EXPECT TO SPEAK LIKE A CHAMPION!

When you get up to give a speech, what reaction do you hope to get from the audience? What will be your grade on your own inner report card? 

Have you ever split yourself in two while talking in front of the room? One half of your brain is busy thinking, "This is the information you came for. This is the message you want to hear. Listen up, because this is really interesting stuff and you'll gain terrific benefits from it," while the other half is playing saboteur going, "Uh-oh, did I leave anything out? Are they listening? They look bored. They're not paying attention. I feel faint. My mouth is dry. My hands are shaking. They think I'm making a fool of myself. Why did I think I could do this? I'm no good. I'm a failure! Aaarrrrghgghg!"

Don't know who said it first, but it's true: "If you believe you can or believe you can't...you're right!" 

Whatever you choose to believe about your ability to impress an audience will come true. It's a fact. People who expect to be successful achieve their expectations. Whether you're running a business, writing a book or making a speech, if you believe you can, you will. 

If you can sincerely say to yourself, "I know my subject, I've rehearsed what I'm going to say, I'm prepared to respond to anything the audience might ask of me, I'm ready to do a bang-up job and I expect to speak extremely well..." then there's no doubt about it. You've set yourself up for success. Your expectation is firm and realistic, you've prepared yourself for this moment, you expect to succeed. Consciously or unconsciously, you've chosen to be a champion. 

You won't be focusing inward, thinking "How am I doing?" while you're speaking. You'll be focusing outward on the audience, concentrating on giving them the gift of your knowledge, making your message land. You won't let that inner saboteur make you trip over your tongue, or forget something important, suddenly get hot flashes or dry mouth or feel faint. None of those things will happen because you've chosen to be a champion.

Believe that you can and expect that you will! Your expectations always determine your choices. When you expect to speak confidently and joyfully, you'll make the choices that ensure that you are. Expect to be a champion. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve!