There comes a point in any journey of personal growth and development where the next step we need or want to take suddenly feels way bigger than all the others taken so far. You might be embarking on your biggest ever project at work, preparing your first public speaking gig, creating your first presentation for work, starting a business or turning up to join a local sports team or theatre club for the first time. Whatever it is, it is something that is taking you out of your comfort zone.

And it is at this point that all our inner demons find their voice – telling us that we do not know what we are doing, whispering a stream of what-if questions – what-if we fail, what-if we damage our reputation, what-if we waste and lose a lot of money.  And the what-ifs are followed quickly by the what-wills. What-will my friends say, what-will my boss say, what-will this mean for my career, what-will this do to my relationships.

Most of these, if not all, boil down to a fear of the unknown.  And for many of us, most of the time, the fear of the unknown appears to be bigger than the certainty of our current situation. 

Why?

Because we fear making things worse or being worse off and so we decide to do nothing or scale back our ambitions.

When helping people overcome their public speaking related anxiety, I call this point the Terror Barrier – and it is something we must master and push on through if we want to get to the achievements and success that lie in our future.  Maslow described it succinctly when he said: We either step forward into growth or step back into safety. 

We either step forward into growth or step back into safety - Maslow

Imagine two circles, one inside the other like a target. The inner circle is your comfort zone - this is you living your usual everyday life.

The out circle represents the things your dont yet do - held back for whatever reason. Call that your growth zone - because you have to grow (in skill, or emotionally or some other way) in order to occupy it.

There is a barrier between the two - the Terror Barrier.

And then something cool happens- once you push through the terror barrier into the growth zone – you soon become comfortable in this larger area and your comfort zone expands to fill all of what used to be your growth zone and a new growth zone becomes apparent to you on the outside of the circle.  As your horizons expand, as your ambition and levels of thinking improve you realise that there are still more opportunities for you to grow into and achieve more and you realise the old outer edge of your circle is now a new terror barrier which is the gateway to a larger growth zone… and so it continues – forever.

As we move through the terror barrier into our growth zone, we discover it becomes our new expanded comfort zone and a new growth zone develops

So why do some people start to grow and develop, move into their growth zone, own it and move on again, passing through their terror barriers and then they stop while others keep on going and keep on growing and every time you meet them you can see they have moved forward and grown in their professional and personal lives?  Why do some keep in growing while others settle?  It all comes down the price.

Each time we pass through the terror barrier from our comfort zone into our growth zone there is a price to pay. 

The price may be emotional, it may be effort, it may be reputation and status (although if that is the case it’s because those people in our lives have mixed motives and are not themselves willing to cross their own terror barriers).

The price may be time and it may be money.  Usually it is some of all of these. 

But there comes a time for many people, when they look at the price of moving their performance and achievements up to the next level, (i.e. the price of crossing that terror barrier one more time) and they decide they are not willing to pay the price. 

They are happy to settle where they are. 

Such people are sometimes described as having Destination Disease. They feel that they have ‘arrived’ – they have reached their destination and are not willing to move on any further. 

The sad thing is, so many people catch destination disease not when they reach the lofty heights of world class performance – not when they are operating as experts in their field but much earlier in their careers and lives – when there is still a huge area of growth zone that remains unconquered.  How many additional Richard Bransons, or Einsteins, or JK Rowlings or Bill Gates or Elon Musks or Rinaldos or Ed Sheerans have been denied to the world simply because those people were not willing to pay the price to cross the terror barrier one more time and take their performance to the next level?

Consider the price you are willing to pay so you can cross through the terror barrier and take possession of the next level of success in your professional and personal lives.  Are you willing to spend the time, the money and effort it requires to achieve your desired level of impact, income and influence? 

When opportunities are presented to us, we often react quickly to them and say yes or no without really thinking it through.  Getting into the habit of thinking things through and making decisions with a purpose rather than simply reacting is one of the hallmarks of a high flyer. 

Take some time today and over this weekend to think through the price you are willing to pay.  As John Maxwell says, everything worthwhile in your life is uphill. 

Everything worthwhile in your life is uphill - Maxwell

There is a price to pay and you cannot have it if you are not prepared to pay the price to cross the terror barrier.  Then, when the next opportunity presents itself that will help you grow and cross the terror barrier you will be ready to decide on purpose to take advantage of the opportunity grow.

Crash through your terror barrier

Mastering the art and science of public speaking and presenting is the single biggest step you can take that will boost your business, catapult your career and grow your self-confidence.

Anxiety, nerves or stress when speaking in public is the world’s #1 social anxiety disorder - this is a terror barrier for many people.

This includes giving presentations at work, social occasions like weddings and at social clubs, sports teams or even in church.

I’ve worked with people from all kinds of backgrounds.  

Some are returning to work after raising a family and find their confidence has taken a knock

Other have received a promotion or want to go for a promotion but their know they need to improve their presenting and speaking skills in order to be able to succeed in their new role

I’ve worked with entrepreneurs to help them clarify their messaging and present it with a passion that influences their audience to invest or buy from them - and I’ve worked with charities to help their teams share the great work they do and inspire others.

Whether you want to speak for pleasure, passion or profit - learning how to speak with confidence will change everything for you.

I’ve found that people who come on my courses are usually looking for these three things:

1. More confidence when they have to speak

2. Tips and techniques to help them structure their presentation

3. Learn how to influence to audience to take action - especially when selling or promoting a cause

We cover all those three areas in the Speak with Confidence course

Speak with Confidence is a self-paced online course - you can work through the videos at your own pace, and because you have lifetime access - you can come back to them at any time

I’ve done a few online courses in my time, and even signed up for some online speaking courses - but none of them - not one- has ever offered the chance to let the students practice their public speaking and get feedback on it from the course leader.

This is what makes Speak with Confidence different - its not just great teaching (it is), its not just powerful tools and tips to help you (its that too)  but uniquely - I believe - we offer the chance for you to write a short talk as part of the course and then submit a video of that talk and get personal written coaching feedback from me.

The practice and feedback is what makes Speak with Confidence different, its what makes it better

I’m involved with every student who takes this course - watching your exercises, writing reports and giving you pointers and feedback.  I’ll tell you what you are doing well and provide help, and advice for any areas you may want to improve.

I also host regular live Q&A sessions, usually once a month - so you can join in live and ask me any questions you have about the course or get advice about an upcoming presentation you have to give.

If you sign up now, you get instant access to the whole course - for life - which means you also get any upgrades or extra modules we add in the future - for free.

You will see me live in the studio, presenting to camera which is how the whole course is recorded - so you get to see me demonstrate all the techniques and ideas I am sharing with you.

Sign up now and you will learn how to 

1. Have More confidence when you speak or present in public

2. Tips and techniques to help you structure your presentation

3. Learn how to influence to audience to take action - especially when selling or promoting a cause

By the way - I offer a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee - no quibble, no hassle - so there really is no risk and a huge reward when you make this small investment and enroll today in Speak with Confidence

I look forward to meeting you in the course soon - today even!

Sign up Today in Speak with Confidence