Other VictoriesOvercoming Fear
Speaking truth to power without a stutter
Dear Delyara, I have spent my whole life hiding from public speaking because my childhood stutter made me feel so incredibly small whenever my jaw would lock in front of a crowd. Today, I stood at the head of a boardroom table in Manchester to present our SPV real estate portfolio and investment framework to a panel of high-net-worth directors. When I stood up, my knees shook and my chest went tight. But I took a deep, conscious breath, looked the lead investor in the eye, and spoke for forty-five minutes with absolute precision, elegance, and unshakeable authority. I didn't stumble once. I owned the room. Walking out into the fresh afternoon air, I wept tears of pure triumph. I have killed the demon that kept me silent.
— ANONYMOUS