Public Speaking without Fear!

I just saw a great presentation on fearless public speaking and there were some excellent tips that I wanted to share with everyone. It's funny that we are all so adversely affected by speaking. It's really not such a big deal, but fear of public speaking is ranked higher on national polls than fear of death!

So here are some proven techniques to help you get over your fear and use public speaking to your advantage:

1. Warm up before speaking and practice, practice, practice!
2. Don't rush through the beginning of your speech - this is where you capture your audience's attention and find your rhythm.
3. Simulate the speaking environment when you practice (hold a banana for a mic, or stand behind a chair for a podium...)
4. Only present on topics that you truly believe in and feel passionately about.
5. Expect a great outcome and positive feedback - don't expect the worst! Your audience truly wants you to succeed.
6. NEVER picture people naked or in their underwear. (Honestly, we're older than that, don't you think?)

So speak without fear by following these basic tips that will keep you focused, positive and prepared. Thanks to Dr. Andi O'Conor of Communication Consulting, Inc. for providing this sage advice. Happy speaking!

My Inspirational Client, Wendy Booker...

This week I met with a new client who is truly an amazing woman. I thought I would take a little time this morning to share her incredible story with you.

Back in 1998, Wendy Booker was a mom and interior designer in Massachusetts. After experiencing some odd symptoms and falling down while setting up a window display, Wendy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Her distress and depression didn't last long. She immediately took her casual hobby of running to a whole new level and has now run 9 marathons over the past 9 years.

Mountain climbing came next. Wendy heard about a group of MS patients who were pulling together a team to climb Mt. McKinley in Alaska (the highest peak in N. America) and she jumped on board immediately. At the time, she didn't know what or where Mt. McKinley was or how to climb a mountain. The only mountain she had heard of in Alaska was called 'Denali' and she knew that it was a brutal climb that had taken many lives. Little did she know that Mt. McKinley and Denali were one in the same!

After extensive training and two summit attempts, Wendy became the first person with MS to summit Denali, and that feeling of accomplishment set off a chain of events that have taken her on an incredible journey. Wendy is now a full-time climber and motivational speaker. She is tackling the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each of the seven continents) and has currently reached the top of four of these impressive mountains - the first MS sufferer to do so. They include Denali, Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus in Russia and Mt. Aconcagua in South America. Another thing I haven't mentioned... Wendy isn't 25 - she's 53 years old! Not too shabby.

This December Wendy will be traveling to Antarctica to climb Mt. Vinson in the bitter ice and cold. Mt. Everest looms large for the spring of 2009.

Akamai Consulting is working with Wendy to help her find ways to fund her climbing activities and locate opportunities to speak and share her inspirational story. It's an easy job because we truly believe in her ability to make a positive impact on the world. Visit www.wendybooker.net to see photos, read Wendy's blog and learn more about her mission. Get in touch with us or post a comment if you have ideas for media coverage, sponsorships, fundraising or speaking engagements.

And most of all... find your own mountains to climb!