#86 How to Own Your Voice in High-Stakes Situations, With Mark Friedlich

Summary

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Podcast Summary: TranscendingX – Episode #86

"How to Own Your Voice in High-Stakes Situations, with Mark Friedlich"

Date: August 14, 2025
Host: Uri Schneider
Guest: Mark Friedlich, VP of Government Affairs

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on breaking through communication fears—specifically, how to own your voice authentically in high-stakes situations, whether you stutter or simply feel silenced by fear, shame, or perfectionism. Guest Mark Friedlich shares his remarkable journey from a humble upbringing and living with a pronounced stutter to becoming a prominent executive and public speaker who testifies before Congress. The episode offers actionable insights for professionals, leaders, and anyone ready to step into uncomfortable spaces and claim their voice.

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Key Insights & Discussion Points

1. Controlling Your Response, Not Circumstances

• Uri's Anecdote (04:12–06:48): Uri begins with a humorous and poignant story about an unexpected car problem, illustrating that while one can't control external events, the key is how one responds.

  • “You don’t control the circumstances, but you get to control how you respond.” (D: 04:48)

• Mark's Role: Mark, as VP of Government Affairs at a multinational software company, deals regularly with unpredictable, high-pressure situations, underscoring the value of preparation and adaptability.

  • “Being as prepared as possible has always, always been a priority for me.” (B: 07:14)

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2. The Power of Preparation

• Preparation Mindset (10:13–16:38):

  • Mark credits his rigorous preparation, dating back to childhood, as the cornerstone of his success. He visualizes interactions and readies himself for the unpredictable.

    • “I always wanted to own the room...and that’s around preparation.” (B: 13:02)

  • Echoing, Uri remarks:

    • “If you practice like it’s game day, game day will be like practice.” (D: 10:16)

• Presentation Strategy (29:35–32:07):

  • Mark rarely uses word-heavy slides, preferring visuals to keep focus on himself and his message—emphasizing clarity, presence, and interpersonal connection.
    • “I don’t want you reading my slides... I want you to look at me, I’m going to walk around, ask you questions...” (B: 30:15)

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3. Reframing Stuttering & Communication Differences

• Stuttering as a Non-Impediment (12:22–16:41):

  • Mark’s personal philosophy is to treat his stutter not as an impediment, but simply a trait—never central to his self-image or success.

    • “I never thought of the possibility of having a speech issue. It never entered my mind.” (B: 13:02)

  • Uri summarizes:

    • “Whether you think you have a speech impediment or you think you don’t have a speech impediment, you’re right.” (D: 18:07)

  • Mark’s resilience:

    • “I’m who I am. And anybody who has an issue with this... I don’t want you in my life.” (B: 19:23 & 19:54)

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4. The Cost—and Reward—of Owning Your Voice

• Speaking Up and Facing Costs (25:06–27:27):

  • Mark explains that confronting negativity or misunderstanding—be it in the schoolyard or workplace—is worth any “tax” paid for authenticity.

    • “I'm willing to bear the cost.” (B: 26:25)
    • “Because it makes me feel better... I deserve as much respect as anyone else. Really more so.” (B: 26:32, 26:42)

  • Even in settings that prize speed (e.g., Wall Street), Mark doesn’t compromise:

    • “You invited me to testify... I'm here because I've been invited, because I make a major contribution. It's the price that you pay, being a little more patient.” (B: 27:27)

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5. Vulnerability, Realness, and Attracting the Right People

• Authenticity vs. Approval (20:42–22:29):

  • Uri shares his own struggle with masking his identity for others’ comfort, realizing the value of showing up fully and attracting those who resonate with the real version.

    • “Let me just do me... giving people more value, and it's also helping me identify who this doesn't resonate with.” (D: 21:56)

  • Mark underscores the message:

    • “I do not surround myself with positive individuals who want to be around me. If you have an issue...I express my feelings.” (B: 19:56)

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6. Embracing Discomfort as a Growth Tool

• On Uncomfortable Situations (33:59-35:44):

  • Mark’s guiding principle is clear:
    • “One guiding principle I've always had... put your health in uncomfortable situations. Because that's the only way one will grow.” (B: 34:00)

• Fear as a Permanent Companion, Not a Barrier:

  • Uri reads a passage Mark wrote that powerfully captures this philosophy:

    • “Fear stays. It changes, but does not leave. We face it daily... but it no longer decides where we go.” (D: 32:30; quoting Mark)

  • Mark reaffirms:

