https://arxiv.org/pdf/gr-qc/9703019
Feeling nervous before giving a talk on stage?
Just sit with it, stay still, and realize that the feeling is valid. It’s an indicator that you really care about the thing you are about to do. That’s a privileged place to be.
Stage Fright
Toastmasters
Pregnant Pause/Silence = A pause that…
- gives the impression that it will be followed by something significant
- feels like something important is happening
The goal of any pitches/presentations: understandable/easy-to-understand for others
If you’re public speaking for the 1st time:
- No more than 1 big idea
- 1 visual aid per slide
- 1 main idea per slide
- Use multiple stories per idea
- Use 3rd grade vocab or lower
- Be okay with silence
- Record yourself 30x out loud
- Rewatch each
- Then do it for real
- And you’ll crush
Winston’s Star
- Symbol: Use a visual symbol to make your idea stick.
- Slogan: Find and deliver a simple, catchy slogan for the central idea.
- Surprise: The human brain loves novelty. Make sure to highlight the contrarian, counterintuitive, or surprising details of the idea.
- Salient: Focus, less is more. Determine the most salient pieces and deliver those succinctly. Avoid unnecessary fluff.
- Story: People love stories. Use human storytelling to simplify, spark emotion, and make a presentation more relatable and memorable.