Is Self-Doubt Your Final Answer?
May 5th, 2023
Recently I went backpacking in the canyons of Southern Utah. Although I remember the first time I drove through that land when I moved to Colorado from Massachusetts 15 years ago, it did nothing to stop my jaw from dropping open as we turned west off of 191 to head into Canyonlands. I’m not speaking…
When Public Speaking Fear Gets the Best of You
October 7th, 2019
At the National Speakers Association “Influence 2019” conference for professional speakers this July, I discovered a t-shirt that read: “Your greatest fear is how I make a living.” I knew I had to buy one. I wore it the next time I flew and was amazed by what a conversation starter it was. Everyone wants…
Be Yourself?
April 16th, 2019
One of the things I talk about with my clients all the time, and you probably hear often from business coaches (and speaking coaches and life coaches and inspirational leaders and middle school teachers and self-help books and best friends and anyone who has anything to say to anyone about how to make sense of…
How to be authentically YOU on stage AND grow as a speaker
December 6th, 2018
“But it doesn’t feel natural! It doesn’t feel like me. It feels awkward, inauthentic, yucky. NOT ME!!” I hear that all the time from my clients. When I ask them to do something that they haven’t done before, or try something different with their arms, or their focus, or their body language, or their voice….
What to do when you go [BLANK] on stage
July 20th, 2018
A few weeks ago I wrote about different ways to use a pause when speaking. One of the best pauses to get friendly with is the “I’ve gone totally blank and can’t remember what the heck I was gonna say next” pause. In Tuesday’s Speaker’s Playground, that got us talking about that exact moment… The “I can’t remember what…
How to be a You-Tube Sensation (or not)
December 17th, 2016
I’m not gonna try to lure you into watching this video. I’m not gonna dangle a little carrot so you’re tempted to see what’s inside. I’m not gonna tease and tempt you. I’m not gonna make you hyper aware of your pain so you grovel to the play button in hopes of having your problem…
3 ways to grow confidence and clarity as a speaker
April 29th, 2016
One of the coolest parts of my job is that I get to hang out with smart people who are deeply passionate about what they do. But even the smartest and most passionate people (like you) get up close and personal with some mighty demons when they decide to put themselves out as a speaker….
How to make your public speaking fear irrelevant
June 12th, 2015
I’ll cut to the chase: It’s not about you. “What do you mean it’s not about me?” you might be saying. “I’m the one getting up there putting my heart on the line and telling the world the thing I’ve been too scared to tell even my best friend or my mom. Of course it’s…
4 mindset shifts for delivering your kick-ass talk
February 1st, 2015
My mind can often be my own worst enemy–telling me lies about myself, talking me out of taking risks, or wanting to go into hiding after I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone. If you have similar adventures with your mind, here are some key mindset shifts that will get under that nasty (but well-meaning)…
5 mindset shifts to bring more of yourself to the stage
September 4th, 2014
Used to be I thought I was the only one scared of public speaking. I thought nobody could possibly be as life-or-death scared, nervous, or awkward, hiding in the bathroom with my head hanging over the toilet ready to throw up. But since I’ve made friends with my own fear, and have been helping other…
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