Thread by @heymaxkoh

Anyone can learn to speak well in front of a crowd.

You don't need to be smooth.

You just need to think like a Data Scientist.

Here's my secret after the last 9 years of speaking on stage to over 10,000 participants:

Before we begin, a quick overview of what I'll share:

1. a short story of how I learnt this

2. how I apply this to my own speaking

3. how you can apply this

Let's go:

1. Quick backstory:

I learnt this from the field of standup comedy a few years back.

And it changed the way I operated.

In my quest to hone my speaking abilities, I spent hours studying standup comedians. I would watch their shows and listen to their interviews...

I recall an interview with Chris Rock.

He was sharing his creative process:

Before he performed at a big event like a HBO special or David Letterman, he would test his jokes at dozens of small comedy clubs.

Often the size of the crowd would be 50 people or less.

He would test his new material there. And 90% of it would bomb.

Fall flat.

Silence.

And he would make a mental note, go back home and rewrite the joke, and try again at another gig.

The result?

By the time you see him do a world tour, where his jokes land with precision and the audience eating out of his hand...

He's already tested it multiple times.

I started doing the same.

And that changed my performance as a speaker.

2. How I applied this?

I would test my new stories and jokes at small seminars I did.

Usually 20-30 people where stakes were low. And I would watch their responses.

I would then listen for the data.

Back in the days of live events, I would gauge the volume of laughter or applause.

And that's why I love Zoom.

Because I can actually count the number of "hahaha" and 😂 emojis in the chat box.

Makes it even more precise.

But I don't just rely on these small seminars.

I test it everyday in my life...

With friends or family.

If I need to explain a technical concept on stage soon, I would start explaining it to friends in normal conversation without telling them my agenda...

I do the same for my jokes and stories.

I find a way to slide it into the conversation, then I watch how they respond.

Afterwards, I go back to my slides and tweak it.

So by the time I actually take the big stage and deliver it, I already know it's going to land.

I already know:

• which parts to pause
• where to inflect my tone
• and even when they will laugh

The smoothness you often see is not actually smoothness.

Don't be fooled.

It's a result of repetition and iteration.

3. How you can apply this?

So if you have an upcoming presentation you need to nail, don't just rehearse it solo in your bedroom.

Take it out into the real world.

Test your material in low risk platforms and everyday convo.

Make lots of "noise", and listen for the signal.

Then iterate your content based on these signals you get.

By the time the actual day comes, you'll have gathered enough data points under your belt.

Your audience will be hearing the material for the first time.

But to you, it's the 9th time.

I hope this helps.

If you found this useful, follow me here at @heymaxkoh

I tweet about:

• how I attained financial freedom before age 30, while still working 9-5

• my investing frameworks and strategies

• books on $$ and business that impacted me