“I have spent my whole life scared. Frightened of things that could happen, might happen, might not happen. Fifty years I spent like that. Finding myself awake at three in the morning.
But you know what? Ever since my diagnosis, I sleep just fine. I came to realize that it’s fear that’s the worst of it. That’s the real enemy.
So get up, get out in the real world and you kick that bastard as hard as you can right in the teeth.”
– Walter White, ‘Breaking Bad’
For me this is such an inspiring, convincing monologue.
I’ve gained huge public speaking confidence by doing hundreds of stand-up comedy gigs. This was a long, hard process, but one that gave me the tools to:
- Deal with even the toughest of speaking situations.
- Enjoy every single performance, like a child in a toy shop.
Complete liberation from the problems of fear is the ultimate achievement for anyone speaking in front of a group. And it is possible for anyone who is prepared to apply themselves fully. Part of that dedication is what you might call a ‘f**k you’ attitude: the rebellious part of you that is fed up with being afraid, and will do whatever it takes to achieve that beautiful feeling of the audience being completely ‘with you’.
Your fear is a monster; it doesn’t exist.
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Photograph: Frank Ockenfels 3/Sony Pictures Television/AMC
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