Hey, I'm Craig Laudeman
I wanted to jump out the window after I gave my first speech my freshman year of college. My heart was beating out of my chest, my head was in an impenetrable fog, and my voice was shaking like I was having a stroke.
To this day I still have no clue what that speech was about. All I remember was sheer panic.
In the next speech, we had to bring an object and explain its features and benefits. I brought a 6 D-cell MagLite flashlight. I remember goofing around with it and getting my first laugh. What a relief. It still wasn't pretty, but I made it through it, and that laugh started me down a path of transformation I never thought was possible.
A few years after college, Howard Brown with GROWMARK asked me to give a speech to my peers at a winter conference.
After I finished my speech, Doug Bentson leaned over to me and said, "A little nervous up there?" Yep, but I was already thinking of ways to get better. I started getting up and reading scripture verses at the pulpit on Sunday mornings at church. I figured there was no safer place if I flubbed up occasionally.
The Pastor was going to be on vacation for one week, and he asked if I would lead the service for him. I read the announcements and the scriptures and had everyone stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down until I handed it off to a substitute pastor to give us the message. It just kept getting easier and easier.
At the age of 47, I drove up to The Second City for a week to take a few classes. Reena Calm taught a stand-up class in the morning, and Seth Thomas taught an improv class in the afternoon. Then, at night, we'd all go watch shows at The Second City or catch some stand-up down the street.
I started classes on Sunday nights soon after, and since then, I've taken improv and acting classes, tried open mic nights at comedy clubs, and even played the role of Vinnie in The Odd Couple at the Morris Theatre Guild. (My first ever play)
Anything that pushed me to grow.
Just last year, I was able to put everything I had learned over the last three decades to work while helping our oldest son Carter take speech class his senior year in high school.
I can't express how proud I am of him and how much he has grown as a man since taking that class.
Transform yourself from a nervous speech class student into a confident public speaker.
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