After Wrestling Lions and Surviving Plane Crashes, Public Speaking Should Be a Breeze

I do not generally enjoy public speaking.  I can do it, in a pinch, but I feel very breathless and clammy and generally un-brilliant.  In fact, the only thing I dislike more than public speaking is flying in an airplane.  So when I tell you what I'm about to tell you, you'll understand why 2008 is shaping up to be my year of phobia tackling (what's next?  Scuba diving in a pool of snakes while eating oysters and wearing skinny jeans?). 

In June I'm going to be a speaker at She Speaks, the annual speaking/writing/women's ministry conference hosted by Proverbs 31 Ministries.  It's in Concord, North Carolina (outside Charlotte), the weekend of June 20-22.

Did you catch that?  I'm speaking.  In front of people.  Who are all looking at me.  At the same time.  Thankfully, I'll be doing this with Melanie and Sophie.  And we'll be teaching a couple of classes on blogging (a subject that gets me so pumped up and chatty I might forget I'm scared). 

In addition to the blogging classes, She Speaks offers a "track" for the publishing, speaking and women's ministry fields.  They have an impressive line-up of Christian publishers scheduled to be there, and the entire conference has a strong reputation as productive, well-run and chock full of information (and inspiration!) for women. 

So, want to come along?  I wish you would.  They've promised plenty of time set aside to chat and play with bloggy friends, in addition to all the learning and networking and growing.  More details are available here, and there's a chance to win a conference scholarship here. 

And while I promise that Sophie, Melanie and I will be all studied up and ready to address anything you ever wanted to know about blogging, if we run out of material we're totally doing this.  You wouldn't want to miss that, would you?

Comments

[mom2fur]

Skinny jeans...now there's something to really be paranoid about! What evil mind brought those back again, LOL?
I haven't spoken in front of a group in several years, but it made me nervous, too. The best thing to remember is that everyone in the audience wants to like you--and that you know things they don't know. You'll do great, I'm sure!
Then again, you could always do the 'imagine them nekkid' trick--or even better, imagine the whole audience wearing skinny jeans!

[Kelly]

OK, was already tempted to attend, but with y'all doing a "My Little Buttercup" song and dance routine I must be there!

[Activities Coordinator]

Okay, I'll go.

I wouldn't have to speak, would I?

[chewymom]

Oh my goodness, if you are HALF as funny as Steve, Martin, and Chevy, that would be worth seeing! And judging from your blogs, you are!

Glad you're getting a chance to face your fears this year...to the benefit of a whole lot of people, I might add.

[Sister Honey Bunch]

I know you're all nervous but you're gonna knock their socks off!

[Robin M.]

Oh wow... Concord is about 25 miles away from me. You guys would be so close! I should go...

[Jenni]

That is so cool, Shannon! Now you KNOW you'll be just fine in Africa, and you'll come back safely because, nevermind your kids and husband, you have to get to that speaking engagement, right?

Wish I could come, but newborns and conferences, in my experience, don't mix well. I'll be rooting for you in spirit, though!

[Heather]

Shannon, are these yearly conferences? I desperately want to go, but the whole nursing mom thing makes it non-negotiable this time.

[Kelly]

Hopefully th crowd in N.Carolina won't be nearly as scarey. You are going to be in my new stomping ground. (Can you find some new friends for me??) I know you'll do great.

[floorplan]

HEY! We were trying to find 3 Amigos to rent this weekend but nary a one in Concord, NH. This may get us to join Netflix yet...

I have been praying for you and yesterday's family devos, in Proverbs, this jumped out just for Shannon the Ocean-Crosser:

Prov 28:27
He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

deb meyers

[MaryLu]

What fun! Though I won't be able to attend, I'm excited for you and hope you will keep us posted on how things progress.
Maybe that scuba diving trip is next, you know God DOES have a sense of humor!

[All Adither]

Public speaking. Yeah, I'd rather do the scuba diving with snakes and skinny jeans thing.

[Jai]

Funny! Funny! If you promise to sing Little Buttercup, I will come! (SMILE)

You will do just fine!!! God WILL be there and He will be with you.

[Nicki]

What a great opportunity for you. I'm sure you will be just great!

[Kristy]

So, if you do the song and dance number, who's the lucky person who gets to sit at the piano?

