My Authentic Story

Last week I stepped on stage in Bangkok at Signature Global Network PTY LTD hosted by Cuilan Guo. I wanted this talk to be a different talk from all the other talks I have EVER done before. No slides, but a talk that comes from the heart. One that addresses a pain held by many entrepreneurs, but not often spoken about.

I am nervous leading up to my talk. Spend hours practicing, finetuning and improving the speech. I only have 10 minutes and every practice I am far over it. I am praying to keep it together and at the same time still remembering the text. All I want is to touch the audience with a story that reasonates.

The talk is about building something bigger than me. And then seeing it fall apart right in front of me. About feeling crushed once it collapses. A real story about failing and then picking up the pieces. Picking up the pieces deciding to do things differently. On my terms. Changing my perspective about no longer being all in on business, being all in LIFE. Doing business on my terms.

I left the stage shaking and hugged the first person I saw. I felt the talk so deeply that I don’t remember all of it. It just flowed. The feedback from the audience was amazing. All were touched by it. It really hit home for many. I could not believe that I did it. It feels so unreal. Luckily I have a recording to proof it really happened.

Back in the Netherlands I am reflecting on what happened that day. It took so much practice and courage. But above all of it, it is the tips from my mentor Daniel Kluken that helped me deliver. 

Because I care about sharing let me summarize them:

1. Simplify the story you are sharing

2. Use the Disney effect: built up to a high, then go to a low and then a happy end

3. Paint a picture, but don’t share details that don’t matter

4. Tell your story in the present tense

5. Present each part of the talk at a different part of the stage. This will help you remember where you are in your story and you take the audience with you.

6. And finally. Most importantly. Get in touch with the words you are saying. It is OK to get emotional on stage. Better said you should get emotional if you are telling a story that is real to you.

I am proud of the experience, but I know that there are many ways to improve. What other tips do you have to deliver a heartfelt story that reasonates with an audience?