PurpAnd

If you follow my Twitter feed, you already know that I have been invited to speak at UC Davis in my friend’s Real Estate Economics class. He’s asked that I come and talk about being an appraiser to give his students a little insight into real estate-related careers that are alternatives to being a real estate agent.

I was honored to be invited, flattered really, but as soon as he began his pitch I knew where he was going with it and it instantly made me anxious. My heart began beating faster, my hands got sweaty, and I couldn’t sit still in my chair. After he finally uttered the words, “… and I want you come and talk to my class about appraisal,” I had already run through the experience in my mind ending with my holding back my lunch.

To be honest, as he was giving me his sales pitch (since he knew it would be a tough sell) I already knew I was going to say yes. I just didn’t have the courage to say yes in that moment. Speaking in public freaks me out and I can’t say I have ever jumped at the chance to do it. This opportunity is probably the closest I’ve come to actually wanting to speak in front of a group.

It’s a tremendous opportunity for me to face my fear. It’s the perfect topic for me since I live and breathe it every day and it gives me the chance to see what it would be like being an instructor (as that is something I am toying with now). And, it allows me to help my friend out. Win-win.

I’ve been slowly preparing for the big speech since I’ve known the day was coming for a month. It’s supposed to be an hour or so and I am hoping I have enough material for the audience not to get ‘I wanna kill myself’ bored. I’ve been doing research about how to get over the fear and have been keeping notes and an outline on what I want to say.

One major tip that I found was that you shouldn’t over-prepare. I am glad that I found this because I was quickly going that route, stopping short of writing out a script for myself. In the end, I have a handful of note cards to cue me, but I’m mostly just going to speak from the heart. I think this is the best way to give some feeling to what I say and will allow me some freedom. If I make a mistake, I’ll just correct it, or maybe just move on.

I’ll include some props/visual aids such as photos of buildings I’ve valued in the past, including some in Davis which the students will likely recognize. I’m going to bring some water, a biting strap, and a towel for when my body goes into convulsions, and will be armed with plenty of self-humiliation quips to let the students know that I don’t think I am God.

As I write this, I am feeling nervous and excited at the same time. I am looking forward to it, but also looking forward to it being over. We’ll see how I feel after its done… maybe (and hopefully) it will be the start to the cure for my fear.