Your interests must take priority. Avoid the disease to please. Frankly, no one ever said this would be easy, but standing your ground or sticking up for yourself in professional and personal settings is essential to building the confidence required to speak effectively. When the discomfort and anxiety overwhelm, and giving in suddenly seems like the best option - Eric is providing a path to remaining committed to your points, steps you can easily implement to stay the course. Saying what's hard helps you set a personal precedent. You'll get better at it, at every turn. 

As much as we'd like to snap our fingers and immediately turn into speaking experts - it's just not going to happen that way. Building up your speaking arsenal takes time. Eric pulls from a recent experience involving his son, and a superhero story. Even those gifted with superpowers struggle to find the right words. This episode will refresh and remind you how to stay sharp and improve your technique. Never stop learning - and you will never stop growing.  

Don't confuse vulnerability with weakness. Imperfection, maybe, but the same shortcomings you fear could resonate with your audience. Eric shares why being vulnerable is a ticket to connecting with a crowd. Let them in by being willing to share a personal story, or acknowledge a flaw. You have a better chance at connecting when seen as relatable. This will allow an audience to invest and engage with you as a speaker. Plus - the types of stories worth sharing and when they can be most impactful. 

On average, we meet our best friends around the age of 21. So what happens later in life after those formative years? Are we supposed to be ok with the struggle of finding true friendships in our 30s and 40s? Eric examines a recent write-up in The Atlantic  magazine (Katharine Smyth), with the focus on why making friends gets harder as we get older, what gets in the way and why it can be frustrating. It's tongue-in-cheek but it needs to be said. Keep your chin up, there is still a bright side.

There are two sides to every conversation, there must be. So, be strategic and listen. Forget the sales tactics, show your interest by understanding the needs of the person across from you.  Eric sits down with Media Maven Public Relations founder, host and blogger, Christina Nicholson - to get to the bottom of what it takes to sincerely reach people. To some degree It will involve a personal and genuine connection, face to face communicating, and at times a filter-free mindset. Eric and Christina also talk new business game plans and how to turn fear into excitement, when speaking to a crowd!

In simplest terms, be strategic in simplifying your approach. From your outline to your language, you and your audience will find wisdom (and success) in this process. Take away the pressure to perform while providing clarity for the crowd. Simplicity leads to originality, creates space for the true you and allows for better understanding. Your next time at the front of the room will suddenly seem more achievable. 

In this first edition of - Speaking Stories - Eric shares his personal experience in dealing with a difficult manager. There’s a common push to ‘please’ at all costs in the work world. But like this example, our confidence and creativity must not be compromised. We’re discussing why there are always multiple ways to reach a common goal, plus why the best version of ‘YOU’ should be prioritized over someone else’s. 

First things first, you are not alone. Eric can help you overcome this roadblock because he has experienced it. But to avoid this moment filled with dread and awkward silence, the key is preparation before it happens. Starting conversations with strangers, or speaking in concise, short sentences are just some of the ways to keep your mind clear and your words flowing when you are put on the spot. You will begin to condition yourself to think fast on your feet. It's easy and applicable, and you will no longer run from these scenarios. 

Picture yourself among friends. You're sharing a drink or a meal, this is where your mind must be. Genuine speech is born out of environments where we are most comfortable. Eric dives into the importance of conversational writing when prepping for a speech or presentation. Let your words flow naturally and simply onto the paper, so they will flow freely from your mouth and to your listeners' ears. The more relatable and digestible your word choice, the more people you will reach. Listen to learn how Eric pulls it off.  

A speaking engagement may not feel like vacation, but that's where your mind needs to be with this approach. As a tourist, Eric explains how to put yourself in the prime position to learn faster and enjoy yourself in the process. Tourists aren't worried about being judged, they're always asking questions and routinely discover new things. With these steps there's a good chance you'll discover a new way to make the most out of your next big moment.