Scene: On a dreary winter day, I found myself in my usual seat in the lecture hall, trying to blend into the background. The chill from outside seeped in, amplifying my internal discomfort.

Life in the student dorms felt like a constant endurance test. My limited financial means and sparse resources echoed in my mind, a persistent reminder of my reality.

Amidst a whirlwind of anxiety and a yearning for some psychological safety, a voice broke through my foggy thoughts. Hearing my name called resonated like thunder in the room.

“Rakia, could you please join us and present this section?”

I froze, the request striking me like an icy wind. Standing in the spotlight, exposed to the gaze of thirty peers, felt unimaginable.

I tightened my grip on my safe corner, its comfort more appealing than ever. “I can’t,” I whispered, “I won’t.” Finding a bit of courage, I cleared my throat and replied, “Sorry, professor. Can I skip this one and let someone else take the lead?”

Her penetrating gaze seemed to delve into my very thoughts. “Rakia, you need to come here. This is part of your future as an engineer. You must prepare for such situations in your career,” she asserted. “You can't expect your boss to let you avoid your responsibilities.”

A storm of emotions raged inside me. “Doesn’t she see my struggles?” I thought, “Or my crumbling self-esteem?”

But as she held my gaze firmly, I began to wonder if she truly understood. Perhaps her insistence was her way of nudging me outside my comfort zone. I swallowed hard, her words resonating within me, presenting a new challenge ahead.

Thought: Ever considered how a debilitating fear of public speaking can transform into a journey of growth?

Grab a snack, as I’m about to share my own epic tale.

Until a few years back, I didn’t just dread speaking before a crowd; I struggled to even engage with someone while my webcam was active. I preferred to remain hidden. The thought of appearing in my videos, rather than just recording my screen and voice, was terrifying.

Strange, isn't it? Perhaps. We all have our quirks. So there I was, encased in my shell, immovable and stuck.

But how did I manage to step outside my comfort zone and arrive at this point?

Frustration and anger about my circumstances propelled me to take small steps toward new opportunities. Yet, my path was anything but easy. Like any crawling infant, I faced my share of falls and tears, but my stubbornness kept me from giving up.

Fast forward to today, and I’m thankful to witness the fruits of my labor.

I’m here to share with you a collection of hurdles, surprises, and unforeseen twists I’ve encountered as a public speaker. They say, “Expect the unexpected,” but when you’re in the heat of a live presentation, the unexpected can be a daunting foe.

So, without further delay, let’s dive into the rabbit hole and explore how I dealt with these surprises.

# The Tech Troubles

Imagine this: I’m set for an online presentation, ready with a critical video that illustrates the process I’m about to discuss. It’s hosted on my YouTube channel and has run smoothly through numerous rehearsals.

Then, on the actual day, it stubbornly refuses to play when I click on it.

The shock momentarily threw me off balance. However, it served as an important lesson: when dealing with technology, always have a backup plan.

For my next presentation on the same subject, I decided to outsmart the tech hiccups. I saved the video locally on my MacBook, ensuring I had a reliable backup. This gave me the added peace of mind that I was prepared for any potential tech snafus.

# Dancing with Time

One of the most challenging partners in the public speaking arena is time management.

There were moments when my presentation ran over the allotted time, leaving little room for audience questions. Conversely, I sometimes finished my talk ahead of schedule, only to find the audience silent.

After wrapping up 15 minutes early, I received only a couple of questions from one attendee. It took me five minutes to answer, leaving me with a yawning silence for the remaining ten.

To encourage engagement, I offered free access to my Udemy video course for each question asked.

But my incentive fell flat. The audience remained reticent.

So, I shifted my approach and turned the focus onto them. I asked, “What web performance challenges have you encountered: load, runtime, or rendering issues?” Despite earlier enthusiasm, I was met with silence.

In that moment, I decided to initiate a “Raise your hand” game, posing questions such as:

• Who has worked with Angular for over five years?
• Who has had two years of experience with Angular?
• Who hasn’t yet ventured into the Angular sphere?

This tactic not only filled the time but also taught me the importance of adaptability and thinking on my feet.

When faced with a reserved audience, flipping the roles can help shift the focus onto their experiences, turning what could be a stumbling block into a chance for interactive learning.

# The Emotional Roller Coaster

As I grappled with time, another challenge emerged — the emotional whirlwind.

I vividly remember the jittery nerves before my first talk to 200 attendees. I envisioned the audience as a sea of daunting faces. Yet, as my presentation unfolded, their smiles and laughter acted like a magic potion, transforming my jitters into pure adrenaline.

However, a later event with a quieter audience threw me off balance. Their subdued reactions to my humorous content shook my confidence.

This experience was a stark reminder that audience dynamics can vary greatly, necessitating tailored strategies for each situation.

# Surprise Guest in the Audience

Then came the day a renowned expert in my field appeared in the crowd. The pressure of presenting under the watchful eye of someone more experienced was unsettling.

“It’s likely my usual audience isn’t as knowledgeable, but this expert? He’s on a whole different level and might critique my content harshly,” I thought.

This nagging thought lingered throughout my session, ultimately impacting my performance.

From this experience, I made a commitment to be better prepared for unexpected guests and to maintain my confidence. After all, expertise doesn’t make anyone infallible; everyone has something to learn.

# The Missing Moderator

Another unexpected twist in my speaking journey was the absence of the moderator.

During my first conference, the moderator provided a warm introduction that added formality and recognition. So, when this expected welcome vanished at a larger subsequent event, I was caught off guard.

I had rehearsed starting my talk with a friendly, “Welcome everyone, and thank you, Millie!” — the moderator I envisioned. But Millie, it turned out, was nowhere to be found.

In fact, there was no one from the conference management team in the room.

Only the videographer was present, who handed me the mic and instructed me to wait for his signal to begin.

This made me appreciate the organizers of my first conference, who ensured a moderator introduced each speaker. It was a powerful reminder that every event is unique and requires its own strategy. Adaptability is essential.

# Health Matters

Naturally, it’s not solely about what occurs on stage. Being physically prepared and mentally focused is just as crucial.

During one of my talks, I felt unwell due to a headache from the previous day. This left me parched and affected my speech during the session.

At that moment, I wished for a dedicated speaker space where I could relax and refocus before taking the stage. Without such a facility, I found myself sitting among the audience of the previous speaker when I desperately needed quiet to warm up my voice and gather my thoughts.

# Onward and Upward

Despite the bumps along the way, I feel immense gratitude. Each challenge has served as a stepping stone, shaping my growth and refinement. Every setback has imparted valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and lifelong learning.

This continuous process of growth reminds me of a quote by Jordan Peterson, who wisely said:

“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.”

In his words, I discovered a powerful remedy for perfectionism, a call to embrace not only our successes but also our failures and imperfections. The path to success lies not in avoiding mistakes but in recognizing them as fertile ground for growth.

So, here’s to the future. May we face the unexpected with resilience and an open mind. Let us learn, grow, and strive to become the best versions of ourselves.

Remember, aim for progress, not perfection.

Now, it’s your turn! What unforeseen challenges has life presented to you, and how did you navigate them? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. I’m eager to listen!

# Want more?

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