Sweaty palms, stuttering, and a total train wreck.

Let me take you back to a time when I was the furthest thing from a confident public speaker. 

I’d just landed a new job, one I thought would involve very little human interaction. Perfect, right? After all, I’d failed my public speaking course in college. My first speech was such a disaster that I literally walked to the back of the room, sat down, and decided to take the F.

Then came THE meeting at work. My boss told me I’d need to present findings to a group of people who hated the project I was working on—and, by association, would probably hate me too. No pressure, right?

The result? Sweaty palms, stuttering, and a total train wreck. 

After the meeting, I ran back to my car, slammed the door, and screamed: 

“That will NEVER happen again.”

The Turning Point
That moment sparked an obsession in me. I started asking:
Why do some people connect effortlessly while others fall flat?
What’s the common thread among inspiring leaders?

The answer: Storytelling.
From there, I relentlessly studied storytelling. I tested ideas at every event I could find—networking events, story slams, you name it. I failed a lot, but every failure taught me something new.

What I Learned
Through trial and error, I uncovered the elements of great storytelling. It wasn’t just about telling a story but about connecting with the audience through stories that resonated with them.

It’s Like Building a Muscle
At first, storytelling felt daunting. Writing a story would take hours, and I’d agonize over every detail. But like any skill, storytelling is a muscle—you get stronger with practice.

Now, I can sit down, reflect on my experiences, and quickly craft stories tailored to an audience's needs. 

Do you want to be more inspirational? 
Do you want to be more persuasive?
Do you want to be more memorable? 

It all comes down to strategic storytelling.