    • “There is that... fear. It’s always with me, always will be, but it will never hold me back from anything.” (B: 35:15)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The fear remains always, but it no longer decides where we go.” (D: 33:43, quoting Mark’s blog passage)
• “I always wanted to be memorable. I always wanted to be that person that people would remember... I always wanted to own the room.” (B: 13:02)
• “I do not surround myself with positive individuals who want to be around me. And if you have an issue... I don't want you in my life.” (B: 19:54)
• “I'm willing to bear the cost... because it makes me feel better.” (B: 26:25–26:35)
• “Put yourself in uncomfortable situations. That’s the only way one will grow.” (B: 34:00)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Theme/Insight | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 04:12–06:48| Uri's "car trouble" story; controlling your response | | 07:14 | Mark describes his high-level, high-stakes job | | 12:22–16:41| Mark reframes stuttering; never saw it as a limitation| | 18:07 | “Whether you think you have a speech impediment...” | | 19:23–19:54| Owning identity, refusing to hide or apologize | | 25:06–27:27| Costs of speaking up, authenticity in work life | | 29:35–32:07| Powerful tips for public speaking & preparation | | 32:30–33:43| Uri reads Mark’s blog on fear and persistence | | 33:59–35:15| Mark’s parting advice: Growth through discomfort |

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Final Takeaways

• Preparation, self-knowledge, and embracing your vulnerabilities are key to excelling in high-stakes communication.
• Fear never truly disappears, but it doesn't have to dictate your journey.
• Being real and present attracts the right connections—at work and in life.
• Put yourself in discomfort to grow; growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones.
• Your voice is worth hearing, whether or not it conforms to others’ expectations.

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For anyone struggling with communication fears or stuttering—Mark Friedlich’s story is proof you can not only “get by” but thrive, influence, and inspire at the highest levels without changing who you are.

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Transcript

[A]

Welcome to TranscendingX. Whether it's stuttering public speaking or crucial conversations, all of us have something that holds us back. What if there was a way through it? I'm Uri Schneider from Schneider Speech, where we help people talk more and fear less. And I'm the host of the TranscendingX community. Join me as we talk to high performers, researchers, and everyday heroes to discover how they transform their challenges into breakthroughs. And most of all, find ways for each of us to transcend X in our own lives.

[B]

If I can be an inspiration to even one individual is worth it. There is that. The ear. It's always with me, always will be, but it will never hold me back from anything.

[C]

This episode sounds different, and that's because it's not just any guest. Our guest is Mark Friedlich. Now Mark shares his story of success growing up in a tenement apartment on the Lower east side of Manhattan to getting to the position that he's in today as vice President of government affairs at a multinational corporation with over 23,000 employees around the world. The original date of recording had to be rescheduled. I said, mark, what happened? He said, I'm so sorry. I was called to testify in front of a congressional committee. In the middle of the episode, he drops a a really surprising story of what he said to former President Bill Clinton. He'll walk us through a couple tips and things that he credits for his success. You'll hear that he has a pretty strong stutter. There's more stuttering in this episode than almost any other episode in our podcast. But there's more wisdom and insight to take away from this episode than almost any other. As much as the stutter sounds really big to us, Mark says he never saw it as a speech impediment. He'll share with us the power of preparation, the importance of being memorable, and the muscle you build when you put yourself in uncomfortable situations. And so much more. My favorite quote from the episode is, the fear stays, but it no longer decides where we go. I hope you'll enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed my conversation with Mark Friedlich.

[D]

Well, it's great to see you, Mark. Thanks for coming.

[B]

I appreciate you having me. I've watched just most of your podcasts. They're extremely impressive and educational.

[D]

Is there a favorite that stands out?

[B]

Inspirational.

[D]

Inspirational. I would say those are my aspirations. That it should be informational, entertaining and inspiring.

[B]

And entertaining as well, by the way.

[D]

Thank you. Well, today's gonna be another great one. I'm looking forward. We had to reschedule because, unfortunately, you had to testify in front of a congressional hearing. Not. They weren't grilling you, but you were.

[B]

Well, they always grill me, but in a friendly way.

[D]

Well, we'll get to that. But just to speak to who you are and what circles you travel in, that was the reason you had to cancel. It was an acceptable cancellation. So today is.

[B]

I appreciate your flexibility. And I had the privilege of meeting the. Well people here. So we. We. We've had a wonderful conversation.

[D]

Oh, we're going to definitely give a shout out to Jordan and Jen, and they're going to be in the footnotes.

[C]

They rule show notes.

[B]

Yeah, they. They know my life's. Who are we at this point?

