Before this program, I was terrified of public speaking. I had a very important message I wanted to share, but I had no confidence in my ability to articulate my message, let alone express it in an engaging way. I had plenty of excuses: I was too old; I wasn't healthy enough; my vision was too complex; nobody would be interested in what I had to say.
Fortunately, I did have confidence in Eric Edmeades being able to teach me. The lessons he taught about using storytelling to craft my message and to make it compelling boosted my confidence. Even before the end of the program, I was able to develop a signature talk that I presented to a small audience. Since Eric said to record every speech, I had it professionally taped. I discovered that I enjoyed telling my stories and using them to make my points. The speech was so well received I posted it on YouTube and social media. I had done several podcasts that I found a bit cringeworthy, but this was the first speech that I wasn't embarrassed to share.
Now that I have finished the program, I'm looking forward to more podcasts and real stages. There is plenty of room for improvement, but I'm confidently preparing to practice the skills I've learned. I'm now willing to challenge myself with bigger audiences.
