如何成为一个演讲专家

 　　I have a paralyzing fear of public speaking, which is rarely an asset in stand-up comedy.  It’s a fear that kept me from trying something I always wanted to do.  After nearly 12 years of ignoring my desire to try stand-comedy, six months ago I decided¹ I was done letting a fear determine who I was.  Since then I have been on stage just short of 90 times and each time I wrestle² my fears.

　　When it comes to motivating myself to get on stage it’s not only about what I do, but also what I don’t do, because contrary to the cliché metaphor³ — is the glass half full or half empty? — the glass is completely full.  It’s comprised of 1 part liquid (preferably alcoholic) and 1 part air.

　　I find that my ability to walk on stage in spite of extreme stage fright hinges on feeling prepared. Below are the rules of engagement I’ve adopted to make me feel ready to take the stage.

　　NEVER…

　　…. Let your mind run free.

　　When I was a kid I watched Jaws⁴ with my brother. At the end, he told me that sharks could walk on land and that we lived very close to the Chesapeake Bay.  I lived in terror that summer, fearing an eminent⁵ land shark attack on our cul de sac.   I avoided the deep end of the pool, made my mom sit in the bathroom while I showered, and made sure to look both ways for oncoming sharks when crossing the road.  In other words, try to keep things in perspective.  What’s the worst thing that could happen on stage?  After all, land sharks haven’t been sighted since the summer of ’84.

　　… Focus on the one idiot in the room.

　　Statistically⁶ speaking there will be at least one talking on their cell phone or grunting⁷ their disapproval⁸ of you during your set — ignore them.  Remember, you won’t win over every single member of the audience. And do you really want to?  Humans are beautiful, strange, delicate, and occasionally vile⁹ animals. If you wouldn’t want that person’s approval in an everyday situation, why do you need it on stage? Concentrate instead on pleasing the people you want to please.

　　… Be afraid to fail.

　　Try to fail. An established comic once told me to do something that scares me each time I get on stage. It’s a way of pushing yourself and continuing to learn.  By doing this I’ve realized that I have no idea what my limits are.  I’ve also found that I learn more by experiencing failure, typically because I’m doing something that isn’t familiar.  When success is not the only acceptable outcome, you will find freedom to try something you never imagined doing.  The outcome of this effort, whether success or failure, will undoubtedly¹⁰ move you forward.

　　ALWAYS…

　　… Know your audience.

　　Think beforehand about who will likely be sitting in the audience and cater¹¹ your material to them. I wouldn’t want to go into a retirement¹² home armed with arsenal¹³ of Justin Bieber jokes.  If you have time before you get up on stage, check out the audience.  Find the friendly faces in the crowd. When I first get up I talk to those new friends and then slowly open up the circle to include the rest of audience.

　　… Memorize the first paragraph of what you intend to say.

　　Practice your whole set, but concentrate on the first paragraph. Walk with intent onto the stage, and without pausing, start into your first paragraph with confidence and strength.  If you slip up later on, the audience will give you wiggle room as you have proven yourself from the start.

　　…. Smile.

　　My sister recently had twins and she’s working on teaching them to smile. Babies naturally have a smile reflex (basically a survival instinct of sorts to keep us from rejecting our young), but they learn how to display true happiness by watching the people around them.  Essentially, they reflect other people’s smiles and turn them into a learned response. In other words, if you are on stage and you don’t look like you are having fun, the audience will reflect that.

　　In the end, it’s the decision to not let fear define who you are.  Remove your gloves, slap fear in the face, and challenge it to a duel¹⁴.  It might win a few rounds up front, but if you continue to put up a fight you can whittle¹⁵ it down, and in the process, discover that it is you who decides what your limits are, not your fear.  This isn’t an overnight change, but nothing life-changing ever is. I remind myself of this every day.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 wrestle   

vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付

参考例句：

• He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
• We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。

3 metaphor   

n.隐喻，暗喻

参考例句：

• Using metaphor,we say that computers have senses and a memory.打个比方，我们可以说计算机有感觉和记忆力。
• In poetry the rose is often a metaphor for love.玫瑰在诗中通常作为爱的象征。

4 jaws   

n.口部；嘴

参考例句：

• The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。
• The scored jaws of a vise help it bite the work. 台钳上有刻痕的虎钳牙帮助它紧咬住工件。

5 eminent   

adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的

参考例句：

• We are expecting the arrival of an eminent scientist.我们正期待一位著名科学家的来访。
• He is an eminent citizen of China.他是一个杰出的中国公民。

6 statistically   

ad.根据统计数据来看，从统计学的观点来看

参考例句：

• The sample of building permits is larger and therefore, statistically satisfying. 建筑许可数的样本比较大，所以统计数据更令人满意。
• The results of each test would have to be statistically independent. 每次试验的结果在统计上必须是独立的。

7 grunting   

咕哝的，呼噜的

参考例句：

• He pulled harder on the rope, grunting with the effort. 他边用力边哼声，使出更大的力气拉绳子。
• Pigs were grunting and squealing in the yard. 猪在院子里哼哼地叫个不停。

8 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

9 vile   

adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的

参考例句：

• Who could have carried out such a vile attack?会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢？
• Her talk was full of vile curses.她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。

10 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

11 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

12 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

13 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

14 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

15 whittle   

v.削（木头），削减；n.屠刀

参考例句：

• They are trying to whittle down our salaries.他们正着手削减我们的薪水。
• He began to whittle away all powers of the government that he did not control.他开始削弱他所未能控制的一切政府权力。