Public speaking? It helps to eat the frog first

There’s an expression by Mark Twain that says something along the lines of “Eat a frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen in your day.” Well, I would certainly agree with that, if I had to eat a frog. That expression resonates with me because I have subscribed to a similar notion and I shared it with my 4 kids as they were growing up. 

In high school, college, work, or anywhere you are in a group where you are required to speak or present-volunteer to go first.

I’m an introvert, and though it has served me well, had I not taken my own advice in this area, it could have crushed my confidence and turned into something I would have likely needed therapy to resolve. If I had let others jump in and speak first, my nerves would have gotten the best of me and it probably would not have been pretty.

This hack really works. So whenever it’s time to speak in front of a group, any group, you need to slay the dragon, or rather, “eat the frog” by volunteering to go first. Here’s why:

Ease your anxiety by volunteering to speak first and then sit back and relax

Going first takes all the pressure off of you 

You spend so much time in your own head when you are waiting for your turn, that it’s difficult to relax. With each passing minute, the pressure to perform becomes more intense. Going first get’s it out of the way and within minutes, it will be smooth sailing.

You’re unable to listen to anyone else until you get your own presentation out of the way

As you wait to speak, you’re definitely not listening, and it becomes impossible to retain one ounce of what the speaker is saying. Each misspeak or forgotten word of theirs is adding fuel to the already roaring flame of doubt in your mind. So you’re retaining nothing and the waiting is messing with your nerves.

Your confidence will make everyone listen.

Stepping up and going first not only makes you feel confident, but it sets a positive tone by making you look confident as well. Getting up there or volunteering to speak first is half the battle, and once you start, you are practically finished, right? Owning the room is easy when you go first and set the tone.

Your audience isn’t checked out yet

After several speakers, things begin to drag on and your group may become less interested, so going early can help capture them at their peak. Going first may get you a distracted few listeners, but at least they are not dozing off or completely checked out. Squirming, inattentive people make your part even more difficult. Get them while they are engaged.

Eating the frog first is a useful tool for life, and applies not just to speaking, but anything that is on your to-do list. It could be something you continue to put off or just something unpleasant. If you get paralyzed by the thought of that one ominous task, ease your mind and try eating that frog first every day. It’s the breakfast of champions