When was the last time you did something scary?

Public speaking is something I have tried to avoid my whole life.

When I have had to do it, even if it’s just in front of a class, I’m ok for about the first 8 seconds. Then my heart starts racing, my neck turns red, my face gets hot and flush and I start breathing like I just ran the fastest mile of my life.

Well, I was given an amazing opportunity to present to the Small Business Center at A-B Tech, our local community college. The presentation was to explain why my small business could use help with funding some upcoming expenses. I had the option of presenting in person or online- and I chose in person.

Why?

I decided that 2024 is the year that I am going to get the things I’ve never had before. And to do that I was clearly going to have to do things I’ve never done before. So if I was going to do this, the only option was to make myself present in person- the way I would be most challenged. I thought carefully, wrote from my heart and created a five minute talk explaining who I am, where my business is at and how I would use the funding to help propel my business. When I read it to my husband, he raised his eyebrows and said “I wouldn’t change anything”. I practiced reading it out loud so many times the cat probably could have given the presentation. Then I did what all the public speaking coaches I researched said to do, I got a good night sleep.

Yesterday morning I gave my presentation.

As I waited to be called into the meeting my heart was racing. I closed my eyes, took a few deep breaths and imagined myself speaking calmly and clearly. To be transparent, there were only two people in the room and two on zoom, but I was still shaking a little when I sat down at the front of the room. I took another deep breath and began. I didn’t turn red. Or lose my breath. I just read through my talk and stayed focused on being as persuasive as possible. There was a little Q & A at the end and I only rambled off course once, so that was another tiny victory for me.

Then it was over. I did it. I sat in my car for a few minutes and called Alex, I was still shaking a little. But I had done one of the scariest things- in person.

Want to know how it turned out? You’ll have to stay tuned…Or sign up to be a KAFJ Insider to be the first to find out!