[D]

Where do you think I learned how to do the interviewing? You know, So I had a cool story getting here that I thought I should tell you. I told you I would. I told you I was running later than I expected. I woke up this morning, and I'm actually driving a rental car, and it's a Tesla. And you think, like, okay, as long as the battery is full, what could go wrong? What could go wrong? Well, a lot of things can go wrong. And the question is, like, you don't control the circumstances. You only control how you respond. Right?

[B]

Absolutely right.

[D]

So I had a wrench in my day when I found out that there was a screw in the tire. The tire pressure was low, and the light goes off on the dash there. And I said, that's weird. Okay, I'll drive down and I'll put some air in the tire. So I drive down to Broadway and gas station, Gulf station, and I put some air in the tire. And as I'm putting the air in, I see there's a New York City screw in the tire. And now I say to myself, I can't drive with a screw.

[B]

Wow.

[D]

All I know is, like, I'll park somewhere in the wrong angle, and it's gonna go total flat, right? So I said, can you change, you know, can you help me plug this. This. This hole?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And he says to me in. In a. You know, he's not a native English speaker, but we managed to get through with it. He wanted to help me, but he couldn't. I. I said, where can I go? He says, maybe. I said, maybe or definitely? He said, no, maybe. I said, maybe. Maybe. Maybe. Tire. Maybe tire. I said, no, definitely tire.

[B]

You never know.

[D]

You never know. So it was a little bit of uncertainty, but again, rolling with the uncertainty, so I said, maybe. So I put it into my. I wrote into the maps, Google Maps. I said, you know, tire. And I see that two blocks away there's a Mavis Tires. Maybe Tires.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

So we go to maybe Tires. Mavis Tires. I pull up and I said to them, listen, I got this rental car and I have a very important guest. I gotta get into the city. Can you help me out here? What can we do? He says, no problem. Give me the information. I said, just tell me what's it gonna cost? He says, about $24. I said, $24. You give me the receipt, I'll deal with it later with the rental car company. And if you can get me out quick, great. If it's gonna take a long time, that's okay. See what you can do for me. Thank you. So I go, I have a seat. Ten minutes later, he comes in and he says, no problem, we got the screw out. All taken care of. I said, what do I owe you? He says, nothing, just give the guy a few bucks. I go to pick up the car. The guy that changed the tire pulls up. I'm like, wow, that was amazing. Like, I thought this was gonna be a complete wreck to the day. And I thought it was gonna be the second time we'd have to reschedule because I didn't think there was any way I was gonna get here on time.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Guy gets out of the car, he has his name on his chest. What's his name? Angel. Dude. It's a Bronx tail.

[B]

Very appropriate.

[D]

It's a Bronx tail.

[B]

Very appropriate.

[D]

So, like, I just thought about that, and then driving down, I was thinking, you know, you don't control the circumstances, but you get to control how you respond and you come up with a response. So I was wondering for you, like, what would you say about that? Because your whole life, maybe just tell us a little bit about what you do. It's really about strategy and thinking about how to navigate, you know, complex problems, being a problem solver. But tell us about what you do professionally. What's your day like?

[B]

What. So I am the vice president of government affairs or a multinational corporation. We're a software company. We irv accountants, attorneys with government and others within in North America and around the world where a international company with over 23,000 employees. So I. I began. Advising the Senate Finance Committee, the. The House Ways and and Means Committee in Congress, the administrations way back to Bush, the Hearst, regardless of a party affiliation. I'm on the boards of the irs, the aicpa, many other associations. I've spoken and I speak at major conferences all around the world, the American Bar association as well. So I start my day just in preparing. So being as prepared as possible has always, always been a priority for me. And that's way back when I was in, in, in the first grade. In the second.

[D]

I want to get to that. Can I ask a question?

[B]

Yeah, sure.

[D]

There's a line I like about preparation. They say if you practice like it's game day, game day will be like practice.

[B]

Absolutely.

[D]

And I asked you before we started recording and your response was surprising to me. So I think it might surprise people that if Mark today could talk to Mark, 12 years old would 12 year old Mark. What would he say about the Mark that you are today and the things that you're involved in and all the, all, all the public speaking and involved in these levels of corporate culture, of corporate interactions in your professional association, in government, congressional hearings. What would 12 year old mark think of the Mark today?

[B]

Yeah, I expected this. What else is new, you know?

[D]

So you grew up on the Lower east side. You told me you grew up on the Lower east side in a tenement apartment with parents that were Holocaust survivors.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

You had, you shared a bedroom for much of your childhood. You had one sister. And so you come from the Lower east side living in that kind of scarcity. I guess I would say from a material point of view, we, we had nothing.

