I almost backed out of my first speaking gig...

Even though it may be hard to believe, I almost backed out of my first speaking gig.

My upcoming speech was on leadership, and to prepare, I was practicing my speech in front of a professional speaker I looked up to at a local Barnes and Noble. 

She seemed bored and disengaged after seeing me read off my slides for 5 minutes. So, she shut my laptop down and said: You're speaking on leadership... 

Why are you a leader? 

I froze, not knowing what to say. She explained how it'd be in my best interest to tell the school I was speaking at to find a better fit. 

On the car ride back, I was content with backing out until I saw this park area that looked like a great place to practice and think about this decision.  After practicing my speech at the park over and over that day, I decided to go for it and commit to the speech. 

9 years later, I've been fortunate enough to teach 35 speaker schools across the country, helping rising speakers build confidence and knowledge to push through the self-doubt that comes with building towards something special. 

If you’ve ever felt that same hesitation, of knowing you’re meant for more but unsure how to start or looking for direction on what to do next, I'd like to invite you to our upcoming Speaker School Masterminds.

On January 23rd & 24th, 2026 (Stamford, CT) and March 20th & 21st, 2026 (Miami Beach, FL).

If you were interested in joining. Don’t wait another year to step on the stage that’s waiting for you.

Reserve your spot for Stamford or Miami Beach here. Or book a call with me for more info: Calendly

This post first appeared on LinkedIn - Warm Heart Life Newsletter on November 5, 2025