3 ms·

I say just man (or woman) up and accept the fact that you are nervous. After a few packed conference rooms or board rooms you'll find it gets easier. Skip the d

I say just man (or woman) up and accept the fact that you are nervous. After a few packed conference rooms or board rooms you'll find it gets easier. Skip the drugs. It's valuable to realize why you are nervous. If you were asked to get up in front of 200 people and stand there silently for 10 minutes you wouldn't think twice about it. You're nervous because you're trying to accomplish something: secure investment, win new business, impress people, etc. You're nervous because feedback is (often) immediate and you can be challenged directly. You're nervous because you're not completely comfortable with the subject matter. You can deal with those things. Learn to (intelligently) say "I don't know but I'll get back to you". Learn to deal with rejection. Learn to not take yourself so seriously and make a joke if you screw up.

masklinn 13y ago
> I say just man (or woman) up and accept the fact that you are nervous. […] It's valuable to realize why you are nervous. I can realise that I'm being nervous without it getting crippling (literally, with shakes and cold sweat). Which is what currently occurs because following a medical reaction a few years ago my body has apparently discovered the underpants gnome strategy of handling stress: 1. somewhat stressful situation 2. flood the whole system with adrenaline 3. ??? 4. profit > You're nervous because feedback is (often) immediate and you can be challenged directly. You're nervous because you're not completely comfortable with the subject matter. Well you've got today's prize for the most condescending and least correct statement at least. Bravo, I guess.
- mbenjaminsmith 13y ago
  That was the royal "you" and wasn't meant to be condescending. It used to scare the shit out of me as well. The point I was making is that talking or being in front of a group of people aren't terrifying by themselves. You're likely to be worried about being judged in some unfavorable way. Don't be. Shit happens. Just get through it -- without drugs or Jedi mind tricks -- and you're realize it wasn't that big of a deal. Do it a few times and you'll be a natural.
nostromo 13y ago
I get where you're coming from, but what you don't understand is that phobias are not rational. They can't be reasoned away. If you've ever had one, you'd know. Scared of heights? Man up and go bungee jumping. Agoraphobic? Just spend an hour locked in a box. Depressed? Man up and feel better... During the few years in which I was stuck in a stage-fright mindset, I learned that phobias work in the unconscious mind. You can know your content well, you can tell yourself there is nothing to worry about, you can prepare perfectly... and you can still be overcome with adrenaline that can cause you to freeze up, shake, and get sweaty. In a sense, you are right, the way to get over it is by facing it and doing it. However, you have to face it in a controlled, safe, incremental way, otherwise you run the risk of making the phobia worse.

masklinn 13y ago

> I say just man (or woman) up and accept the fact that you are nervous. […] It's valuable to realize why you are nervous. I can realise that I'm being nervous without it getting crippling (literally, with shakes and cold sweat). Which is what currently occurs because following a medical reaction a few years ago my body has apparently discovered the underpants gnome strategy of handling stress: 1. somewhat stressful situation 2. flood the whole system with adrenaline 3. ??? 4. profit > You're nervous because feedback is (often) immediate and you can be challenged directly. You're nervous because you're not completely comfortable with the subject matter. Well you've got today's prize for the most condescending and least correct statement at least. Bravo, I guess.

mbenjaminsmith 13y ago
That was the royal "you" and wasn't meant to be condescending. It used to scare the shit out of me as well. The point I was making is that talking or being in front of a group of people aren't terrifying by themselves. You're likely to be worried about being judged in some unfavorable way. Don't be. Shit happens. Just get through it -- without drugs or Jedi mind tricks -- and you're realize it wasn't that big of a deal. Do it a few times and you'll be a natural.

nostromo 13y ago

I get where you're coming from, but what you don't understand is that phobias are not rational. They can't be reasoned away. If you've ever had one, you'd know. Scared of heights? Man up and go bungee jumping. Agoraphobic? Just spend an hour locked in a box. Depressed? Man up and feel better... During the few years in which I was stuck in a stage-fright mindset, I learned that phobias work in the unconscious mind. You can know your content well, you can tell yourself there is nothing to worry about, you can prepare perfectly... and you can still be overcome with adrenaline that can cause you to freeze up, shake, and get sweaty. In a sense, you are right, the way to get over it is by facing it and doing it. However, you have to face it in a controlled, safe, incremental way, otherwise you run the risk of making the phobia worse.