The Roads Not Taken

14 lives changed by lack of confidence and the fear of public speaking

The guy who chose a maths degree rather than engineering because it had no presentations.

The GP who didn’t look at her patients when they came in to see her.

The guy who ran up debts of £100,000  because he couldn’t say NO to his friends.

A woman who became a solicitor rather than a barrister because she hated public speaking.

The anaesthetist who chose anaesthetics because she didn't want to talk to people.

Many women who don’t have wedding photographs or choose small weddings because of the centre attention fear.

A man who bought a Ferrari but took an uber to the gym because he didn't like people looking at him.

The architecture student who became a tax inspector because he hated crits (architectural presentations).

The guy who moved countries NINE times so his poor language skills gave him a permanent excuse not to do presentations

The woman who didn't enter a cake competition because she was scared she might win.

A man who is not having children because he's scared of the 'father of the bride' speech.

A woman who didn't go to university because she was scared of the degree ceremony.

A woman who walked out of her medical career because she was asked to do a presentation next week.

The many brothers and sisters who haven't spoken at their siblings' or parents' funerals

A man who didn't leave his job for 9 years because he was scared of the leaving the speech, his wife left him because he wasn't ambitious enough

All true stories that I've heard over 25 years of helping anxious people change how they feel about public speaking and their place in the world. (Many of which made me tear up)