Page 34 - voices-2023-04

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Ready to Be Foolhardy?
Jennifer Schmidt, EH2
Appearing foolish in front of others is a fear Everyone loves the foolhardy
for many people. I encourage anyone who feels
this way to change their definition of foolish to
foolhardy.
Foolhardy means you’re taking a risk which
can be seen as both foolish and brave. It’s easy
to be brave when there is no chance of looking
like a fool. However, it’s harder to show courage
when there’s a chance of being embarrassed. I
say, “If you are worried about looking foolish,
then do it with conviction and embrace being
foolhardy.”
There have been times during speeches
when I jogged in place, contorted my face, and
yelled, “Yippee!” Not conventional ways to
express myself but memorable. Every audience
member who listens to a speech wants to either
be entertained or learn how this information
is useful in their life. Doing both are the seeds
of an award-winning speech. This sweet spot Audiences don’t want to be bored
not only inspires giggles, but creates a purpose
wrapped in a fun-filled package.
Being foolhardy can work to your advantage.
Here are some tips for your next speech:
34 ONE COMMUNITY
In the movie “13 Going on 30,” when actress
Jennifer Garner is at her company party and no
one is dancing, her character decides to dance
to the song "Thriller.” Her goal is to get the
party moving and she chooses not to care if she
looks foolish. Spoiler Alert: Everyone eventually
dances because they want to experience this
freedom and have fun together.
When you’re speaking to the audience, forget
that you're nervous and don’t worry about
looking foolish. Even if you do look foolish,
your audience will admire your bravery. What’s
fantastic about any Toastmasters meeting is
that this is a place to experiment, practice, and
receive feedback on what your audience likes.
People will usually realize you are taking a risk
and support your efforts.
Have you ever gone to a lecture with a dry
monotone speaker? No engagement there. In
fact, if you didn’t have a large caffeine-infused
beverage, you would fall asleep on the spot.