Public Speaking

Two words that evoke fear in the hearts of the toughest men and women.
Beyond the normal adrenalin rush and nervousness, I have no fear.

I am a certified trainer with the company for which I work; one element of the position includes teaching classes to new managers and presenting any new initiatives that the company may have.

The people in the classes number fifteen to thirty. There is also usually a varied degree of experience in the room. The classes can run for as little as two hours to as long as two days.

I am a stutter and have been for most of my life.

The key to my success is to make other people comfortable with my stuttering.
In my learnings about myself, I’ve found that when I am stutt… stutt… stuttering and trying to deliver a message, the receiver tends to focus on facial ticks and my other struggles trying to get the words out.

The message is lost, and they are usually embarrassed for me, they also empathize and sometimes they laugh.
At times, I look and sound very funny and I laugh too.

Beyond that, I am amazed with my success speaking in public.

You may not believe it, but I was not born a stutter.

When I was about seven years old, there was a boy in the neighborhood (his name escapes me) who was a terrible stutter. I made fun of him at every opportunity. This went on for about two years. Kids being kids.

When we moved away, I could not stop.
There is a God.. I suppose..

I have gone to several different speech therapists over the years and none of them have been able to help.

Over time, I have developed my own techniques to minimize my condition. My family, close friends and work colleagues tend not to notice anymore.

So to all the stutters out there, remember it’s not you, it’s them.

And to all the people who have encountered a stutter, It’s not them, it’s you.