I had a panic attack before my webinar on managing stage fright. Here's how I survived.
Katie Karlovitz
CEO @ On Speaking Terms | Complete Services for the Public Speaker; Muscular and Memorable Message Development; Script Writing; Managing Stage Fright; Pro Rehearsal Tips & Riveting Delivery
Oh, the irony! I decided to confront my fear of tech issues by hosting a webinar on public speaking, including how to be interesting and managing stage fright. I know that fear holds a lot of us back-in different ways of course, but it's always getting in the way and never really helps a situation.
My wing man was in place, to help me manage the tech end. The platform was Go-To-Webinar, and I made sure to get in and do some rehearsals on my own, before a 4 pm start. That's when I got myself into trouble. I started clicking things within G-T-W, and somehow locked myself out of my account, at 3:55pm.
So you know what I did? I panicked. I couldn't think, or read the prompts on the screen, or even breathe. The very thing I'd been afraid of was happening and I was helpless. My wing man emailed me, saying he was locked out. My mentor called on the phone, to ask what was going on. All I could do was email back, "I am dying."
Because that's what it felt like. The wave of anxiety was...huge! When I finally got in, it was 4:09. My voice was shaking, and so were my hands, but I was in. I hit the record button and let everyone know the truth...that I was agitated and uncomfortable. Then I followed my own advice, by getting my breathing under control. Slowed it down, settled deeper into my chair, and regained control of my wits. Because I'd prepared the presentation, I was able to more or less follow my prep, with a few detours.
When it ended, I heard from some people right away, saying nice things. I couldn't believe them until I watched playback (nerve-wracking) but it turns out that most of my nerves really don't come across, which is what I'm always telling my speakers. The internal experience of stage nerves is always much more acute than what the audience perceives.
My husband wanted me to edit out my first few minutes of the webinar, because he thinks it makes me seem weak. I completely disagreed, and posted it on YouTube, precisely so people can see that we ALL have our moments that challenge and scare us. Just go with them, don't fight, and keep breathing. You'll be just fine.
#panicattack #stagefright #anxiet
I help fiction authors sell more books by improving their content and positioning.
4 年So true that the nerves we feel inside don't show on the outside the way that we think they do, Katie. Great article, thanks for sharing this moment with us.
Get 3 To 5 Qualified Leads Every Week Or You Don’t Pay. I Teach People How To Get Clients Without Online Ads. Created Over 10,000 Pieces Of Content. LinkedIn Coach. Text +1-267-241-3796
4 年Glad you were able to overcome it! I can totally relate. I get so nervous whenever I talk in front of an audience. But getting your breathing under control will help you calm down a bit. Thank you for sharing this story, Katie!
Founder, Consulting Growth Hour | I Help Consultants Add $100k-$500k in New Revenue in 12 Months or Less Without Burning Out | Former Management Consultant
4 年I feel the same way! During my first webinar I inadvertently left around 40 people waiting without letting them in. I was mortified but it all worked out in the end. Turns out people are more forgiving than you think.
Everything rests on your ability to communicate. As a professional speaker and coach, I give you the confidence + clarity to create impact when you talk about yourself and your work.
4 年Breathe. It's almost always good advice. I'm right there with you on technophobia, Katie. I'm so impressed by the way you dealt with this ... and told us about it.
I Help B2B & SaaS Companies Generate Leads, Increase Pipelines and Grow Revenue With ABM & Demand Gen I Sales-Led GTM I Hubspot Expert I Marketing Leader For Hire I Co-Founder @Smarketrs
4 年I love this story Katie Karlovitz and it was great that you kept that part in. What this story also showed is that we fret when faced with things we can’t really control (like technology) but when it comes to things that we can control (like knowing the content) we do great.