TED.com
releases talk on Walkntalks
By Nilofer Merchant on Apr 29, 2013 08:29 am
I can hardly believe it.
People always wonder if speakers are nervous. The question
is, with enough practice, does this level of professional speaking ever
get easy? I myself have had that question, wondering if I was “the only
one” who got super nervous for big venues. As I got ready for TED
starting, I looked around at my fellow colleagues who were going to
speak in the same session. There in one corner was the rockstar, Bono,
a former governor, 2 superb economists who teach at top schools (and
therefore audiences all the time), and so on. Some were still rehearsing
hand gestures in their seat before going on, others were pacing like
crazy, one looked like she was going to throw up. Even Bono’s
full-surround entourage couldn’t hide the fact that even he was
breathing a little uneven. 
About two hours before heading into the hall, I was a
mess. I hadn’t had enough coffee. My hair was still wet because I
didn’t have time to dry it. I was running late to the green room. As I
was scurrying around, one errand I had to do was meet a fellow
conference attendee, so I could borrow her earrings.
As I was taking off mine to swap, I could barely do the
simple task. I wondered what was going on, and then I looked down at my
hands. I was shaking violently. “I never do that”, I thought.
Well, apparently, I never do that unless I’m facing the red-dot
of TED, 6 cameras, 2,000 people live (and countless others watching
elsewhere) in this epic arena.
But you know what I’ve learned? Nervousness says you care.
I had no desire, let alone ability to be anything other
than my authentic self. I cared. I wanted the idea to be so
clearly delivered, so the idea could spread. What I wanted that day was
to show up, fully alive, and be heard.
Well, you can see for yourself how that went.
(I’ll share more what turned the nervousness to calm, in a
future post. My hands are shaking a bit, even now as I share the
news.)
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