Publicly speaking in front of large or small groups is a passion—I haven’t a clue where it’s roots originate because nobody in my family exceeds the limits of sharing anything more than, “Yo, hey or wanna start a fight?”
The desire must have been deeply planted well before the June 28th arrival, leaving these hands, feet, eyes and nose physically ready to one day tackle what millions if not billions run from daily…standing up and talking to three or more sets of ears linked to A.D.D. and all other mental medical sicknesses created by way of selling more drugs.
A coworker in the movie biz was recently challenged to shed her shy side and take on over two hundred and fifty anxious Avatar fans—her email read, “Who do you become or think of while standing alone on that extremely large echoing stage?”
Without hesitation, not even a potty break to put thought into what was about to be delivered I typed into the face of the computer, “Him.”
That’s it…nothing more…double click and poof the letters H.I.M. were sitting right in front of her.
Who and what is a “Him?”
Good question! When its time to light up a stage, it’s “Him” who gets me to where I’m going. I’ve preached to massive amounts of future Broadcast professionals, high school adults, teens tossed out by society, hospitals and health care nonprofit organizations about the importance of separating church from state. By giving that side of your life a voice and stage—the journey becomes full circle when realty sets in…whoa this thing called life really isn’t about me.
People who run from the idea of standing in front of others have something in common with two of our greatest singer/songwriters of our time Carly Simon and Bruce Springsteen—fear of the unknown. Stage fright is real. It’ll swipe the air from your lungs faster than a heart attack. You can shove oxygen tubes into your body all day and it’ll never help heal the fears you’ve allowed to conquer the decision of moving forward.
What on earth could you fear?
Uncaring coworkers, friends and family and or comrades on a mission to make a difference whose only choice at a seminar or gathering is to talk amongst themselves while you’re trying to present a message worth holding onto.
Become “Him” or “Her” and when that occurs, fill your tummy full of air and very confidently just shut up. Silence is more than golden…it hurts. Being in radio for thirty years I’ve learned from the extremely best the art of inflection. Not volume but the proper use of putting power behind words that cut through the soul of a nearby rude bystander.
Having fear of the unknown can be eliminated from your stunted growth by learning how to gain control. In martial arts we call it Verbal Tae Kwon Do. With two fingers and a powerful vocal tone I can have you face down flat on the floor begging for your mother. It has nothing to do with my body’s strength but rather the invisible decision to use my vocals to gain access to your weakest point.
Fear of being interrupted by latecomers.
I live by one rule: If I’m two hours early, I’m two hours thirty minutes late. Nothing destroys my path quicker than a reckless fool whose time keeping mannerisms are accepted by the masses, “Oh it’s just Willie Wonka and his Umpa Lumpa’s…they do it all the time.”
Not on your dime.
At all costs do not ever wait for a latecomer—if you do, you are the bigger fool. It makes you look weak and out of control. Professionally close the door and start moving forward. Locking the door is a serious crowd pleaser.
In broadcasting schools I look directly into the student’s eyes and gently say, “I’m glad this isn’t real radio—if I was the overnight man/midnight til 6am and you arrived five to twenty minutes late, you’d never land a performance in anything bigger than Butte, Montana.” I fired an intern recently who felt practicing a morning show started when they arrived not the physical time of the show they’d like to one day do.
Everyday is a brand new stage—performing on it during a national financial crisis means lifting the weight off your back and grasping onto the “Him” or “Her” inside and making them visible for the rest of the world to see.
Give that side of you a voice! Walk into Barnes and Noble and purchase a journal—during your “everyday” take ten minutes to pen out what that inner voice is saying. By giving “Him” or “Her” a private place to perform, it elevates your confidence.
Once Carly Simon and Bruce Springsteen get into the vibe of their first song—all is cool. Getting them to that stage is the journey. Top notch national comedians tell me the act before the act is the most sacred place to walk. It only takes a few seconds to evolve into “Him” or “Her.” Once there, there’s no feeling like it.
Authors who can help give you that inner self a voice include John C Maxwell, Anthony Robbins, Pat Croce, Julia Cameron, Anne Marie Sabath, Dr. Gary Ranker and Dr. Mick Ukleja. Don’t feel like reading a book? Youtube.com is an incredible escape into a brand new world of you becoming a bigger, better and stronger.
Steal their art…
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
No comments:
Post a Comment