LeadForward Vol.1 No. 3

Strategy

To reduce that fear, I focus on removing as many unknowns as possible. For example, I have delivered five TEDx talks. Unlike most of my talks, which I do not script or memorize word for word, I memorized each TEDx talk at least fifty times. Those talks live online for years and can be used no matter how they turned out. Memorizing gave me a foundation so solid that, even if I drifted for a moment, I could find my way back. I also work on shifting a speaker’s focus away from themselves and onto the audience. Before I walk on stage, I think about a time when someone told me that something I shared changed their

life. That memory reminds me that there is someone in the audience who needs what I am about to say. When I remember that, it is no longer about how I look or whether I deliver a perfect sentence. It becomes about serving that person. If you want to grow as a communicator, I believe you need reps. In my own life, I have seen this in music, comedy, and speaking. Songs get better with practice. Jokes get sharper with stage time. Talks get clearer with every audience. Practical on-ramps exist. Toastmasters clubs offer a supportive environment to practice. Groups like Rotary give opportunities to serve and speak. Chambers of Commerce and boards of trade are often looking for presenters. When I was building my speaking career, I would offer a “no fee” talk to a chamber in exchange for the chance to bring a videographer, hand out evaluations, and ask one key question: “Do you know others who could benefit from a similar talk?” A single room of one hundred people might open the door to five more talks. Practice and feedback became a system, not an accident. Through all of this, purpose has been my anchor. Years ago, I wrote a personal mission statement by hand. I keep it in my wallet and in front of me in my office. My mission is to be the person who motivates, donates, inspires, educates, and entertains. That simple sentence reminds me why I do what I do. When opportunities come, I hold them up against that mission. If a request fits four out of five words, it is probably a yes. If it fits none, it is a no, even if it looks attractive. For nonprofit and ministry leaders, I believe this combination of authenticity, coachability, communication, and purpose is essential. A nonprofit is still a business. People are looking to the leader to embody the mission, tell the story, and invite others into it. Your voice carries a wisdom no one else has. It deserves to be heard, not filtered or hidden.

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