--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know I still get nervous speaking in…" description: "\"You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people. Speaking reminds me of pitching in that way. No matter how much you prepare, there is always ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/jim-abbott-20375_anxiety_you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in_2005969.jpg" --- # You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people… ![“You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people. Speaking reminds me of pitching in that way. No matter how much you prepare, there is always that anxiety to perform. Those butterflies. You learn to embrace that stress. Eventually you realize that stress is what pushes you to perform at…” quote by Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/jim-abbott-20375_anxiety_you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in_2005969.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/jim-abbott-20375_anxiety_you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in_2005969.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/jim-abbott-20375_anxiety_you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in_2005969.jpg) > “You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people. Speaking reminds me of pitching in that way. No matter how much you prepare, there is always that anxiety to perform. Those butterflies. You learn to embrace that stress. Eventually you realize that stress is what pushes you to perform at your peak… But man the roller coaster! I told myself that after my career was over I would live my life quietly, out of the public eye, with no chance of embarrassing myself in front of large groups of people. Yet...here I am!” [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anxiety before performance can be transformed into motivating energy when embraced rather than resisted. **In simple terms:** Turn nervousness into a performance boost. Key Takeaway Embrace stress to excel. Themes public speaking performance anxiety personal growth Mood optimistic determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career presentations - team meetings - networking events - teaching - public debates Key Concepts psychology stress management mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you channel nervous energy positively? - What rituals help you stay calm? A Different Perspective If stress is too high, it may impair focus rather than help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Perform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-perform-3555786/) [Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Coasters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coasters/) [Embarrassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassing/) [Embrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embrace/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Here i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-i-am/) [Know Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-nervous-954708/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Large groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-groups/) [Live My Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-my-life/) [Living my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-my-life/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Nervous Speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-speaking-3555785/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pitching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitching/) [Prepare Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare-anxiety-3555787/) [Public eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-eye/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Roller coaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roller-coaster/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [That is my most comfortable place: close-up beauty shots! I also love to stand and speak in front of people. I can get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/that-is-my-most-comfortable-place-close-up-beauty-shots-i-also-love/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I was very nervous about speaking in Punjabi. I have learnt it by heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabana-azmi/i-was-very-nervous-about-speaking-in-punjabi-i-have-learnt-it-by-heart/) [Shabana Azmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabana-azmi/) > [There is a certain kind of anxiety whenever I go perform live in a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-kulkarni/there-is-a-certain-kind-of-anxiety-whenever-i-go-perform-live-in-a/) [Atul Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-kulkarni/) > [I've always loved performing. It was always very exciting for me. I don't get too nervous when I'm playing, but on every stage, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-li/i-ve-always-loved-performing-it-was-always-very-exciting-for-me-i-don/) [George Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-li/) > [I know if I'm nervous or excited to do something before I'm doing it that there's gonna be nice energy there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-know-if-i-m-nervous-or-excited-to-do-something-before-i-m-doing-it/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [“I don't know why I'm nervous. Nor do I understand why I come across as such an ice queen when I'm nervous. I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/i-don-t-know-why-i-m-nervous-nor-do-i-understand-why-i-come-across-as/) [M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/) > [I just said to myself, She's just like you, you know, she can be nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dementieva/i-just-said-to-myself-she-s-just-like-you-you-know-she-can-be-nervous/) [Elena Dementieva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dementieva/) > [The more you play against teams and defenders, the more you get to know them. You know if they are more nervous; you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-hazard/the-more-you-play-against-teams-and-defenders-the-more-you-get-to/) [Eden Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-hazard/) > [Any match you face, you know, you can be nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-anderson/any-match-you-face-you-know-you-can-be-nervous/) [Kevin Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-anderson/) > [As you get older, the more you know, so the more nervous you become. The risks are much bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/as-you-get-older-the-more-you-know-so-the-more-nervous-you-become-the/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [We can only know in the nervous system what we have known in behavior first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/we-can-only-know-in-the-nervous-system-what-we-have-known-in-behavior/) [Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/) > [“Jane wondered why small-minded people often form such large groups as she made her way home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-nicolaisen/jane-wondered-why-small-minded-people-often-form-such-large-groups-as/) [Chris Nicolaisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-nicolaisen/) > [When I see a large group of people, I wonder how many of them will eventually require autopsies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/when-i-see-a-large-group-of-people-i-wonder-how-many-of-them-will/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It's important to adhere to the principles of a large group of people that truly believe these principles, and if they believe them, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-important-to-adhere-to-the-principles-of-a-large-group-of-people/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## More by Jim Abbott > [I still get a lot of letters from kids and parents who face different challenges and disabilities. I share some of the lessons that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-still-get-a-lot-of-letters-from-kids-and-parents-who-face-different/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [There are millions of people out there ignoring disabilities and accomplishing incredible feats. I learned you can learn to do things differently, but do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/there-are-millions-of-people-out-there-ignoring-disabilities-and/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I believe that challenges can push us beyond what we might otherwise be able to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-believe-that-challenges-can-push-us-beyond-what-we-might-otherwise/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I benefited from tremendous encouragement as a kid. So many people reached out to me, helped me, and believed in me even when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-benefited-from-tremendous-encouragement-as-a-kid-so-many-people/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I had an incredible experience living in New York, playing for the Yankees, to go through all of the things I did, including the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-had-an-incredible-experience-living-in-new-york-playing-for-the/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [Find something you love, and go after it, with all of your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/find-something-you-love-and-go-after-it-with-all-of-your-heart/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I loved throwing a baseball. It is so important to find something in life you feel crazy about. Because you are so passionate you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-loved-throwing-a-baseball-it-is-so-important-to-find-something-in/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [My advice is that you go and do something that you are really driven to do. I loved to play baseball and, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/my-advice-is-that-you-go-and-do-something-that-you-are-really-driven/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I knew how far a little boy or girl could run with 50 words of reassurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-knew-how-far-a-little-boy-or-girl-could-run-with-50-words-of/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [What's cool about baseball is you don't have to see someone for years, but when you see them, you just hustle up and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/what-s-cool-about-baseball-is-you-don-t-have-to-see-someone-for-years/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-the-game-the-only-thing-that/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [One of the beautiful things about baseball is the history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/one-of-the-beautiful-things-about-baseball-is-the-history/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I think you need optimism. I believe that's incredibly important that you be optimistic that you can do things different and still do them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-think-you-need-optimism-i-believe-that-s-incredibly-important-that/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I always wanted to be a shortstop so I could play more often!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-shortstop-so-i-could-play-more-often/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I want my career to be judged by what I did on the field. I appreciate the honors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-want-my-career-to-be-judged-by-what-i-did-on-the-field-i-appreciate/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) [Explore all 31 Jim Abbott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people. Speaking reminds me of pitching in that way. No matter how much you prepare, there is always that anxiety to perform. Those butterflies. You learn to embrace that stress. Eventually you realize that stress is what pushes you to perform at your peak… But man the roller coaster! I told myself that after my career was over I would live my life quietly, out of the public eye, with no chance of embarrassing myself in front of large groups of people. Yet...here I am!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Abbott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in-front-of-people-speaking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in-front-of-people-speaking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/jim-abbott-20375_anxiety_you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in_2005969.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/jim-abbott-20375_anxiety_you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in_2005969.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/jim-abbott-20375_anxiety_you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in_2005969.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people. Speaking reminds me of pitching in that way. No…” — Jim Abbott", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jim Abbott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You know I still get nervous...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in-front-of-people-speaking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in-front-of-people-speaking/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```