[Liz]

Hi Shannon,

We met at BlogHer, last year - and you were very personable then, too - I've been an admirer of yours for a long time. What an exciting (albeit, nerve-wracking) year you have ahead of you. Delurking to to wish you the best of luck!

[A&EMom]

Is it wrong that I'm hoping you'll run out of bloggy material?

[Jean Stockdale]

Seriously, this is just too exciting for words. The Lord is enlarging your borders within and without the United States. I cannot wait to hear all about this! Blessings.

[mod*momm]

this is a stepping stone for bigger opportunities.

[Stretch Mark Mama]

Oh glory. Now you are more dear to my heart with that Three Amigos clip.

Sew!! Sew like the wind!!

[Dee/reddirtramblings]

I know you don't truly know me, but I am so proud of you. I don't like to speak in front of people either. I so get it, but God really does challenge us to do things we'd rather not do. I sent in a query to write an article about gluten intolerance and my church (Catholic) for our state newspaper. It took me six months to get the courage to even write the editor. He said "yes." So, now I have to write the darn thing.

I'll be praying for you all.~~Dee

[Jen]

HA HA HA, anything but SKINNY JEANS! Sounds like a wonderful weekend, and if I didn't have to go to afamily reunion, I'd love to come! Hope it goes well, I know you 3 will be a hit!

[Kris]

I don't know about everyone else, but I think you convinced me. I'm coming just to see your rendition of "My Little Buttercup"!

[Melanie]

Wish I could go. :>(

[Am]

You really made me laugh with the skinny jeans comment. Ha! Way to tackle something that you are so scared of. I am tackling sewing and start taking a class tomorrow. I am scared of my sewing machine, but may I can overcome it and sew you some skinny jeans.

Congrats on your speaking engagement!!

[Hilda]

Oh, the little buttercup dance is priceless! I'm sure you'll be a great speaker.

[dcrmom]

Nothing could be as bad as wearing skinny jeans! ;-) Can't wait to meet you there!! Woohoo!!

[Mary]

For what it's worth, the NC natives are friendly and polite. Can't say for sure about the the latecomers but then, I'm from near Asheville which is becoming the SF of the South, so they tell me. By the way, I'm a latecomer. We've only been here 20 years! =>) I'm sure you will do fine. Congratulations!

[ukrainiac]

Hahaha. My Little Buttercup -- you will definitely bring the house down! Wish I'd be in the States then...

[Beth@sportsmomma]

I am SSSOO bummed! I live about 45 min. away but will be leaving on vacation the day it starts! Dag nab it! I would have LOVED to have been there to hear you ladies speak and to attend the entire conference!! I'm missing the Deeper Still Conference in Atlanta because of vacation too. Is the the devil at work!?

[Linds]

I would so love to be there, but there is the small matter of the Atlantic ocean in the way. Sigh.

[Headless Mom]

Y'all will do great!! Really wish I could go this year but hope that you'll be back next year and I can go!

[Alana]

What a wonderful opportunity and experience for everyone involved. By June it might be time for a road trip for mom but not too sure about an infant! You'll do great!

[Melinda]

Concord??? I am so close to there!! Details please!!!

[Julie]

I commented to Sophie yesterday I was praying about attending this conference. (My husband said, "Go for it!")

But now that I know you're singin' an old Steve Martin favorite, wild horses could not keep me away.

Looking forward to seeing you there, Shannon!

Julie @ A Joyful Life

[Robin]

I REEEALLY wanna go; I read about it last night. It would be heading "back home" for me (we used to live close to Charlotte), but I don't really know bloggers who'd be going.

Maybe I can start working on that between now and then....

I remember when Lysa's newsletter was a folksy, hometown thing...so thrilled for her success...God has used one small voice to minister to MANY!

You'll do GREAT! And...how cool would it be to MEET you???

Uber-cool, thankyewverymuch! :)

[HolyMama!]

you'll be fantastic. no one will ever notice if you're nervous. really!

(i laughed all through that post after the words 'skinny jeans.' those should just be blown off the planet.)

[Liza's Eyeview]

Oh definitely wouldn't want to miss THAT (the last this ... )

Oh I wish I can go. I'm joining the "contest" for scholarship... it's the only way for me to be able to go...

[Dawn @ My Home Sweet Home]

I'll be joining you there! I do most of their ministry and speaker blogs, and I've been invited, too. :-)