“I was lucky enough to be brought up in a house where reading was as normal as eating and drinking, and it remains that way today. I believe this appetite for reading is a gift which can only be handed down by parents.”
Michael Bond
Creator of Paddington Bear
“Employers have serious concerns about the basic skills of school and college leavers and many have had to use remedial training as a result, according to a survey from the CBI. The survey of 566 employers found that 42% are not satisfied with the basic use of English by school and college leavers, 35% are concerned with basic numeracy skills and 44% have had to invest in remedial training for school and college leavers.”
PM Magazine June 2011
Jo’s advice is to channel your nervous energy into making your performance that bit stronger.
“I used to get nervous about three weeks before a gig… now I’ve managed to condense it down to a manageable ten minutes … If you’re very blasé about stuff, your performance level drops a bit and you’re not quite as on your toes as you could be ”
Jo Brand
Speaking to www.bbc.co.uk
“The greatest fear in my life is public speaking.”
Harrison Ford
“Don’t be afraid of fear…you can harness fear to drive you, rather than succumb to it and letting it beat you. When you start acting confident, then you start to feel it. Being able to smile is a great short cut to confidence. It helps you have a good time.”
Helen Mirren
Speaking to Woman and Home Magazine