Speak with No Fear: Go from a Nervous, Nauseated, and Sweaty Speaker to an Excited, Energized, and Passionate Presenter

By: Mike Acker

Narrated by: Mike Acker

Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Do you HATE public speaking? Are you TERRIFIED to stand in front of people? When you think of speaking, do you get nervous, anxious, even sweaty? You don’t have to be afraid any longer.  

It can seem like everyone is a gifted speak when you watch TED talks or compare yourself to skilled co-workers giving presentations. Don't get caught up in comparison. Instead, take action to improve YOUR ability and to overcome your fear.  

If you struggle when you speak, then you are not alone. Public speaking is the number one fear in America.  

Millions of people are terrified at the prospect of going up on stage and addressing a crowd even more than they’re afraid of death. And yet, it’s an unavoidable experience if you want to succeed in this world.  

Maybe it’s a business presentation for your career path, a speech in school, or a toast at your best friend’s wedding. Fear of speaking grips you. But it doesn’t have to. Not anymore.  

This book can help you. You will learn seven strategies you can begin today. These strategies will give you a new perspective. This book will prepare you and give you actions to practice. As you implement these strategies, your fear will begin to fade.  

Full of relatable anecdotes, executable tips, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this book promises to teach you seven proven strategies to help you find your inner presenter. Don’t wait any longer. Today is the day you take charge of your anxiety, calm your nerves, and - most importantly - speak with no fear.

©2019 Mike Acker (P)2019 Mike Acker

Excellent book to overcome fear of speaking

I got many good ideas and tips on how to become a public speaker. Entertaining book with great stories! highly recommend.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great advice and great stories!

Full of great stories to illustrate his advice for each strategy! Each story is an example where he failed or succeeded at the strategy he is teaching. I also like that he explains the strategy (with stories) then gives you action items.

The author starts with a pep talk, and then gets into these strategies:

STRATEGY #1 — UNCOVER & CLEAN THE WOUND. If your nervousness is deep-seated, the first step is to get to the root of your fears. Was there an incident in your past that scared you? You may be conscious or unconscious of it. Journal or talk about it to uncover what specifically happened, probe the pain, reexamine the circumstances, and arm yourself with awareness to combat your anxiety. Maybe even write a story or speech about it.
ACTION: Answer these questions - Have you been embarrassed in front of people, what happened? Did you ever get put on the spot without being ready for it, how did it turn out? Do you have memories of multiple people making fun of you? Where have you fallen short of your expectations for yourself? Why do you care so much about what people might think of you? What is the most humiliating moment in your life?

STRATEGY #2 — IMAGINE THE WORST. Imagine all the ways your speech could go wrong, and prepare for those outcomes. Get worked up about it beforehand, then when the time comes, you can control your emotions so they don't control you.
ACTION: Get anxious beforehand, then practice gaining control. Imagine exactly how the speech will go in as many details as you can (before going on stage, preparing your notes on the lectern, speaking into the mic, walking off afterward, handling questions from people who come up to you later). Will you be nervous? What are you afraid could happen? What are the worst possible scenarios? (someone punches you, yells at you, walks out on you, writes you an awful email, you blow your chance at future speaking engagements). Once worked up: breathe deeply, smile, then take a moment to notice 5 details in the room around you. Imagining the worst gives you a proper perspective, no matter what happens life goes on and you will be ok. Now, what is the best that could happen? The positive impacts, inspiration, and opportunities. If you don't prepare and take on the possibility of the worst, you forgo the chance at getting the best.

STRATEGY #3 — YOU BE YOU. You will use your personhood to get your message across. Embrace it. If you try to be funny in the same style as your fav comedian, or inspirational in the style as your fav TED speaker, or charismatic in the same style as your fav pastor, it will be obvious that you are impersonating. Every time you speak, you will have a different personality. Plus it's tiring and an added weight to try to be someone you're not. Embrace the character you are, speak through your voice, with your personality. However, you can be inspired by other speaker’s characteristics that are also innate/natural to you. Work to IMPROVE and add to "you", but don't replace "you".
ACTION: 3 things – (1) Discover you (do personality profiles, appreciate your strengths, don't shame yourself for supposed weaknesses, see your weaknesses as strengths). (2) Watch yourself (give a speech to the mirror, a camera, or friends - so you can see what an audience would see, notice what needs improving). (3) Listen to others (study 3 or more strong speakers, note the speaking characteristics of each, then note what you can improve for your speaking style).

