Some of us ancient ones might realize that the video camera that all of us carry in our pockets to make riveting talkies of our friends getting sloppy drunk are infinitely better than the most expensive studio cameras just a few years back.
I have an idea that might give those cameras another valuable use — shoot yourself.
If you are serious about becoming a better presenter (and who among us doesn’t want that?) then your handy video camera/phone is a super valuable tool for practice. Use it.
Here are 5 wonderful things (gleaned from my upcoming course) that will happen when you fire up your camera and use it as your practice buddy.
One. You will see things you have not seen before. All the weird gestures, ticks, repetitive phrasing, filler words – all that nasty stuff will be front and center. You never saw it before. Now you cannot unsee it. Which is good. Now you can fix it.
Two. You will hate it. Nobody, even the vainest among us, likes to see themselves on video at first. Too bad. So sad. Do it anyway. It will keep you humble and if you don’t totally give up, it will make you so much better. (Don’t give up.)
Three. You will actually take your practice sessions more seriously. You will practice like you mean it and make it as real as possible.
Four. You will get comfortable with you. After your initial shock at how you look and act and after you have started to clean up a few things you just might not like, you will see that you are not so bad after all. You will find your groove – that place where you are comfortable with who you are, faults and all. That’s a good dose of confidence, baby.
Finally, five. You will become a much better presenter and create much better presentations. Becoming more confident and competent as a presenter is a process. Using video will turbo charge that process.
It is not for the faint of heart. But it might be for you.
Go shoot yourself.
Ready? Aim? https://ready2speak.com
Tom
