“There are only two types of speakers in the world.

The nervous and

Liars.”

— Mark Twain

 

Let me take you behind the scenes of one of my most humbling leadership moments.

 

I was sitting on set for a morning TV show, about to share a coaching framework I’d been teaching for years.

 

This was a dream moment—lights, cameras, a warm and curious host—and I was ready.

 

Until I wasn’t.

 

As she leaned in and asked about my go-to method, my mind went completely blank.

I froze. My brain pulled the emergency brake.

 

The framework I could teach in my sleep? Gone.

 

And then—bless her—the host held up her notecard and gently said,

 

 

Yep. I was.

 

That was the day I learned:

 

Public speaking isn’t about being polished. It’s about being present.

 

 

We’ve all been there:

And here’s the truth: if you’re leading a team, company, or vision—you’re a public speaker, whether you realize it or not.

 

Speaking isn’t a stage skill. It’s a leadership strategy.

 

You’re not just communicating.

 

You’re enrolling people into your vision.

 

That’s why the best leaders I know don’t just learn to speak—they learn to tell stories.

 

 

Your slides won’t move people. Your story will.

 

In our executive coaching work, I teach leaders a simple and powerful tool for message clarity and impact. It’s called:

 

This framework is simple, powerful, and unforgettable. Just like the message you want to deliver.

 

 

When that happens, you don’t just lose your audience—you lose your impact.

 

But the beauty of speaking is that every moment—even the missteps—are opportunities for growth.

 

 

Whether it’s the all-hands meeting, the client pitch, or the keynote—your words shape your culture.

 

Your presence sets the tone.

 

And your story? It invites people in.

 

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be real.

 

What story could you share this week to help your team feel what you see?

 

What truth are you holding back because you’re afraid you won’t say it “just right”?

 

“People will forget what you said, they’ll forget what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

 

I’m currently booking my workshop, The Art of Public Speaking for Executives, for leadership teams, corporate events, and offsites.

 

It’s designed to help your leaders:

 

DM me to book, or click HERE to connect.

 

Let’s turn your voice into your most powerful leadership tool.

If you’ve been leading long enough, you know this:

 

 

The secret behind the leaders who innovate faster, build deeper relationships, and create lasting impact?

 

 

Most people are chasing clarity, confidence, and connection.

 

But here’s what I’ve learned after years of coaching executives and building my own leadership practice:

 

 

Curiosity is not soft.

It’s not vague.

It’s a power move for any CEO, leader, or visionary ready to grow in a way that lasts.

 

This used to be me:

 

A high-performing knower. Always achieving, solving, pushing. Never asking.

 

Now?

 

Curiosity is one of the pillars of our Above-the-Line Leadership work.

 

It’s how we help leaders shift from proving to leading, from hustle to alignment, from doing more to asking better questions.

 

 

It’s waiting on your willingness to get curious.

 

If this resonated, share you’re thoughts in the comments below!

Let’s talk about what it would look like to lead with curiosity inside your business, your team—or your next keynote. Start the conversation by clicking HERE.

 

They’re burnt out because their nervous system has never learned how to pause.

 

Here’s the truth most won’t say out loud:

 

You can’t lead a high-performing team from a dysregulated state.

And your team is modeling your nervous system.

 

I learned this the hard way—after 16 years in corporate finance leadership, I left thinking it was the job.

 

But it was deeper than that.

 

I was leading from adrenaline, urgency, and outdated management paradigms.

 

Now, we teach executives to build nervous system regulation into their leadership strategy—because presence, clarity, and calm are what scale companies (and lives) sustainably.

 

Read the full blog HERE.

 

At The Amplified Life Company, we’re not calling you out.

We’re calling you up.

 

You want a high-performing team?

Be the high performer—starting with your nervous system.

 

Does this resonate with you today? Share your ideas in the comments below…

 

After years of leading, building, and pushing—there’s still a whisper in you:

 

 

But here’s what most high-performing leaders miss:

 

Your next level isn’t reached through more hustle.

 

It’s unlocked through self-awareness, nervous system intelligence, and visionary presence.

 

After 16 years in corporate finance leadership, I didn’t need another title.

I needed a new way to live and lead—without the constant proving, overworking, or running on fumes.

 

 

️What energy are you modeling for your team?
Your next level of leadership lives in:

 

And here’s the truth:

 

 

But no one rises alone.

 

 

At The Amplified Life Company, we work with leaders ready to scale their impact without sacrificing themselves. If you’re ready to transform how you lead—starting from the inside out—text “Amplify” to 503-386-2981 and let’s talk.

 

Your best chapter is here.

Let’s amplify it.

 

As I sat down with my book The Right to Write by Julia Cameron this morning, I began to think about the ability we each have to use our voices to deeply connect with others—both in life and in leadership.

 

For many years in my life and leadership, I believed my personal story wasn’t good enough to share. I thought I hadn’t gone through enough challenges to speak up. And in my leadership, everything was so planned, perfect, and practical—I said what I thought I needed to say instead of owning my voice.

 

I didn’t yet understand what it meant to have agency.

Agency over my story.

Agency over creative and innovative thinking.

Agency to truly connect, to richly and deeply impact others, and to invite them in—to a vision, to a movement, to a more meaningful way of living and leading.

 

And honestly?

That belief kept me good, but never great.

It kept me in the background.

It kept me mediocre—never dynamic, charismatic, or exceptional.

 

 

Over the past decade, I’ve shared my story. I’ve practiced storytelling. I’ve led with thought leadership. And I’ve used my voice—not to call people out, but to call them up. To invite them into something bigger than themselves. To be the one to show the world how truly great life can be.

 

We all have a voice. We all have a story. And deep down, we all want to share our story to be seen and heard—ultimately, to feel connected.

 

When we apply storytelling through a leadership lens, we add another layer—an invitation. An invitation for others to join our vision, to be part of something bigger than themselves, to make a difference, to use their unique gifts, and to connect deeply and richly with others.

 

So what place does storytelling have in leadership?

Storytelling is the most powerful way to share your thought leadership. Thought leadership differentiates you and sets you apart in the market. It evokes emotion in others that draws them closer—and instead of calling them out, it calls them up.

 

Storytelling + thought leadership is the new marketing in 2025.

It’s not just about making noise—it’s about creating meaningful resonance.

It’s about presence.

It’s about connection.

It’s about invitation.

 

 

 

One of the most powerful workshops we offer for executive teams is The Art of Public Speaking, where we teach storytelling as a catalyst for inspiration, motivation, innovation, and connection. It’s a game-changer for both internal culture and external impact.

 

Want to elevate your executive team and organization—while simultaneously creating real outcomes that sales and marketing cannot produce behind the scenes?

 

This is your new secret weapon.

 

We are booking The Art of Public Speaking workshops for May and June—3 dates available.

 

Let’s have a conversation about bringing this transformative workshop to your organization. Click HERE to book a call.