Before You Speak: The Pre-Game Rituals That Actually Work

Most speakers sabotage themselves before they even get on stage.Some wing it. Others over-hype themselves. Many cling to lucky charms or last-minute cramming. The result? Nerves, shaky delivery, and lost connection with the audience.In this solo episode, John shares a practical pre-game system you can actually use to get stage-ready without superstition or overthinking.You’ll learn how to:Reset your mindset in two minutes with Stoic reframing, box breathing, and a simple nerves-to-excitement shift.Prepare your body and voice with easy warm-ups (that won’t make you look ridiculous backstage).Prime your message by locking in your opening, closing, and key beats — without cramming.Avoid common pre-game mistakes that drain your energy or ramp up nerves.Whether you’re about to step on stage, record a podcast, or present to your team, these tools will help you show up calm, confident, and connected.👉 Next time: John speaks with Joel Benge about Message Mastery and why tech leaders need to “talk good” (his words, not mine).👉 Coming soon: A solo deep dive on the ethics of influence and the tricky line between genuine credibility and manufactured status.🎥 For behind-the-scenes extras and visuals, subscribe to the YouTube channel: Present InfluenceVisit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient. CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Pre-Game Preparation01:03 Personal Story: Overcoming Stage Fright02:37 Mental Preparation Techniques03:30 Breathing Exercises for Calmness06:34 Vocal Warm-Ups and Physical Preparation09:41 Effective Rehearsal Strategies16:45 Common Pre-Game Mistakes to Avoid21:05 Final Tips and ConclusionFor speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.Mentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.