Tracy Hooper – best-selling author of The Now Hello and founder of The Confidence Project.

🌟 Monday Night Live with Derek Arden – Special Guest: Tracy Hooper! 🌟 Welcome to Monday Night Live! I’m Derek Arden, and tonight we had the absolute pleasure of hosting the wonderful Tracy Hooper – best-selling author of The Now Hello and founder of The Confidence Project. Tracy joined us live from Portland, Oregon, sharing travel tales, life lessons, and confidence-boosting tips – all sprinkled with fun, laughter, and inspiration. ✈️ From Portland to the Thames – A Journey Full of Surprises Tracy began by sharing the excitement of traveling from the U.S. to London with her husband Henry and daughter Margaret. After a delayed flight, she arrived determined to make a great first impression – wrinkle-free outfit, bright lipstick, big smile… because, as Tracy says: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression!” Our in-person meet-up? A memorable boat ride on the River Thames, stories over pints in a centuries-old pub, and sightseeing across historic London. 🏰 Tower Bridge, History, and Hilarious Mix-Ups We laughed about the Americans who thought they bought Tower Bridge but ended up with London Bridge – which now sits in Arizona! Being in person meant spontaneous stories, real laughter, and unforgettable moments. 💼 The Confidence Project – Lessons for Life and Work Tracy explained how confidence is a skill anyone can learn – whether at work, traveling, or simply chatting with strangers. Some of her key lessons: 🚶‍♀️ Low-Level Labs: Practice conversations in safe, everyday settings – like with cabbies or in queues. 💬 Use magic words to keep conversations flowing: What? How? Tell me more… ✨ Drop weak phrases like I just… or Sorry, but… and speak with purpose. 🎩 Hats, History, and Hyde Park Adventures From Hyde Park hat shopping 🏞️ to visiting the Victory Services Club – founded in 1918 for returning soldiers – Tracy shared how travel connects people across generations, especially when sprinkled with courtesy and kindness. 🏟️ Arsenal Football and Serendipitous Moments One highlight? Margaret scoring a last-minute ticket to an Arsenal game thanks to a chance conversation on the boat ride. That’s the magic of meeting people in real life – opportunities appear when you least expect them! ⚽ 🚇 Courtesy Is Contagious – Lessons from London Transport On the Tube, signs read “Someone may need this seat more.” And Londoners lived up to it – offering seats with kindness. Tracy reminded us: “Confidence is contagious… but so is courtesy.” 🏰 Castles, Culture, and the Titanic in Ireland Tracy’s travels continued to Ireland – weddings in castles 💒, the moving Titanic Museum in Belfast, and even tiny Rathlin Island with just 110 residents! Each stop offered history, heart, and humor. 🌿 Kew Gardens and Science for the Future At Kew Gardens, it wasn’t just about beautiful plants – but also groundbreaking research on climate change and medicine. Travel isn’t only about seeing the past; it’s about learning the future. 🌍 🗣️ Words to Lose, Words to Use Tracy shared her famous “Words to Lose” tips – swapping weak, filler words for strong, confident language. And yes, we Brits say “sorry” far too much! 😅 🤝 Final Takeaway: Gather in Person! Tracy’s #1 tip for 2026 and beyond? “Meet people in person whenever you can. Have coffee. Share stories. Connect.” Because real conversations create real memories. 🙏 A Huge Thank You to Tracy Hooper! From confidence tips to travel tales, this episode had it all – history, humor, and heart. Thank you, Tracy, for reminding us of the power of connection, kindness, and confidence. 🌟AS COME TO LIFEHosted by Derek Arden | Negotiation Expert | Speaker | Connector https://derekarden.co.uk https://negotiationexpert.co NEW https://negotiatorspodcast.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/negotiatingexpert/