STRATEGY #4 — SPEAK TO ONE. This is my fav strategy! Crowds are scary, individual people are not. Meet as many individuals as you can before your talk (i.e. greet them as they arrive to the venue), talk to each for a bit to get to know them. Then when it comes time to speak, you can remember that you’re speaking to those individuals you met, not a crowd. Don't make your speech just about business or academics, it's personal because you are speaking to PEOPLE. You don't connect with crowds, you connect to individual people.
ACTION: Before your talk, do 6 things: (1) Arrive and prepare early. This gives you space and peace before the talk. And the time to meet people, not frantically preparing for your stage-time. (2) Don't consume coffee and sugar beforehand, it amps up your nerves. (3) Stand where you can meet a few people. Stand 5-feet away from any wall. Get in the way of people, not away from them. (4) Smile. It's a natural anti-depressant, reduced blood pressure, boosts your immune system, reduces your nerves, increases your confidence, and relaxes your audience often causing them to smile back. (5) Deep, steady breathing. Increases oxygen to your brain and calms you. (6) Make it your mission to create a connection with 3 to 5 people.

STRATEGY #5 — IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU. While you’re worrying about what people think about you, they are worrying about what people think about them. Their eyes may be on you, but their thoughts are probably about themselves. How many times have you listened to a speech, all the while thinking about your own life, concerns, and personal To-Do items that the speech reminds you of. We are our favorite focus. Make it your goal to address their goals. How can I help serve, entertain, inform,… THEM. Focus on them and they begin to like you.
ACTION: Why are you speaking? What do the individuals in your audience need/want? Who is your audience? Get in their heads. What are their hope, dreams, fears? What can you offer them? Why are they listening to you? What worries do they have? Learn to listen, it’s about them not you.

STRATEGY #6 — CHANNEL THE POWER. Even the most skilled speakers still get nervous before a speech. You won’t be able to completely get rid of your nervousness. Channel it into positive energy. Care about the content of your words. Take your nervousness, care, and preparation and let it burn through you as passion.
ACTION: Channel your extra nervous energy into these 3 things: Preparation, Exercise, Breathe.

STRATEGY #7 — BE IN THE MOMENT. When you were younger you wanted to be older, and when you are older you want to be younger. We get so wrapped up in wanting to be somewhere else we don’t live in our present moment. We miss out on what we are learning and experiencing NOW. Before the event use your stress and anxiety to work and prep like crazy (“prior planning prevents poor performance”). But once the day comes, relax and enjoy “right now”.
ACTION: 3 things - (1) Take in the details (“Name 5 blue details in the room”, taking in the details reduces anger, anxiety, and road rage. Same here, this works by bringing you back to the moment. Notice what’s around you when you go to speak, and then you will notice the people around you with their needs and wants). (2) Create a gratitude list (every morning and night, list 3 things you’re grateful for. This keeps you positive and not preoccupied with what could have happened or been better. Before speaking note 3 things you’re grateful for. It will reduce worries. Smile.) (3) Live it and enjoy it (You only have this moment once. Breathe. Smile.)

If you are beyond nervous when it comes to public-speaking, welcome to the club. The club with almost every single human is in (people fear public speaking more than even death). The author provides some great strategies to help.

Book is better than audio

The author is a good speaker, and narrator. I didn't find the audio version as engaging as the kindle. Overall it's good.

Excellent book, very practical

Short book with hands on advice that will get you participating as a speaker very fast. It will enable you to talk in today’s world we’re communication is a primary characteristic we need.

GAME changer for public speaking

So many stories of overcoming fear, or facing the fear and doing it anyway. If you are looking for some real advice and coaching on how to handle this fear while public speaking or engaging with people this is a great book for it. Mike Acker nails the skills you need and the way to overcome anxiety of public speaking. I highley recommend this book if you have to give presentations at work or even if you just want to introduce yourself to someone new. Lots of nuggets of wisdom inside here.