[B]

We never car. I didn't have a bicycle. I didn't have.

[D]

You even said that you, you made effort effort to buy kosher meats even though it was pricier.

[B]

So. Yeah, well, my parents would like kosher meats deli and I mean it wouldn't

[D]

be the Lower east side without kosher deli.

[B]

Right, right. And Catches was one of her favorite places.

[D]

Sure.

[B]

When it, when it wasn't $40 for a. Yeah.

[D]

That wasn't then a pastrami sandwich. It's rough these days. So. But the curiosity I have is how. What's the journey meaning from such, from that kind of upbringing and growing up with that kind of scarcity and that kind of. And, and then also I think you stutter. You have a stutter.

[B]

I guess sometimes. Okay.

[D]

You stutter.

[B]

Sometimes I don't really think about it.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

But. But yeah.

[D]

So like how did you have that confidence? You've been told Someone said occasionally. Yeah, well, I don't, I don't mean to, you know, be projecting anything or forcing anything, but I thought I might have picked it up. I thought I might have. I don't know.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

But even that response is so interesting because to you, it's not front and center.

[B]

No.

[D]

And I think that that's really interesting and worth exploring. Like, how did you grow up coming from where you came from and that background and that upbringing to have the confidence that you always knew you were going to make it in a big way.

[B]

I always wanted to be memorable. I always wanted to be that person that people would remember whether I was the smartest individual in the room, whether I was the best dressed person. We like the fit in the room, the fittest. I wanted, when I walked in the room, I always wanted to own, own the room. And it's funny because I had this conversation with, with Bill Clinton in the White House many when he was the president, obviously. And I would say to him, you know, one of the most impressive things about you is that wherever you appear one on one or in a group setting you in the room, you're the focus of attention. Not only because you're, you're smart, but also because you're welcoming, you're warm, it's easy to be around you. And for me, when I was a young boy, I always wanted to be the individual with my hand up in the classroom answering teachers questions. I never thought of the possibility of having a speech issue. It never entered my mind. But I, I knew the answer and I was anxious to be the, the first person, as I mentioned, with my hand up. And I think a lot of that is around preparation. Always focused on just being prepared and visualizing the way that I would react. And you had made the comment earlier, we can't control mostness situations. The only thing we are able to roll is how we react.

[D]

And

[B]

I've always had a smile on my face, no matter the situation. When I was yesterday being questioned by many of the Congress people on the committee on the subcommittee that was, that was before I always had a smile on my face. I'd answer, answer their questions, but I would making my business to be positive and, and unemotional and, and, and responsive. And so we were talking about this earlier, before we recorded. You know, many people characterize stuttering, for example, as their super power.

[D]

I was gonna just frame this for one sec. Something you said really hit me. You said you never thought of it, that you had a speech impediment. And I just was gonna think like whether you think you have a speech impediment or you don't think you have a speech impediment, you're right.

[B]

Right.

[D]

You might have a difference in the way you speak, but whether it's an impediment or not. Yeah, it might be or it might not be. It doesn't have to be.

[B]

Right. Well, it's like anything else, you know, people are afraid, you know, to get in front of a group of people to, you know, make any sort of presentation.

[D]

So whether you think you have a speech impediment or you think you don't have a speech impediment, you're right. We were talking about that. So I think it's. It's quite poignant how you don't have an invisible stutter. And I. I imagine it doesn't hide itself when you're in front of Congress.

[B]

It's.

[D]

It's there.

[B]

So it. Yes, it's there. Always air. But the severity.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Varies. For example, when I walked in here, my flow was much better.

[D]

Much more. More flow.

[B]

Right. Than it is. More flow.

[D]

Now you're stuttering. Better.

[B]

Excellent. Yeah.

[D]

Stronger.

[B]

Doesn't matter to me.

[D]

It is what it is.

[B]

It doesn't matter.

[D]

But that's amazing.

[B]

I'm who I am. And anybody who has an issue with this, I'd use the word.

[D]

Finish that if they have an issue with this.

[B]

Well, I don't want to use the word I was going to use.

[D]

Keep it clean.

[B]

Yeah. But I was going to use the word you would imagine. And I use that word quite often.

[D]

We try to keep this safe for children.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Which way? I'm not.

[D]

But that. It's very emphatic. You don't want to take away the oomph.

[B]

It's. I don't want you in my life.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, I don't surround myself with positive individuals who want to be around me. And if you have an issue with anything, whether it's who I am, my personality, what, Whatever the issue is. Cause I'm, you know, my personality is out there. I mean, I express my feelings, you know, and many people, you know, are taken aback.

