Nikolay Angelov is a passionate debater and finalist at both the World and European University Debating Championships and President of the Bulgarian Debate Association. He was a speaker at TEDxAUBG Workshop 2025 where he talked about the importance of the first sentence in order to overcome nervousness. Read bellow what his professional and personal achievements have taught him about public speaking and presenting.
Hello, first, how are you?
N.A.: I'm good. I am a bit tired but energized by the event.
What is something that you do before a speech, or before you present, do you have a ritual if you're nervous?
N: I always think about the first sentence. Very important. I focus on the first sentence if you start well. Usually, everything that comes after is quite easy.
What do you think about when you're present? Is there something more specific?
N.A.: Sometimes I think about something funny that I can say that is connected to the topic, because usually I try to give a joke every 5 minutes to get the attention.
Is there something that you learned from your practice with public speaking that you wish you knew earlier?
N.A.: Try to say more with less and less. Maybe focus on the important parts. What you are trying to say, not really of how you are going to deliver it that much, because in the end, if you nail that product, the people who need it and are listening will get it.
Is there a key element of a good presentation or a speech?
N.A: Be funny.
What is your advice to people that just are starting with public speaking?
N.A.: Just do it (laughs) and I guess after a period of time. It will become easier.
And one final thing is, what is your advice to people who think that their TEDx idea is not big enough or good enough?
N.A: Think about the small things that change your life.
Nikolay shows us that saying less is actually saying more and how you say it matters more. For him a good joke and the small details are the key recipe of a good speech. Niki shows us that the start might be the hardest but it is also the most important as this way nervousness would be overcome!