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can you say more about how you contextualize into the speaking experience and therefore aren't exhausted after? Thank you.

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Hello!

Contextualizing is all about understanding my role in a given circumstance. When I'm with my wife, I'm her husband; but if I'm with my mom and I'm trying to fulfill my role as a husband instead of a son, then it starts becoming unfitting. When I'm at work I'm a software engineer but if I'm at the grocery market and I demand the workers provide me with code samples it doesn't make sense.

So those were some extreme examples but now, in the public speaking context there is an audience and a speaker. What is the context around the audience, we discussed that in the episode. And now, what is my role as the speaker? For example, if it's a university seminar then my role is an educator so I can worry less about entertaining people or trying to sell them on an idea. If it's a sales pitch then I can worry less about being factually correct on everything or making sure people understand everything, because the purpose is to sell. When I become a conduit for the specific context, then it gives me what to focus on and what I can ignore; and if I can just focus on one thing, it doesn't expend all that much energy.

Even aside from the speaker's role context, if I can decide to have the most amount of fun in this event, then I can contextualize the speaking experience as a fun activity for me. I can go to Disneyland and gripe and moan about all the lines and how it's so hot. OR I can go to Disneyland to have fun regardless of the line and the temperature. Deciding what I'm going to feel in advance and modifying my behavior around it is the key! How can public speaking be an ENERGIZING experience for you?

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