Adam Sullivan on overcoming his fear of public speaking: ‘Like stepping into an ice bath’

Adam Sullivan, co-founder of Bulletproof Culture, recently shared his personal experience of confronting his public speaking fear head-on, reflecting on how he transformed a paralyzing fear into an empowering milestone.

In a candid LinkedIn post, Mr Sullivan revealed that public speaking has long been one of his biggest fears. “Last weekend, I did something that, for years, has made my body shut down. I stood in front of 100 people and spoke,” he wrote.

Unlike speaking on camera, where he feels completely at ease, standing in front of a live audience triggers an entirely different reaction. “My brain glitches. I freeze. My heart pounds. My thoughts scramble,” he added.

Despite these overwhelming feelings, Mr Sullivan chose to face his fear. He recognised that avoiding it would only allow it to hold power over him. “If I let this fear win, it would always have power over me,” he admitted.

His experience on stage was anything but smooth at first. The initial moments were riddled with discomfort. “For the first 20 seconds, I felt completely out of place. My voice was shaky. My hands were stiff. It was like stepping into an ice bath – everything in me screamed to get out.”

However, as with an ice bath, the initial shock subsided. His body adjusted, and the fear that had initially gripped him started to loosen its hold.

Mr Sullivan then encountered another challenge – pacing. “I started talking too fast, throwing out ideas like fireworks, one after another. No structure. No pacing. No rehearsal. Just raw, unscripted chaos.”

While he acknowledged that this may not have been the best approach, an unexpected shift occurred: he started enjoying himself. “By the time I reached the end, I didn’t care if it was perfect. I just cared that I had done it. And now, I actually want to do it again.”

Reflecting on the experience, Mr Sullivan offered an inspiring perspective on fear. He believes that many mistakenly see fear as a stop sign when, in reality, it is an invitation. “The only way to get better at something is to do the thing. Take the plunge. Stay in the ice bath. And before you know it, you’ll be comfortable in the very place that once made you freeze.”