Ever been tempted to “wing it” when speaking? Think again. While improvisation can seem natural and authentic, it’s also a risky move that can leave you stumbling, rambling, or losing your audience entirely.

In this episode, Colin explores three major reasons why speaking off-the-cuff can derail your talk—and what to do instead to feel prepared and confident. You’ll learn how to avoid common pitfalls, connect with your audience, and deliver a presentation that truly leaves an impact.

Whether you’re preparing for a keynote, a pitch, or a team meeting, this episode is packed with practical advice to take your speaking skills to the next level.

Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Want to learn how to grow your business and make an impact through public speaking? Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://www.speaknextweek.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to download our free guide or to get recommendations from Colin on how you can become a memorable and influential public speaker.

In this episode, I tackle a question from a listener: How can I share serious stories while keeping my presentation positive and NOT losing the audience? So I tested out an answer: drawing from my personal experiences crafting a powerful story about navigating the American healthcare system around my own health challenges (see what I mean? SERIOUS!), I share three key strategies to create emotional balance in your talks and keep it light, engaging, and inspiring no matter the content area you are sharing:

1. Pick Your Moments: Build lightness and humor around heavy topics to connect with your audience before diving deep.
2. Confident Vulnerability: Show authenticity without overwhelming your audience, ensuring they stay engaged and inspired.
3. Test It Out: Hone your story with practice audiences to craft a powerful, resonant message.

Whether you're a seasoned speaker or just starting out, this episode will help you transform serious stories into impactful presentations that leave your audience feeling inspired—not overwhelmed.

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Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at ⁠⁠⁠speaknextweek.com⁠⁠⁠ or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker.

In this episode of "Memorable Public Speaking and Storytelling," Colin shares a personal experience from a recent storytelling event where everything seemed to go wrong—yet the crowd loved it. Drawing lessons from that night, Colin reveals two powerful tips for any speaker: 1) Pay close attention to your environment—it can fuel your connection with the audience. 2) Embrace imperfection—allow yourself to make mistakes. Through a hilarious story about running with the bulls (or not), Colin shows how authenticity, even in moments of stress, can make you more relatable and memorable. Tune in to hear how to turn fear and failure into connection and engagement in your public speaking.

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Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at ⁠⁠speaknextweek.com⁠⁠ or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker.

In this episode we dive into the art of using humor effectively in your presentations. Humor can turn a dry, forgettable talk into something memorable and engaging, but it’s a tool that requires balance. Colin walks you through why humor is such a powerful connection tool, how to craft jokes and funny stories, and—most importantly—how to avoid offending your audience. We’ll cover practical tips on testing humor, steering clear of disrespectful jokes, and even a bonus tip on getting audience feedback. Tune in to learn how to make your audience laugh for all the right reasons!

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Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at ⁠speaknextweek.com⁠ or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker.

🎤 **Feeling Nervous About Networking? You're Not Alone!**

At its core, networking is about making that first connection and seeing if there's a vibe, mutual interest, or curiosity. But what if you don't feel confident? What if you're in your head about it? 🤔

Here's a truth: everyone feels awkward sometimes. I've been the confident networker and the one wanting to go home.

Recently I found a way to go from nervous-wallflower to networker-extraordinaire. Here's a story about an initial moment of honesty that led to a meaningful connection.

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Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Check out free resources at https://speaknextweek.com or get a free recommendation from me on becoming a stronger public speaker. In less time than you think, you can transform public speaking from something you dread into something you love! 🎙️

#Networking #PublicSpeaking #Authenticity #CareerGrowth

You will never more of your audience's attention than you do in the first 30 seconds. There are all kinds of fun and creative things you can do to hook them immediately, keep them engaged, and get them to say Yes. Unfortunately, the real-life tips in this video things are NOT intuitive, NO ONE does them automatically, and they take a little bit of creativity. The great news? They WILL increase your rate of success in pitches, presentations and conversations with clients.The Golden Window concept comes from "Go Big or Go Home: 5 Ways to Create a Customer Experience That Will Close the Deal" by Diana Kander and Tucker Trotter."

------------- Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at https://www.speaknextweek.com or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker. FREE GUIDE: How to Make Your Next Talk Your Best Talk | 15 ways to engage your audience, enhance your message, and make lasting change. https://www.speaknextweek.com #publicspeaking #presentationskills #storytelling #courage #connection #communication #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #comedy #humor #personaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment

A true story to remind you that we’re all pretending!

Key Ideas:

• What will be your next “15 feet of courage?”
• Public speaking is not about being perfect, it’s about creating a connection with your audience.
• The skill of connection belongs in our work, on our teams, in our relationships and in our relationship with ourselves.
• Next time you speak, don’t focus on getting every word right. Focus on understanding your audience and saying something that will create a genuine connection with them.

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Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at speaknextweek.com or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker.

Did you know that MOST people are used to NEVER being listened to. There's a reason for this: most of us never took a class or training on HOW to listen well. Well I took a 2-day listening training, and I'll sum it up for you in a few minutes (saving you a lot of time, you're welcome!)As you become a better listener, your world and your career opens up in a really remarkable ways, you learn a lot more, and you make other people feel amazing so then they listen better too!

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Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Check out free resources at ⁠https://speaknextweek.com⁠ or get a free recommendation from me on becoming a stronger public speaker. In less time than you think, you can transform public speaking from something you dread into something you love! 🎙️