Most speakers sabotage themselves before they even get on stage.

Some wing it. Others over-hype themselves. Many cling to lucky charms or last-minute cramming. The result? Nerves, shaky delivery, and lost connection with the audience.

In this solo episode, John shares a practical pre-game system you can actually use to get stage-ready without superstition or overthinking.

You’ll learn how to:

• Reset your mindset in two minutes with Stoic reframing, box breathing, and a simple nerves-to-excitement shift.
• Prepare your body and voice with easy warm-ups (that won’t make you look ridiculous backstage).
• Prime your message by locking in your opening, closing, and key beats — without cramming.
• Avoid common pre-game mistakes that drain your energy or ramp up nerves.

Whether you’re about to step on stage, record a podcast, or present to your team, these tools will help you show up calm, confident, and connected.

👉 Next time: John speaks with Joel Benge about Message Mastery and why tech leaders need to “talk good” (his words, not mine).

👉 Coming soon: A solo deep dive on the ethics of influence and the tricky line between genuine credibility and manufactured status.

🎥 For behind-the-scenes extras and visuals, subscribe to the YouTube channel: Present Influence

Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Pre-Game Preparation

01:03 Personal Story: Overcoming Stage Fright

02:37 Mental Preparation Techniques

03:30 Breathing Exercises for Calmness

06:34 Vocal Warm-Ups and Physical Preparation

09:41 Effective Rehearsal Strategies

16:45 Common Pre-Game Mistakes to Avoid

21:05 Final Tips and Conclusion

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

Most presenters polish slides and still feel the room slip away. In this conversation with Rebecca Williams, co-author of Presenting Presenting: The Art of Public Speaking and How to Do It Better, we delve into why performance blocks connection and how to address it quickly. You’ll learn Rebecca’s First Five Formula to open any talk, how to reframe nerves into excitement, and why you should build your talk off the laptop and on the wall before you ever touch slides.

We cover connecting with your audience first, storytelling that lands, and the mindset shift from “make me look good” to service. We also get practical for analytical presenters in tech, science, and blockchain who rely on data and jargon. If you speak at work, on stage, or on video, this will help you open stronger, deliver with heart, and be remembered.

What you’ll learn

• The First Five Formula to hook any audience in minutes
• How to lead with a question and read the room
• A repeatable prep process using paper, Sharpie, and structure
• Reframing nerves into excitement so delivery feels natural
• Why emotion drives persuasion and “robot talks” fail
• How to stop over-performing and start connecting
• Dressing and presence choices that support your message
• Fixing common corporate communication traps

About Rebecca

Rebecca Williams is a communication coach and co-author of Presenting: The Art of Public Speaking and How to Do It Better. She helps leaders and technical teams present with clarity, story, and genuine connection.

Grab Rebecca’s book

Search Amazon for “ Presenting presenting the Art of Public Speaking and How to Do It Better. Rebecca Williams” or visit https://rebecca-williams.com/book/

If this helped, subscribe for weekly tools on influence, storytelling, and professional speaking. Share it with one person who presents often.

Created in association with #podmatch the best podcast guest & host matching service.

Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

SUMMARY

Most of us spend our lives trying to blend in; at work, in friendships, even on stage. But the harder we chase acceptance, the more invisible we become.

In this episode, I share my own story of being pushed out of the very communities I once belonged to, and how that rejection became the catalyst for finding my voice. You’ll learn why “not fitting in” is often the beginning of true influence, how to turn outsider energy into credibility, and why your quirks might be your greatest professional asset.

🔥 What you’ll take away:

• The psychology behind belonging and exclusion
• Why hiding your truth erodes influence (and how to stop)
• How to reframe rejection as the start of credibility
• Practical steps to turn difference into magnetic presence

This isn’t about theory. It’s about lived experience, raw stories, and a roadmap for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t belong.

Do you want to hear the story that made me feel so vulnerable on stage? https://youtu.be/MRR9K9HvnRE

👉 Listen in and discover why not fitting in might just be your unfair advantage.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction: Embracing the Outsider Advantage

01:02 Personal Story: The Pain of Not Fitting In

02:52 Questioning Beliefs: A Turning Point

04:49 The Power of Authenticity

08:31 Navigating Relationships and Acceptance

12:49 The Importance of Vulnerability

20:18 Conclusion: Your Uniqueness as Leverage

Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.