So last year I spoke at a conference called Circus in Oz.
While I was there, they asked me to “interview” my mate Justin from Google.
It’s always weird when you see a video of how you are/how you present because – at least in my case – you spend the first few views critiquing or criticising everything you do and this was no exception.
Why do I ramble?
Why do I keep making funny facial expressions?
Why do I find it hard to stick to the point I’m trying to make?
Why do I keep drinking coffee?
Why do I swear?
Maybe that’s why the people behind the clip decided to end it so abruptly – which is a shame – because if they’d simply edited me out, you’d of got to hear some awesome stuff from one of the cleverest – and nicest – people I know.
But that aside, the point of this post is it’s important to rehearse.
I know some people think – or say – rehearsing ‘stifles’ their energy, but that’s bollocks because it’s only when you see the reality of your performance that you realise you’re not as slick – or as funny – as you thought/hoped you were.
Rehearsing is important.
It doesn’t mean you’ll end up sounding like some emotionless robot, it means that you know:
1. The flow of your presentation.
2. The key point you’re trying to make on every slide.
3. How to piece everything together like one clear, concise & interesting story.
Being able to do things ‘off the cuff’ is handy, but you shouldn’t con yourself into thinking this is the right way to approach everything, because in a World where first impressions count, the difference between success and failure can sometimes come down to whether you have been able to spend an hour or so making sure you know specifically what you need to convey and the best way to convey it.