Standing in front of an audience, with all eyes fixed upon you, can be an incredibly vulnerable experience. The spotlight is on you, and every word you utter, every gesture you make, is under scrutiny or at least it feels that way. It's a situation that can evoke a range of emotions—nervousness, self-doubt, excitement, and even fear. And, within this vulnerability lies an opportunity for growth, empowerment, and a chance to connect with others on a profound level.

The Essence of Vulnerability 

At its core, vulnerability is the willingness to expose one's authentic self, complete with imperfections, fears, and uncertainties. It's about removing the masks we wear to appear strong or flawless, and instead revealing our true emotions and thoughts. This openness may seem intimidating, and it's a powerful act that can lead to deep, personal growth, and more meaningful interactions.

The Fear of Judgment 

The fear of judgment is often at the heart of the...

Public speaking and presentations can be daunting, and with the right approach, anyone can become a great presenter. In this blog, we'll share five valuable tips from the experts that will help you captivate your audience, convey your message effectively, and leave a lasting impression. Whether you're a seasoned speaker or just starting, these tips will elevate your presentation skills to new heights.

Tip #1 - Preparation: Lay the Foundation for Success 

Identify Key Points: 

Begin by planning your communication strategy (try using The Power To Connect). Determine the three key points you want your audience to remember. It can be less than three, and not more. People won’t remember more than three things, so don’t overwhelm them with more. Focus on clarity, simplicity and make it relevant to them to ensure your message is easily understood and remembered.  

Passion and Authenticity:

Speak about a topic you know, understand, and believe in. When...

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. And it hasn’t always been that way. The ‘Sunday scaries’ used to get the best of me more times than I can count.

It wasn’t until I began taking Sundays as an intentional day to rest, reflect and learn that I started to thoroughly enjoy them.

I began viewing them as a day to plan and enjoy as opposed to a day to stress about all the things I hadn’t done the previous week. I hope this post inspires you to reclaim Sundays as your day rather than a day that you dread.

Without further ado, here’s a list of my non-negotiables every Sunday to prepare for a great start to the week.

1. Take some time for you

Up first on the list, do at least one activity that fills your cup (1). Take the first part of your Sunday to enjoy in whatever way makes you the happiest. This could be going on an adventure, a walk, doing yoga, watching your favorite show or movie, getting lost in a good book, grabbing coffee with a friend, you...

Spontaneity is a powerful tool that I’ve used throughout my life and career (mostly without realizing it).

In general, I’ve always been a person that has said ‘yes’ to things. From starting multiple businesses (one of which was a cheesecake operation out of my home) to moving across the country for various jobs, to traveling Europe at age 18 – I’ve always been what someone would call a spontaneous person.

When I’ve told these stories of spontaneity to my friends or clients, their reactions were typically, ‘Wow, you did that?’ To which I responded, ‘Of course! Wouldn’t you?’

It wasn’t until I had these conversations with others that I realized not everyone is as quick to say ‘yes’ to things. Personally, I don’t believe there’s a right or wrong way to live your life since everyone’s feelings and circumstances are different. That said, I’ve noticed some major payoffs when...

The ability to get great results when communicating with your clients, prospects, and staff requires that you have the right message for your audience, that your message addresses what’s important to them, and that you deliver the message in a powerful, effective manner.

In this blog post, we’re going to cover the 7 simplest communication strategies designed to help you and your organization confidently communicate the right message to the right audience at the right time. In other words, increase sales.

Strategy #1: Always take the time to prepare for your communication situation

The need to prepare for communication is not news. And, so many (ahem, I’m talking to you salespeople) go into situations where the stakes are high with little or no preparation and they “wing it” GASP! Let me be blunt. Regardless of whether you’re an individual planning for a meeting or a professional getting ready to speak to a large group, never go into a...

Have you ever had a rush of nerves before giving a presentation?

Even though public speaking and conferences look different nowadays, the nerves we experience beforehand haven’t changed. I mean, after all, we’re still speaking to groups of people — even if it is through a screen.

As a professional public speaker and presentation coach, I’ve come to know throughout my career that nerves and anxiety surrounding public speaking are completely normal, common, and aren’t something we should feel ashamed of or run away from.

In this blog post, I’m going to explain why nerves are actually a good thing and how you can use them to your advantage. I’ll also go over some of the best practices to prepare, get into the present moment, and deliver a virtual presentation more confidently and with ease.

1. Recognize that your nervousness is fuel — embrace it!

You might not realize that feeling nervous before a presentation or speech indicates that...