Practice, Practice, Practice

So, then how do you power through that as a leader now? You say that you do public speaking because it’s important to your role as a leader. How do you overcome that hurdle?

I prepare, I prepare, prepare. The first keynote I gave, I actually hired a coach. Because I was inclined to say no, but then I heard this little voice on my shoulder, my friend Mona, started High Power, which is a group for women moving from success to significance. And I knew that she would have some very choice words for me, if I declined this keynote speaking opportunity. So, I said yes, but I said, “I’m not going to be able to do this without a lot of support,” so I hired a coach, and I just practiced, and practiced, and practiced.

How many hours would you say you practice for that first keynote?

All said, maybe 20 plus.

Oh my...

Yeah, working with a coach…

That’s dedication, that’s serious business.

It is serious business. It was for the California Women’s Leadership Association, and it did not help when they said previous keynotes had been given by Nancy Pelosi, and Kamala Harris. And so, I just felt like I really had to not get out of the ballpark on content, so I worked really hard on it.
And even now, I’ve given a few more keynotes, I still will practice and practice, so that if something happens, I can just go with the flow, and not feel like I have to run off the stage.