My name is Val, and I’m a public speaking strategist and coach helping leaders, professionals, and purpose-driven speakers show up with confidence, clarity, and impact—without the fluff, filler, or panic sweats. Inside Off the Cuff, my weekly email, you’ll get exclusive tips, sneak peeks at new trainings and resources, and first dibs when new programs or workshops open up. Join now—because confident speaking doesn’t happen by accident–It happens Off the Cuff... and On Purpose.
Stage fright is a mischievous lil’ guy
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Your heart drums beneath your ribs and the spotlight threatens to burn hotter with every second. Then your shaky words betray you and you know that if you don’t pull it together right now — you’re cooked 🔥(as gen Z would say). That’s stage fright doing what stage fright does best — hijacking your body like the confidence gremlin it is. The internet keeps telling you to “just breathe” or “picture the audience naked.” Let’s be real — that doesn’t help when you’re in front of people whose opinions actually matter and that little b*stard has his popcorn ready. It’s time for something better. 🎤 From Stage Fright to Stage Might — a free live training happening November 6 — where I’ll show you what actually works when the gremlin shows up to sabotage your moment. Here’s what I’ll be unpacking: 🎯 70% of career success is linked to how confidently you communicate (try saying that 10x fast) P.S. This is the only time I am offering this training for FREE so if you’re on the fence… sign up now before the price goes up. And if you'd like to skip on this training altogether (but still receive my regularly scheduled emails) just click right here and you won't here any more about it. |
Val Erickson–Public Speaking Coach
My name is Val, and I’m a public speaking strategist and coach helping leaders, professionals, and purpose-driven speakers show up with confidence, clarity, and impact—without the fluff, filler, or panic sweats. Inside Off the Cuff, my weekly email, you’ll get exclusive tips, sneak peeks at new trainings and resources, and first dibs when new programs or workshops open up. Join now—because confident speaking doesn’t happen by accident–It happens Off the Cuff... and On Purpose.
Hi Reader, Most people move more when they feel unsure. In fact, nervous speakers speed up, fidget, and fill every gap with words — because silence feels risky. What confident communicators do is the opposite. They pause.They stay grounded.They don’t rush to fill the space.They’re not scrambling for the next thought. That’s self-trust — the willingness to pause without panicking. This is true whether you’re speaking in person or online. Stillness tells people: nothing needs to be proven right...
Hi Reader, Most people add words when they feel unsure. It shows up as one more sentence, extra explanation or clarifying something no one asked for. But in presentations that matter, something different shows up. People who know what’s at stake speak less. They stop sooner and trust the point to land. Not because they have nothing more to say — but because they know what actually matters. Authority isn’t volume. It’s knowing what matters. If you want to see what this sounds like in practice,...
Hi Reader, Last week, Emily S. asked if confident speakers are just naturally polished. My response: "No!- they're disciplined" A lot of work looks effortless from the outside. Confident speakers, polished creators, people who seem calm and clear every time they speak put the work in and ... What we usually don’t see... is the discipline underneath it. Clarity shows up as subtraction and confidence shows up as restraint— fewer words, clear and strategic silence (a.k.a pauses), and solid...