From Stage Fright to Spotlight | Tim Newman Speaks

What does it really take to transform your nerves into confidence when speaking in front of an audience—no matter how big or small? In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I take you behind the scenes of my own speaking journey, sharing raw stories, practical takeaways, and the coaching that helped me grow in unexpected ways.

This week, I pull back the curtain on my experience as part of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. After years of preaching the importance of lifelong learning, I put myself on the line—joining the team, earning advanced presenter certifications, and even making a run at standing on stage at the International Maxwell Conference. Today, I want to show you what growth looks like up close, and how vital it is to seek feedback, embrace vulnerability, and focus on progress over perfection.

To help me along this journey, I worked closely with Roddy Galbraith, none other than John Maxwell’s own speaking coach. If you’ve ever wondered whether even the best need coaching, this episode is for you. Roddy pushed me to look deeper at my message, delivery, and what I genuinely wanted my audience to walk away with. Together, we honed a simple three-minute story—one I’d performed more than a hundred times—transforming it from a personal anecdote into a powerful teaching tool.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• My own public speaking horror story—the first time I had to speak in college and what happened when anxiety got the best of me
• How that one embarrassing moment became the foundation for my growth as a speaker and coach
• The grueling, but rewarding, process of preparing for the Maxwell International Conference, and what it felt like to just miss the finals by two seconds
• A step-by-step look at the evolution of my speech—from the initial draft, through Roddy’s constructive feedback, to the final live version
• The importance of coaching and why even experienced speakers need fresh outside perspectives
• Strategies to shift your mindset from fearing the worst to aiming for the best every time you get up to speak
• Why perfection isn’t relatable, but vulnerability, honesty, and even a little messiness are
• How to take that next step in your own speaking journey—with tools and encouragement for breaking through nerves and building unshakable confidence

If you’re ever wondered how to face your speaking fears, connect more authentically, or grow past setbacks, you'll find tools and inspiration in this episode. Remember, your voice truly does have the power to change your world—but only if you choose to use it.

Thank you, as always, for supporting Speaking with Confidence. If you’re looking to keep leveling up, don’t forget to grab the free eBook, “The Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers and How to Overcome Them,” and sign up for my Formula for Public Speaking course. Progress, not perfection—that’s our north star. Tune in and let’s keep moving forward, together.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome and Personal Updates
• 2:15 Maxwell Leadership Certification Journey
• 4:11 Three-Minute Speech Competition Experience
• 5:58 First Draft Speech Submission
• 11:11 Coach Roddy's Feedback Analysis
• 15:00 Final Improved Speech Version

Transcript

Tim Newman: 0:08

Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence, a podcast that helps you build the soft skills that lead to real results Communication, storytelling, public speaking and showing up with confidence in every conversation that counts. I'm Tim Newman, a recovering college professor turned communication coach, and I'm thrilled to guide you on your journey to becoming a powerful communicator. I want to thank you all for supporting the show. It truly means the world to me. Last week I mentioned I was going to share some updates on things that I've been working on, so here we go. We've talked a lot on this show about the importance of lifelong learning and if you've been listening for a while, you know I don't just talk about it, I live it. Back in June, I joined the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. I went into coaching and mentorship in speaking, coaching and training, and let me tell you it's been transformational. It's changed the way I approach my own speaking and it's made me a better coach to others who want to become powerful communicators. Then in August, I went to the International Maxwell Conference and after all that training, I became a Maxwell Leadership Team Certified Speaker. I even got to spend a few minutes with John Maxwell himself While filming a promo video. He gave me a solid endorsement, which was really pretty cool. I mean, if you're going to get an endorsement, john Maxwell isn't a bad choice. And along the way, I earned a certified virtual presenter designation, and next week I'm starting the virtual master presenter certification, because apparently I don't believe in taking breaks. Oh, and I've also been working on a book. It's coming out in just a few weeks and I'll keep you posted as we get closer.

Tim Newman: 1:53

Now let me be clear. I don't share any of this to brag. I share it because I want you to see something important. You control your actions. You control your future. If you want to get better at something, you have to work something important. You control your actions. You control your future. If you want to get better at something, you have to work at it. So don't let your inner voice or the people around you keep you from chasing your potential. As you know, I close every episode with the same reminder your voice has the power to change the world, and it really does, but only if you actually use it.

Tim Newman: 2:28

As part of my certification process, I had to create a three-minute speech. It had to tell a story and teach a lesson. Three minutes sounds easy, right, maybe, but picture delivering that story in front of 3,000 people. That's when three minutes starts to feel like 30. So would you prepare differently for 3,000 than you would for five? I hope not. You should always prepare the same way. So here's how it works.

