John P. Kotter Quotes

I'm trying to show people that I'm a person, and I deal with the same things as you guys, and I'm trying to make the best of it.

I was terribly shy and never said anything in class. Then I started getting into school plays. When you've got words to say, you've got a sort of armour.

I conquered my stage fright a long time ago. In my line of work, it's kind of a pre-requisite that you not feel bad about looking stupid in front of a lot of people.

Even my family laughed at me because they thought this young guy who's always stuttering in front of other people should be in front of 100 musicians and talk to them and leading them.

I don't think one should be comfortable standing on a stage with people applauding and laughing at every stupid thing you say.

I have always had a need for attention but didn't plan to be a comic.

Some of the best actors think they're terrible; that's what keeps you connected to a vulnerability that makes it possible for people to empathize with you.

My life isn't necessarily more important than anyone else's: I'm just better in talking about it.

I know I don't mind sharing my defects, my deficiencies, partly in the hope that someone will hear it and know that they're not alone.

I attended speech and drama classes with a nun to help me gain confidence in speaking without my face turning red each time.

Whenever I go onstage or in front of a camera, I always want to pour my soul out because I know I have a lot to offer.

I never used to speak at all. I always said Joe is the speaker of the family. I mean, I'd go to events and volunteer, but I was never a speaker.

I think, like, in real life, I'm actually quiet, and I mumble a lot. But that's not very lucrative.

I love people who go on stage and blossom like a weird flower.

I don't think enough people admit that there's just something fun about being in front of people. And that's not a self-centered, egotistical thing.

I am literally horrible at speaking to a camera.

I'm very self-deprecating, so I'm not afraid to make jokes at my own expense, and I've just found that makes people a little more comfortable and can open the door for people to feel a little bit more understanding and accepting of where you're coming from.

The minute I stop singing, I'm back to being shy. I'm soft-spoken because I never really talked to people. I didn't learn to do it.

It's really hard to see yourself and to recognize that you are a human being like everybody else. You just think everybody's judging you.

I'm part of a speech therapy programme called the McGuire Programme. It teaches you a new way to breathe, a new way to speak, a brand new way of tackling the mind-sets that come with having a speech impediment. Mainly, it teaches you how to slow things down, and that has really helped me.

I think that talking about the personal specificity, personal details, is how you get the big, big audiences - by talking about your relationships or your personal tragedies. If you reach out with that energy, you'll touch people.

What I prefer is an audience who listen. And are intelligent. Which I try and assume every audience is. And that if something goes wrong, it's generally my fault and not theirs.

I'm just not used to talking that much about myself. It feels strange.

I'm sassy, even though I hate that word! I'm sensitive and cry real easily.

I'm shy. I am. I mean, if I get around, you know, in a room of a bunch of people especially I - you know, I don't know or - it takes me a while to warm up. I'm - and the real me, I'm not as witty as, you know, as the comic Wanda. The comic, she's had time to work on some things.