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“Why can’t life’s lessons just be given to us in a handbook or something?” my friend told me last week. She was joking, partially, until we both got serious and let out a sigh that had an air of “if only” to it. While that would be convenient, it wouldn’t be learning.

Every day is not only a gift, but also a lesson. And in life, it is experience that is the true teacher. It’s feeling it on your skin, in your heart rate, that actually allows you to absorb the most valuable lessons and grow from it.

It’s like yelling at a plant, “Hey…grow!!”…It won’t work (trust me, I’ve tried). That plant needs photosynthesis. Experience is our photosynthesis.

Public Speaking is just the same. It’s feeling the mic in your hands, the audience’s eyes on you, the echo in the room, where you truly get to experience the magical growth.

In my time photosynthesizing on stage as a speaker, musician and actress, I’ve learned a whole lot. While I could talk about that for hours, I’ve summed it up into 3 key lessons to help you in your own growth:

1. Preparation is peace.
The more prepared you are, the more you guarantee yourself success. Preparation plants the seed for it. But it’s about using the right strategies to set you up for longterm, repeatable success – and that is what we get to work on with our clients every day. (Lesson 1 – Don’t water a plant with coffee. AKA do NOT wing it!).

Why not offer yourself that security? So you can go out in front of that audience KNOWING you’ve taken all the right, data-backed steps to lead with impact.

2. The sooner you start, the easier it gets.
Public Speaking can feel like it’s something you’re either born with or you’re not – which can make it feel really overwhelming. Spoiler alert: this is FALSE.

Whether you’re an extrovert or introvert, speaker or not – there is room and a path for you to grow and truly enjoy it more. If you record yourself speaking and watch it back, you’ll start to feel your magic areas where you shine and the areas that need more nourishment. Understanding what those are is the first step, which usually benefits from professional support. From there, it’s about how we fix it.

The good news? There are strategies to do so. When you dive into this craft and start learning the tangible strategies to level up your speaking, you realize how applicable they are. The more strategies you practice and collect, the more you literally feel the growth… and the more demystified it all feels. Next thing you know, the flower is in bloom. (Okay, I’m done with the plant analogy – I promise!).

3. Let them cheer you on.
If you are lucky enough to have someone cheering you on in your life, in your dreams, in your Public Speaking goals, let them! Soak up the pure belief they have in you. Not only is that priceless – it is essential to nourishing our own self-efficacy. To accepting that you are WORTHY of the goals you see for yourself. To realizing you are capable of the dream you keep thinking about. Let them!

And if you think you don’t have that person – you’re wrong…because you have us. Misty and I have an unwavering belief that you can achieve what you set your mind to. Why? Because something in you sparked your desire to sign up to this newsletter. AND because we see those shifts every single day.

Above all? Let YOURSELF dream. Let YOURSELF believe in YOU. I promise when you do, even if it’s just 10% more, the photosynthesis will sneak up on you. (I know, I know, I said it was the last plant analogy. Couldn’t help it ;).

Public Speaking has taught me so much about this life, about being perceived and helping others feel seen. That is why this craft means so much to me – because it is so related to who we are, our daily communication, and the thoughts that float within.

Tomorrow, I’ll most likely think of another lesson I wanted to share, or I’ll wake up in the middle of the night going “Shoot! I should’ve told them this one too.” Until then, consider these 3 lessons a mini Public Speaking handbook. But the true learning? That will have to come with your own experience – when you’re ready to tap in.

Much Love,