STAY IN YOUR LANE

Kenyan marathon runner Abel Kirui prepared for the Daegu World Championships in his own style. Rather than trying to outmatch competitors in a sprint finish, he focused on what he did best – maintaining a strong, steady pace and breaking away early.

He chose a quiet approach that aligned with how he worked.

He won gold, nearly a minute ahead of the next runner.

That story comes to mind when someone asks me if they should give a talk on a topic they don’t know well.

My answer is “don’t”.

Stick to what you know – your version of the strong, steady pace.

When you speak on a subject you’ve worked on or explored in depth, people trust you more. Your message lands better. You don’t have to fake confidence – you’ll already have it.

This doesn’t mean you can’t grow. But when it’s time to step up and present, speak from experience.

That’s what builds your credibility and strengthens your reputation as someone worth listening to.

Keep showing up with what you know best. It works.

Timeless Presenter, my new book on the principles of communication that never expire, will be released soon.

If you’d like to be notified when it’s out, you can join the early access list here.