This is the strange story of Fred strong.
A normal happy man who usually enjoys Dr he someone you know perhaps someone like
yourself. But suddenly without warning.
Fred comes face to face with one of Mike's problems. A new one for him.
The high powered chairman of the local luncheon club asks him to speak at a club
meeting. To me asks Fred.
No I'm not much of a speech maker
but the club manager persistent sure you can do it he says we want to hear all
about your trip to Alaska read protest sign to no avail.
We'll count on you for next Thursday says the great man. And he's gone.
Fred whether he likes it
or not is committed to make a speech read scrapped he feels as if he just agreed to
make a parachute jump. All right a rocket to the moon.
And this is just the beginning for Fred is on his way to all the terror all the
were a all the pain of an ailment. Commonly known as stage fright.
As time passes and Thursday approaches.
Fred will be jolted from his reading of the awful recollection
that the day is near.
Is deepest slumbers may be interrupted by the harrowing thought of what's to come.
And even food is hard to force into a stomach
that feels as if it were loaded with hot bricks.
Yes or ready is scared. Just plain scared.
And on the day of the speech he's really a sight.
The Toastmaster gives a glowing account of Fred's experience as a traveler
and of his outstanding qualities as a man he mentions how Fred is considered a
leader of the community and how proud he is to introduce him. But look at Fred.
He's not even sure he can stand up let alone walk to the rostrum he's trembling
and weak in every joint his feet are cold his hands are hot
and shaky
and Fred wishes he were someplace else diagnosis stage fright
the AS AN Fred's ailment is common to you to you and to you.
Yeah as you have all had stage fright and you know how bad it can be
but what can you do about it.
First you must recognize stage fright for what it is stage fright is fear
and what are you afraid of are you afraid someone in your audience will stand up
and take a pot shot at you are you afraid there will be a snake on the stage
or that you will fall off the platform.
No you're afraid of what people will say
and think about you as you stand before them.
You're afraid of their ridicule you're afraid they'll see your faults
and your shortcomings.
Because the thing you're really afraid of is yourself your afraid of faults
that are products of your imagination
when you have to speak what you say the right thing the thing you mean to say what
you make grammatical errors when you miss pronounce words.
Well you look all right to your audience will you forget.
Will you be able to speak at all. Let's see what can be done to help you conquers.
Stagefright we'll go back to Fred at the time he was notified
that he would speak on Thursday the minutes spread down he was elected to speak he
became a little frightened of the perfectly natural reaction.
So Fred should have begun to say to himself.
Well they want me to speak at the luncheon club and quite an honor.
They must think I'm really somebody Brad is building up his self-confidence
the next read carefully planned says speech. So that one Thursday comes.
He'll be absolutely certain of what he will say to the luncheon crowd.
He writes down his ideas. He's laying the steppingstones of his talk.
By using facts they exempt roads stories illustrations reasons
and conclusions that will make up his speech by putting it down in black
and white thread is sure he has something important to say he knows where he is
going
when the essential points of his speech have been outlined read may try it out just
to be sure he imagines he's in front of the luncheon club
and is making his opening remarks.
Again he assures him self that he is confident and
that the members of the club want him to speak by practicing a speech he is taking
an important step
that will help him control stage right now to be sure
of his appearance.
Fred has his suit pressed and decide exactly what he will wear the day he speaks.
Perhaps but it's not the best speaker in the world
but he certainly won't leave himself open to ridicule because of the way he looks
good appearance is most important in making a good speech because your audience
will judge you. Partly on your appearance.
If you know you look good to your audience. You'll feel good that another her.
Up in controlling your fear even such a small thing as wearing your favorite tie
can have an effect on your mental attitude and soul on your speech.
So you see in preparing himself for the speech.
Fred has accomplished the one thing
that will help him most in controlling stage fright
and mastering his fear he has built up his self-confidence.
He has done this by convincing himself
that he's to be the honored guest at the luncheon club
but by his achievements he has earned the right to speak.
He has planned his speech and practiced it so he knows exactly what he will say.
And finally he has made sure of his personal appearance.
Now let's see what happens at the luncheon club this time again the chairman of the
club describes Fred's exploits in the Alaskan wilds and welcomes Fred to the group.
There's time for words of praise do not fall on deaf ears.
Fred is prepared and confident the fear that Fred experiences now.
Is good because he has control of it.
It's nature's way of keeping the body and mind sharp
and alert the air spread is alert
and instead of a growing fear he is ready and eager to get into a speech.
The introduction completed.
Fred walks to the speaker's position with confidence
and although his legs may be a little shaky he started to talk with the same
forceful words he planned in his office he speaks with a full strong voice
and stands straight and tall.
Fred smart enough to know that his talk will not interest. Everyone.
So he picks out the sympathetic faces in his audience and talks to them.
He picks out the friendly faces and pays.
No attention to the unfriendly ones.
Fred is determined not to let little mistakes bother him.
Now he's lost his place is his audience uncomfortable and embarrassed for him.
Not in the least he has made them see the humor in the situation there on his side.
As Fred continue speaking he thinks of what he says not how he says it so
and making a good speech.
Fred has raised himself in the estimation of his friends
and neighbors more than
that he has raised himself in his own estimation he feels more qualities of
leadership
and accomplishment than he has ever felt before he is proud of his ability to
overcome the fear that would hinder his speech. Yes Fred's talk is a success.
And Fred success can be your success.
You can learn to master your fears about yourself.
You can learn to control stage fright and make it work for you.
Just remember how Fred prepared himself by convincing himself
that people wanted him to speak by preparing his speech
and practicing it by creating confidence in himself.
Fred did it you can do it.