Today, I have to talk in front of a group of faculty members where I work. I am not a faculty member. I am a lowly peon with nothing more than a BA in English. These are PhDs in medical fields.
I do not like public speaking.
And to make things worse, I woke up this morning with the first gigantic zit I’ve had since I was about 13 years old. Yes, I am blessed with great skin. So glad that my face chose today to remind me how blessed I usually am.
My boss laughed at me when I suggested I might need a shot before going into the (only 15 minutes why am I freaking out) presentation, but I was serious. Mostly.
I am wearing my confidence shoes, though:
Wish me luck – and if I make it through I will tell you a story about my track workout yesterday, and then you can help me decide if the workout was a WIN or a FAIL.
Off to vomit from nerves now!
You’ll do great–how can you not in shoes like that??
Good luck!! I’m a terrible public speaker…I even got a C in the “Speech” unit in high school…and I was a straight A student!
GOOD LUCK!!
You’ll be fine!
I say it was a WIN…any workout is a WIN!!
You’ll kill it! Next time take benadryl instead of a shot…it’ll calm you right down. I took someone’s advice and did this before an interview once and I almost fell asleep. Probably not a great idea. I have the same issues as you clearly!
gazelle reply on July 15th, 2009:
I would pass out! That’s so awesome. Did you get the job?
Emily reply on July 15th, 2009:
Um, no.
You already crushed the speech! Way to go, nothing to worry about. Just go up there and own it. I LOVE public speaking ha ha.
I hear liquid courage helps more than shoes….
gazelle reply on July 15th, 2009:
I asked my boss about that, and apparently shots pre-presentation are frowned upon at my work. I was sad.
I loathe public speaking. Two jobs ago – when I took high school kids overseas – part of the job was LOTS of big talks. Given to hundreds of students. My first one started the world’s biggest panic attack that I’ve ever had. I’m talking crying my eyes out, hyperventilating in the office. It was ugly. And a dry summer – so no shots available. If you managed to not cry, you out did me!