I am quite excited as I join the webinar. It has been pitched to me as something that will provide a clear framework for overcoming a challenge I currently face. The presenter begins with a great deal of energy. He …

Me, my wife, and our infant son walk into the store, a mix of nerves and excitement. It isn’t a luxury brand, but the product we’re considering is expensive enough to give us pause. This is for a special occasion, …

What makes an airline really good? And what can it possibly teach us about public speaking? I’m at the airport, following my usual routine. It’s almost time for my flight’s gate number to be announced. I pay the toilet a …

As I prepare to take the stage, the event host does something unexpected. She introduces me, primes the audience for an interesting session, and then—out of nowhere—announces a 15-minute coffee break. An unscheduled one. Coffee breaks are normal at conferences. …

It’s my turn to speak and share a highlight from the past week. The instructor’s eyes turn to me. So do everyone else’s in the room. I’m sitting among eight couples, all expecting their first child in just a few …

He shakes my hand, thanks me for an excellent presentation, and states that he will definitely invest in the product I had just pitched. My jaw is ready to hit the floor, but I restrain my surprise and excitement. Instead, …