Talk Like Ted: Unleash The Master Within By Ramon Gallo

Before I took COM 200 I was hesitant when I spoke in front of people. I talked fast, didn’t connect to anything I was saying, filled all of my presentations with the words I was going to say, and thought that fear was something I should try to avoid. This class has taught me how to use my thoughts, emotions, and tools around me to speak in a way that people can not only listen to, but also understand. Just within the first two weeks, Carmine Gallo had already caused me to challenge the way I feel about what I present. The first chapter of Talk Like Ted, by Carmine Gallo is titled “Unleash The Master Within”. Throughout this chapter Carmine Gallo talks about finding passion for what you are speaking about. Gallo claims that once you can find

That’s when you’ll be ready to give the talk of your life.” (Gallo 41) Finding what inspires you can give you more than just something interesting to talk about, it can also give you a connection to your listeners, and enough confidence to power through your speech. Although I don’t necessarily have a true passion for everything I may have to make a school presentation on, I can find certain aspects of my topic that connect to my life that I can have a passion for. I now know using my passions as a tool will not only help me as a speaker, but it will also help my audience truly connect to what I am saying, this has changed since before I took this course. Another thing that has changed since before I took this class was the outside resources I used during my presentations. Before, I just used google slides that said everything word- for- word how I was going to say it, and I just stood in front of the class and read off of the board. Both Ted Talks, by Chris Anderson and Talk Like Ted, by Carmine Gallo elaborate on why this type of presentation is not

I have learned that when you don’t put all of the information on the board, the listeners actually have to listen to you. The audience will simply gain a connection with you, just because they have to. This course has taught me all of the ins and outs of public speaking. We went over how speaking has evolved, what resources you should use in your speech, how you should use your body in your speech, and much more. However, I think the most important thing I have learned is how to use the fear you have as a tool, rather than a burden. Before this class, the fear I had talking in front of people gave me visible shakes that listeners could definitely see, and words that ended up slurred. As a reaction to this, I tried to avoid fear at all costs. I did this by simply pretending that I wasn’t scared, which made my fear much worse. In chapter fifteen of Ted Talks, Chris Anderson talks a lot about nerves. Specifically, the psychological reason you feel nervous, and why they are necessary. “Fear triggers our ancient fight-or-flight