cases are ignored or viewed with suspicion.
Unfortunately, so many people never socially graduate high school so having a room of yuk-it-uppers, fools, clowns, shirkers and other people to derail your talk is quite common at the adult level.
topher, i doesn`t say much for the education system when the product of thier work are those self-same fools, clowns, shirkers, etc.
i am in a situation where my lectures are regarding the cessation of behaviours such as smoking or over-eating, and as such people attend believing that they will come away with a benefit of health, so most are well behaved and attentive.
i am a hypnotherapist and so if i find someone disruptive i hint that they will be doing a chicken dance for the rest of us.
that always gets a laugh and eases tension.
further to your comment about teachers, i find as a group, teachers tend to be the worst listeners and communicators and prefer oratory over conversation as a style.
this approach effectively reaches the median of students, those likely to become teachers and other trade unionists as adults.....the rest go into remedial programs and are offered a variety of medications to "help".
i am a harsh critic of the educational system as i have to deal with the damage done in my daily work.
not all teachers are dogmatic tyrants, but enough are to damage a person`s will to learn permenantly. unfortunately, the classroom has become a delivery mechanism for socialist rhetoric, and so the good little girls and boys must bow down to gore, obama, clinton et al, and go raise money for whichever charity has conscripted the children that week.
TO: All
RE: More On Vitamin B-100 Complex
I'm reminded that it works for more than merely speaking in public. I've found it also helps in other situations where being 'nervous' can be detrimental to your health and/or career.
Case in Point (anecdote):
Running the message center that was driving a 'national emergency' exercise for the Utah State Area Command (STARC)....I was managing the generation and input of message traffic that drove what the STARC staff was doing in a scenario very similar to what happened a few years later with Operation DESERT SHIELD, e.g., Gulf War I build-up phase.
Somehow, one of the messages got 'out-of-network' and went to The Adjutant General (TAG) before his Chief of Staff (CoS) saw it. [Note: Not our fault.] The CoS was 'blind-sided' by the TAG in a discussion of the rather important matter. He—the CoS—came storming out of the meeting looking for a head to mount on his trophy wall...specifically, mine.
I was called onto his 'carpet', also referred to as a 'drop-cloth'. Upon getting the summons, I took a B100.
The NCOIC who accompanied me as MY 'witness' to the encounter, came out of the meeting and marveled at how cool, calm and collected I was in the face of someone who wanted to end my military career. So I told him about B100s and gave him one.
He took it.
Fifteen minutes later, he remarked, "Yah know? There's nothing to get nervous about in all of this. So what if they want our heads on platters. Big deal. Let's get on with the mission at hand." Or words to that effect.
So....bottom line....
....anytime you feel like you might be under a LOT of pressure and might react badly due to nervousness....
....take time out to take a B100.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Life is too much fun to be overly worried about it. -- CBPelto]
"Personally, I am always very nervous when I begin to speak. Every time I make a speech I feel I am submitting to judgment..."
Cicero, quoted (at greater length) in Anthony Everitt's 2001 biography.
hmm. this b100 sounds a lot like prozac.
i am going to google it though.
http://www.patientslikeme.com/all/treatments/show/3165-vitamin-b100
ok. now it makes more sense. b100 is a multi b complex that contains all of the known bs
situational dosing of this complex seems harmless, but be careful as some bs have low toxicity levels.
TO: dr.alistair
RE: There Is....
hmm. this b100 sounds a lot like prozac. -- dr.alistair
....a 'difference'.
God made Bs. Men made 'prozac'.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
P.S. Of late, all the prescription man-made 'medicines', I've been given have had adverse side effects. Bs don't......
Just don't get caught taking those B100 tabs to school. You'll be expelled for bringing drugs to school under the zero thinking policies.
Some of those of us with high blood pressure learned that taking an extra beta blocker before giving a speech works as well or better than B100. (maybe that's how B100 works---just guessing). Of course if you don't have high blood pressure you may give half of a great speech and then pass out from low blood pressure... :)
Of late, all the prescription man-made 'medicines', I've been given have had adverse side effects. Bs don't......
except for those damn stingers.
Thank you folks, I'm here all week. What? It's friday? Don't forget to tip your waiter or waitress, and try the veal. Goodnight.
One question for you Chuck, in all seriousness. Does b100 exist in nature (not in a man-made pill)? I'm too lazy tonight to google it. :)
TO: The Archivist
RE: Bs in Nature
One question for you Chuck, in all seriousness. Does b100 exist in nature (not in a man-made pill)? I'm too lazy tonight to google it. :) -- The [lazy and apparently bored] Archivist
They exist in nature. But you have to collect them from a lot of different sources. Rather time consuming if you live in a hunter-gatherer society.
Getting a 'clue' here?
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Are you road-kill on the information super-highway?]
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