Image source: https://www.headsupcoach.com
He stood there behind the curtains. He was about to give his first big presentation. Positive image, project forwards with good eye contact, etc The messages of what he needed to do ran through his head. But the adrenaline was pumping and the heart was racing. Suddenly he felt it - the beads of sweat. He knew it, he is a sweater!!
They were breaking though on his forehead. They were creating stains on his shirt. It could not be controlled and his time had come. He went out onto the stage. He was giving a life coaching presentation on how to face your fears; and here he was, sweating like a pig. Oh my God no!!!
Still he turned to face the audience. They instantly were becoming skeptical, just looking at him. How could they trust a life coach who is such an amateur? He took his notes and tossed them in the air. In front of all these people.
"You know what? I'm giving a presentation on facing your fear. My biggest fear has always been speaking in public and facing an audience. Yet here I am today - facing you today! Why? Why do I do it to myself?"
He looked at the closest person sitting to him - looking at him with a smile. "the reason is because I'm not going to let something like this control me! I'm not going to let this hang over my life!! I can beat this! I have beaten it! Just by getting up and being here in front of all of you. By speaking and presenting to you. It took a long time to do this. But I did it; and you can do it to!!"
They were interested now. The respect was there, the attention was there. He had shown physically, he is not a fraud. The sweat was gone. Without any cue cards or backups he gave the rest of the presentation on setting up a program and who to turn to for more. He left with a smile on his face: he had won!!