Comments on: Nerves http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/ The thoughts and experiences of Merrill Dubrow Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:01:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: mrskin http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/#comment-134 mrskin Wed, 27 Sep 2006 23:46:20 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/#comment-134 I love your bloggo, keep it up! I love your bloggo, keep it up!

]]> By: Tim Sunderland http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/#comment-132 Tim Sunderland Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:43:22 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/#comment-132 I used to teach traffic school here in Southern California. Once or twice a week I would get a class averaging 25 violators (I could legally take 40, and got that many several times a year) and I had to keep them involved for 8 hours. Nervousness was not a problem as much as taking control of the class, especially considering that most did not want to be there. I developed a method for memorizing the names of the entire class. It took me about fifteen minutes at the very beginning while the class was watching a video. Then, within the first 15 minutes of the class, I made sure everyone was aware that I knew their name. It was only the first names, and a day later I would forget them all, but for that eight hours, I had control of the room. Last year the collegiate liaison in our AMA chapter asked me to address the AMA chapter at a local university. I did the same thing. Memorized their names. The audience was enamored. By the way, anybody can remember names -- you just have to develop a system. My personal record was 42 names. It is a great way to take control of a room. I used to teach traffic school here in Southern California. Once or twice a week I would get a class averaging 25 violators (I could legally take 40, and got that many several times a year) and I had to keep them involved for 8 hours.

Nervousness was not a problem as much as taking control of the class, especially considering that most did not want to be there. I developed a method for memorizing the names of the entire class. It took me about fifteen minutes at the very beginning while the class was watching a video. Then, within the first 15 minutes of the class, I made sure everyone was aware that I knew their name.

It was only the first names, and a day later I would forget them all, but for that eight hours, I had control of the room.

Last year the collegiate liaison in our AMA chapter asked me to address the AMA chapter at a local university. I did the same thing. Memorized their names. The audience was enamored.

By the way, anybody can remember names — you just have to develop a system. My personal record was 42 names. It is a great way to take control of a room.

]]> By: Ed Sugar http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/#comment-111 Ed Sugar Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:52:57 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/#comment-111 I recall an interview Dick Cavett had with Sir Laurence Olivier. Cavett asked the actor if he ever got stage fright. Olivier replied that even up to that date (this was in the 1980's) that 5 minutes before every stage performance he would be sick to his stomach. Sir Laurence's response has been my anchor. I figured if he had nausea 5 minutes before his 1,029th performance of "Hamlet", then why should I be any different with any of my own "performances". I recall an interview Dick Cavett had with Sir Laurence Olivier. Cavett asked the actor if he ever got stage fright. Olivier replied that even up to that date (this was in the 1980’s) that 5 minutes before every stage performance he would be sick to his stomach. Sir Laurence’s response has been my anchor. I figured if he had nausea 5 minutes before his 1,029th performance of “Hamlet”, then why should I be any different with any of my own “performances”.

]]> By: Bob Graham http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/#comment-104 Bob Graham Mon, 18 Sep 2006 14:56:01 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/18/nerves/#comment-104 I've always viewed pre-game jitters as a positive thing. I find that it gives me an edge. My secret for overcoming it is simple: smile and embrace it. It's normal and human to be nervous, so don't fret about it. One of the most important skills you can learn in life, I have told my daughters, is to be able to walk into a place where you are not welcome with a smile on your face. This is not to say that you will not be welcome everywhere, but if you if you can smile when walking into the most dangerous or hostile situations (can the pits of Hell really be any worse than Yankee Stadium?) you've got it mastered. I’ve always viewed pre-game jitters as a positive thing. I find that it gives me an edge. My secret for overcoming it is simple: smile and embrace it. It’s normal and human to be nervous, so don’t fret about it.

One of the most important skills you can learn in life, I have told my daughters, is to be able to walk into a place where you are not welcome with a smile on your face. This is not to say that you will not be welcome everywhere, but if you if you can smile when walking into the most dangerous or hostile situations (can the pits of Hell really be any worse than Yankee Stadium?) you’ve got it mastered.

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