JumpStart by Robb Armstrong for October 03, 2018

You’re hardly alone there, Marcus! Ever heard of Toastmasters?

Okay – fair enough. At least he is not a mean miser!

As for public speaking, I used to have that problem – but cured myself by doing tons of elocution contests. Even then, when I had to teach my first class (with half the students being my age or older), I had dragonflies in my tummy!

I HATED oral book reports in class. I would almost seize-up in terror. Just wasn’t a public speaker way back then (wayyyyyy back then ;-) )

Preparation is the key. If you get up there and try to wing it (or go off script) that’s when things can go terribly wrong!

It’s worth pointing out that Marcus is only a tightwad when it comes to spending money on himself. He’s never been a tightwad when it comes to charity. Remember when he was traded from the Eagles to the Chargers, and instead of selling his Philadelphia home, he either donated it to charity or turned it into a homeless shelter or some such?

Not surprising. People are more afraid of public speaking than of dying.

tackling quarterbacks is easy, public speaking is hard!

Just use a bunch of football platitudes and call it a day. They only care about the check

“Public speaking” is said to be the most frequently-reported fear among Americans.

I like Marcus.

okay I’ll accept that, not like you need to be good at giving speeches when you’re running a ball down a field

My brother had that problem. His prof told him to do what he did. Look around the room. then talk to who you felt was the smartest person in the room. Namely, himself.

I hated speaking in front of people. Then I became a union steward in my local Steelworkers Union and then an officer and had to speak in front of people (company closed down in 2003). Now I’m a volunteer in a Memory Cafe for people with early-stage dementia and sometimes I have to run the Cafe. One learns, I guess.

During my five hears of high school, I entered in what was called the Declamation Competition. That meant writing a speech based on specific topics (e.g., A Day in the life of a Cockroach) and saying them aloud before the entire school in the finals.

Entered every year. Made the finals on the fourth try. Never won. But it was fun trying.

The NFL does not provide a pension or health insurance. He’s saving his money for when he has to stop playing. He’ll be like Roger Staubach. (Richest retired NFL player. Worth over $600 Million)

One of the greatest of all human fears is that of speaking in public.