Tim Newman: 2:58

At IMC, every year, about 150 people submit their three-minute speeches. From there it's cut down to 40 semifinalists. Your video has to be under three minutes, you have to hold a mic and you're not allowed to use any notes. Then these 40 semifinalists deliver their speech live on Zoom with the same rules. From there, the top 10 give stage time in front of the entire crowd.

Tim Newman: 3:26

This year I made it to the semifinal round. I practiced that speech well over 100 times and it never clocked over 2 minutes and 52 seconds. But I didn't advance. Why? Because on the live Zoom version, my speech clocked in at three minutes and two seconds. Yep, two seconds too long, and that was enough to take me out of the running, which just goes to show, even in the world of leadership, timing is everything. But honestly, the ten finalists were fantastic. They all brought powerful, funny and meaningful stories to the stage.

Tim Newman: 4:07

But here's the thing I submitted seven different versions of that speech. I work with Roddy Galbraith, who is John Maxwell's own speaking coach. Yeah, you heard that right. John Maxwell has a coach. So if you're sitting there thinking I don't need coaching, well you may want to rethink that. Throughout the process, roddy really pushed me hard. He stretched me in ways I didn't expect, and that's what this is really about. It's about growth.

Tim Newman: 4:38

So here's what we're going to do in this episode I'm going to play my first submission and then I'm going to walk you through Roddy's feedback and then I'll share my final version. You'll hear how a simple three-minute story can be transformed into something that really teaches. So let's get started. This is the first video I submitted. Let me ask you a question what's the most nervous you've ever been before standing up and talking in front of a group of people? It could be a presentation, a meeting or even a toast at a wedding. Now flip it. What's the most nervous you've seen? Someone Like full-blown panic mode, palm sweating, voice shaking, maybe even physically shaking. But I can top it. Let's rewind to the late 80s, mid-90s, back before PowerPoint, before laptops, before TikTok turned everyone into a presenter.

Tim Newman: 5:32

I had just gotten out of the Army, where I was in the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantry soldier and I had just started in college and, like everyone else, I had to take a public relations or human communications course. Does anybody remember that class? How awesome was that? The first day I walk in, I get the syllabus, I read it and I say to myself Self I'm not doing this. And as soon as class was over I went to the registrar and dropped the class. You see, I'm the master of getting out of things I don't want to do. If there's something I don't want to do, I find a way to get out of it. Give to someone else, pretend it doesn't exist, make up some excuse, really, whatever it takes. So fast forward to my senior year. Go visit my advisor and she says, tim, if you want to graduate, you got to take the class. I said, dang it, or something along those lines. So I sign up again, I go to class and get pretty much the exact same syllabus. And then the day comes when it's my turn to speak for the first time. I'm nervous, I'm sweating and probably even shaking a little bit too. The presentation is only five minutes and I don't even remember what it's about, but I've got my notes scribbled on 3x5 cards. My slides are on this clear plastic sheet for the overhead projector. Yeah, that's how long ago it was. I put my notes on the wooden lectern that is sitting on the table in front of the classroom. I opened my mouth and promptly threw up in front of the entire class. Yeah, that happened, but the good news is I did get out of that first presentation.

Tim Newman: 7:15

Now fast forward again. Today I'm a recovering college professor. I teach, I coach and I speak in front of audiences regularly. So how do you go from throwing up in front of an entire class to standing on stage, confident, clear and actually enjoying it?

Tim Newman: 7:33

It starts by recognizing the real issue that anxiety, that tight-chested panic we feel before we speak. It's not the fear of the audience, it's the story we're telling ourselves. It's the fear of being judged, of messing up, of not being perfect. But here's the thing being perfect isn't relatable. Vulnerability is, honesty is and messy is. So if you've ever felt that same nervous energy, that voice in your head saying who do you think you are to be up here, I get it. I still live it. But I want to help you find your way past it without needing to carry this around with you. Let's change your mindset from what's the worst thing that can happen to what's the best thing that can happen, and let's have some fun while we do it. Let's get clear on your message. Let's make you a confident, powerful communicator who wants to share and grow your influence. Thank you.

Tim Newman: 8:52

Here is Roddy's feedback,

Tim Newman: 8:53

kind of point out a few things that maybe could help take it to the next level. I think we could have a bit more variety in the delivery. Uh, and three and a half minutes, it feels it feels longer than it needs to be, even though you need to get it down to 250 really, or under, because it has to be under three minutes. So, you want to give yourself a little bit of leeway. So, uh, for stage time, you need to get it down to um 250 or under really, but you've got a few weeks to get there. But a bit more variety in the delivery, I think would be good. Letting your personality out a little bit more smiling. I like some of the deadpan humor, but it'd be nice to see a bit more variety.

