[sidstling]

Practice, practice, practice. I used to be unable to do presentations, unless I had practiced them out loud twenty times in the days before the presentation.

I wouldn’t write a script and stick to it word for word, I’d make slides and general points and then practice them out loud until I got them right.

After a few years of doing this, I only had to practice a few times.

Today I can stand up anywhere and talk about anything to anyone without notice. But it was a long road getting here.

I still get the same feelings of anexiety, but the way they effect me has changed with the practice. Where they’d once made me mumble and lose my train of thought they now motivate me. I still get red cheeks once in a while, but I’ve learned to laugh it away.

So practice, practice, practice, but it’s a lot of hard work. I mean, practicing a 30 minute presentation 20 times takes maybe 12 hours, and if you’re anything like I was, there is no short cuts.

[maaaats]

> Today I can stand up anywhere and talk about anything to anyone without notice.

You can be comfortable doing it, but doesn't mean some practice wouldn't make it more enjoyable for the listeners.

[sidstling]

Very true, and I do still prepare for presentations.

For me though, the side effect of practice has been how I can now naturally put my thoughts to speak and deliver the points I want the way I want. Both of these things seemed almost like magical abilities to me 10 years ago.