09/17/2025
I got the video and photos from my first speaking event, which was about two weeks ago at the Project Lifesaver International annual conference in Orlando.
I learned some valuable lessons from my first event and watching myself later.
First, the lighting makes it warmer on stage. Warmer than it has to be, I think.
Next, their clicker is not like your clicker. Play with it while everyone is at lunch so you can be proficient with it in either hand.
Then, I need to settle in and stop walking. This is a holdover from thousands of hours of instruction. I hate standing at a podium. I always felt the need to break cover from the podium and speak with my audience. As an instructor, I would routinely walk the aisles, give attention to the entire room, and even sit among the class if we were breaking into discussions or to facilitate a small group assignment. This technique is hard to do with 100+ people in a room.
Probably the most annoying and most embarrassing for me...not tucking my shoelaces back into my shoes. Looking at this pic makes me nauseous.
What are some of the tips you may have learned while speaking publicly? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