Tim Newman: 9:24

Um, I would skip the beginning about you know what's the most nervous you've ever been? What's the most nervous you've ever seen? I don't know that. It adds too much, tells us what's coming, but it's not a huge deal. But I would just start straight into the story. And late 90s, early 90s, late 80s, early 90s um, thank you for your service, by the way. Um, I think just decide when it was. When did you, when did you leave and what you're, what you're doing I like the like I was.

Tim Newman: 9:48

It caught me by surprise. So you throw up in front of the entire class. That's probably the best bit, um, so so, uh, that bit I like recovering college professor make it about you and your growth. Don't don't make it about the audience. It's better if you stick with you and what you've learned. Um, relatability is huge.

Tim Newman: 10:05

Not being perfect, people don't speak perfectly, um, so that kind of vulnerability, I think, is a great way to connect. It's kind of conversational, but it's a little too kind of laid back and same me. So I think you need to mix it up a little bit, try and let your personality out a little bit more, get it down under under three minutes, ultimately, and then think about one big thing that we can take from this that you learn, that you're sharing your journey from. I think that would be a great kind of goal for this. There's not that much. The best bit about it is you throwing up, and so I feel like you're a strong speaker with lots of stories, and this is the first one. So I think you probably want to try you know a few more if you can in the time you've got and then pick your favorite to focus in on for the final run.

Tim Newman: 10:54

So I'll talk a little bit about timings on. On the call um, yeah, so, so strong, but I feel like it needs more, mainly in the delivery. Also, like a point from the audience's perspective what are they going to take from this? Don't don't make it about the audience, make it about you and what they're gonna take from your, your, your growth, your journey. And really we want one thing great job. Well, tim, looking forward to it. Strong, start, speak to you soon, take care, bye, bye, god bless right.

Tim Newman: 11:22

He was really spot on with everything he said throughout the process. The one big thing that I struggled with was the one message I wanted the audience to get and did you notice?

Tim Newman: 11:32

he also said I should shoot for two minutes and 50 seconds or under. There's that two seconds again. Now here is the final live version. It was August of 1989. I had just finished three years as an infantry soldier at the 82nd Airborne. I was 21. I already knew everything, and off to college. I went Like every other college freshman.

Tim Newman: 11:53

Public speaking 101 shows up in my schedule. But I already knew how to give a good presentation, so I didn't need it. I dropped the class Fast forward to my senior year. My advisor says Tim, if you want to graduate, you got to take it. So I gave in.

Tim Newman: 12:08

And the day comes to get my first presentation. And I'm a wreck. I'm nervous, I'm sweating, I'm probably even shaking a little bit too. I've got transparencies for the overhead projector. Yeah, remember that ancient thing. This is pre-PowerPoint, pre-laptop and definitely before TikTok. I put my notes on the lectern in the front of the room. I opened my mouth and promptly threw up in front of the entire class. Yeah, that happened. My professor was horrified, but the students got a good laugh out of it and just like that I went from paratrooper to the guy who puked in speech class.

Tim Newman: 12:49

You see, up until that point, success for me came from work ethic. I was never the fastest, the strongest or the smartest, but no one was going to outwork me. I had that oh yeah, watch me chip on my shoulder If you told me I couldn't, or hit me with I bet you won't. I'd prove you wrong every single time and I'm sure you can imagine some of the situations I got myself into with that mentality. But this was different, because the voice telling me I couldn't do it was mine and this didn't have anything to do with work ethic. I'd always wanted to be a teacher, but how was that going to happen if I can't even give a five-minute speech without throwing up? And it took time, but eventually I realized the problem wasn't the speech.

Tim Newman: 13:40

The problem was me making it about me and trying to be perfect. I had to shift my focus away from trying to look and sound good to providing value. I had to be open to letting the people trying to help me actually help me and not trying to do things my way all the time. I had to be open to the coaching. I had to be open to the coaching. I had to be open to actually implementing their suggestions, and I had to admit that maybe, just maybe I wasn't the smartest person in the room, because being perfect that's not relatable. Vulnerability is, honesty is, and messy is. Today I'm a recovering college professor and still obviously a work in progress, and every now and again that voice still kind of creeps in says who do you think you are to be doing this? And I just laugh because I know exactly who I am. I'm the guy who puked in speech class and now I teach people how not to do that, thank you.

Tim Newman: 14:48

You can see the improvements of the messaging, the words, the variety of the delivery and the facial expressions. Without Roddy's help, there's no way my final version would have been anywhere near the quality it was. And that's the thing. If you want to grow as a communicator, it's going to take some work. So let me ask you what's holding you back from your next breakthrough? If you're ready to take that step, I'd be glad to help you get there. Remember we're looking for progress, not perfection. That's all for today. Be sure to visit Speaking with Confidence podcast to get your free e-book the Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers and how to Overcome them. You can also register for the Formula for Public Speaking course, always remember your voice is the power to change the world. We'll talk to you next time, take care.