The Speaker Coach: “Stage Fright KILLS Potential” w/ Jesse Cruz (RBC #151)

Rochester Business Connections Episode #151 with Jesse Cruz.

Have you ever experienced stage fright? That sudden wave of panic just before you face an audience, when your heart races and your mind goes blank. It can make even the most prepared person doubt themselves, yet it’s not a sign of weakness.

Today, Jesse Cruz shares tips on how we can deal with stage fright. Jesse Cruz is an internationally recognized, award winning speaker, best selling author, and coach specializing in speaker development. He is also the founder and CEO of Merge Worldwide.

One powerful lesson Jesse shared came straight from his military experience: “Mission First.” This principle isn’t just for the battlefield; clarity on your mission and the people you’re serving is the foundation for success, both in business and when stepping up as a speaker. Keeping your mission in mind ensures that every decision and action moves you and your audience forward.

According to Jesse, your phone should be your stage. It doesn’t matter how many followers you have; it’s a great starting point. You can go live on any of your social media platforms, for instance, once a week. Always look at it like a stage and never forget to put your audience at the center of your talk. Jesse also shares actionable tips on how to choose a topic and manage being on a physical stage.

During this episode, you will learn about:

[00:00] Trailer

[01:29] Communication leadership in the military

[02:37] Keynote speaking

[05:53] Knowing your audience

[07:32] Signature talks

[11:21] On the spot workshop

[13:44] How Jesse got into communication

[15:42] Rejection

[18:24] Finding your tribe

[22:50] Playing small

[26:11] Don’t mute your voice

[26:58] Criticism

[30:32] Your phone, your stage

[33:18] Getting on a physical stage

[38:54] Connect with Jesse Cruz

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/jesse.cruz.5/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-cruz-133714164/ 

[41:58] Partner with Jesse

[42:58] Choosing a topic

Key Takeaways:  

• I believe if you want to go faster, you hire a master that can help you and has already walked the path that you've been on. ~Jesse Cruz [04:34]

• Sometimes speakers get on stage, and they want to make the talk all about themselves, and it's not really helping. ~Jesse Cruz [04:52]

• “Not every stage opportunity is your opportunity.” ~Jesse Cruz [07:48]

• When someone's building out a signature talk, they want to focus on the universal principles that most humanity can agree upon. ~Jesse Cruz [09:44]

• “Never take criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from.” ~Jesse Cruz [27:51]

• The people who are actually very successful, their criticism does not come from a place of envy or hatred. If they were to give you criticism, it's constructive criticism. ~Jesse Cruz [28:14]

• “When you are building a business, don't listen to the people closest to you. Listen to the people closest to your goal.” ~Jesse Cruz [28:55]

• “You actually have a stage in your pocket everywhere you go, because you have a phone.” ~Jesse Cruz [30:49]

• “You don't have to have this crazy inspiring story to have a great message to share.” ~Ben Albert [40:46]

• “Painful lessons usually turn into profitable lessons.” ~Jesse Cruz [43:59]

People Mentioned and Other Resources:

1. Erica Mallett Episode: https://realbusinessconnections.com/podcast/ericamallett/ 

Keep In Touch with Jesse Cruz:

Website: https://mergeworldwide.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesse.cruz.5 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-cruz-133714164 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessecruzspeaks/ 

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