Interview number one

Welcome to a new section of this blog.

I will be posting interviews by people who have either attended the one-to-one speech course or purchased one of the self-help stuttering therapy products.

Here is the first that took place last month; there will be many more in the months to come:

Date: 11/12/2008

 

Interview with Adam from Glasgow, he attended a three-day course in March 2008.

 

Me: Well Adam, thank you for agreeing to take part in this interview. This is a new section for my blog and you are in fact the person I have interviewed.

 

Adam: I feel so proud! (Sarcasm in his voice)

 

Q: It has been nine months since you attended the course, so how is everything going?

 

A: To start with my speech was superb and I have to admit that this was despite the fact that I was not really practicing as much as I should have. I was speaking very well; full of confidence, therefore I saw no need to put in the additional practice.

 

After around a month I started to have a few negative thoughts, the demons as you call them. This was perhaps because I had tripped up (stammered) on a couple of words. This is when I decided to telephone you. I know I should have really kept in touch before this however time just seemed to fly by.

 

After your words of wisdom and insistence that I keep in more regular contact, things started to improve again. I was determined not to let things slip again and put in the required hours of practice as you advised.

 

It has been a long hard struggle, the practice was rather boring (there are many things that I would rather have been doing) but I had to keep going.

 

A few months ago I knew in my own heart of hearts that I had cracked it when I was able to stand up and deliver a speech at a friend’s wedding, I did not stammer once. I was so proud of myself.

 

Me: That is very impressive. The majority of fluent people struggle to deliver a public speech without the odd stumble or two.

 

Q: So what made you decide to attend the course in the first place?

 

A: It all goes back to that wedding and being asked to be the best man, it scared me to death. I really did not want to stammer in front of all of those people, most of which are my friends. I had first read through your website in 2002 but for whatever reason chose to wait.

 

Q: So what are your plans for the future?

 

A: I am not sure really. My focus for the last nine months has been to do with my speech and the wedding. I am now going to relax and enjoy being able to speak fluently. I feel like I can achieve anything, my overall confidence has never been so high. I will of course keep in touch with you Steve!

 

Me: That is great; well I will let you go now Adam as my children are nagging me to take them to the cinema!

 

Adam: Thanks Steve, enjoy the film, speak soon.