Afterword Standing Up

Abstract

Early in my career I learned the value of being a powerful presenter. Even as an agency principal with a hundred different tasks on my plate, I made it a priority to study and learn about presenting in all its forms. I knew that it was important enough to be the difference between success and failure for my firm. But I also knew that it was critical to my personal success and growth. I learned that presenting was a powerful way of expressing not just what I believed, but who I am. The way in which we behave in front of an audience while communicating whatever it is that’s on our minds says volumes about who we are. If a client is to trust us, she must believe us. And we prove ourselves worthy of that trust by standing up and speaking our truth. If we expect people to follow us, we must inspire them to do so. We must stand up and be a leader. On a more mundane level, if we expect someone to buy our work, to embrace our ideas, we must first stand up and convince them that we are worthy of their confidence.