[D]

Yeah. And you've achieved great success at the same time. Meaning there's something very attractive and refreshing to see people who are just real. So you being real means some people are gonna be attracted to what you bring. And if someone has an issue with it, which there will be people, they can go, hmm. Now I'm gonna reveal something. Just a little tangent, but we. We talked about maybe going there. This is more on me than on you. Prior to October 7, 2023, I always wore a yarmulke, but I always tried to, like, neutralize and not put it front and center. And I tried not to on the one hand, not to mask who I am, but on the other hand, I tried not to be too Jewy. I tried not to be in any way that could be prickly or for somebody, that just doesn't sit well with that. And since October 7th, something that I'm borrowing from your playbook because it's not part of my nature. It's not part of how I roll. And it would be the same if I had a stutter. And that's why I'm fascinated, is like, it took something like October 7th to shake me up, to say, I'm not gonna hide. I'm not gonna pretend to be somebody that I think everybody's gonna like. It has to do with my Jewish identity, but also other things. I became much more real, much less filtered, much less thinking, how is this gonna sit with people? Like, let me just do me. And as you said, and what I'm seeing is that people that are drawn to. That are drawn to it even more, and people that are not. They probably weren't liking the vanilla ice cream version of me either. So, you know, giving them who I really am is giving people more value. And it's also helping me identify, like, who this doesn't resonate with, who isn't, you know, jamming with this. Okay.

[B]

You know, it's.

[D]

But I grew up and my temperament is much more sensitive. So I think, for example, if I grew up with your stutter.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

If I had your stutter, I asked myself, how would I operate? And I think it's reasonable. Beyond reasonable. It's pretty. It's pretty compelling that it would be something I would try to hide. I would be dodging words all the time. I certainly wouldn't go over to Bill Clinton and talk to him about how charismatic he is. I would be shaking in my boots, and I'd be in the bathroom, you know, so. So I think for the people that have that temperament, like myself, and there are some people out there, what gives you that.

[B]

That.

[D]

That steel strength. And like, we talked before about the look, you know, when you speak and words don't come out on schedule the way people expect, they might look. They might give you that quizzical look or. I don't know how it.

[B]

My whole life.

[D]

What do you get from people? And how do you.

[B]

In the restaurant, why does it affect

[D]

some people and not affect you?

[B]

Evening we went. Have to eat. I ordered, and the waiter had the look.

[D]

The look?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

So he didn't get a good tip?

[B]

No, he. He deserves a good tip. Because this harvest Was excellent.

[D]

He deserves a good tip.

[B]

But he got the words.

[D]

But you don't deserve the look.

[B]

Me? But he got the words from me about the look.

[D]

That's what I want to hear. So what'd you tell him? What'd you tell him?

[B]

I'm not going to repeat the words. But. But.

[D]

So you told him off and gave him a good tip for the service?

[B]

Yes. One thing has nothing to do with the other.

[D]

I think a lot of people be surprised by that.

[B]

Once I expressed my feelings about that, his adaptation attitude entirely changed.

[D]

How so?

[B]

Much more accommodating and patient and friendlier. And frankly, I was that way. In the schoolyard, you know, I confronted anyone who would say or react in a way that I didn't think was appropriate.

[D]

Let's just talk professional workspaces. It could be stuttering. It could be sexual harassment. It could be someone's stature, their color of their skin. What do you recommend for people? How to. How to speak up for themselves when they're not in a place of strength or privilege. A person who stutters or person who.

[B]

It's hard because many people would just back off and accept that bullying. I was never willing to back off. Something I was born with.

[D]

In the. In the restaurant, it worked out. In the schoolyard, it sounds like it mostly worked out or it beat the

[B]

hell out of the person.

[D]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What's the. Sometimes there are invisible costs or a tax that we pay for. Some people, they pay the tax and the cost. It's not worth saying it. I don't want to make a ruckus. I don't want to make a scene. I'll pay the tax of not saying what needs to be said. But people need to be aware. There's a tax you're paying. There's a cost for not speaking up. On the flip side, if you kind of, like, let people know what's up, sometimes there might be. There might be a cost to that.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Similarly, with preparation. You use the word preparation. I'm wondering.

[B]

I'm willing to bear the cost.

[D]

You're willing to pay that price? Yeah.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

Because what's. Why, what's the balance sheet?

[B]

Because it makes me feel better.

[D]

You know, the upside outweighs I deserve.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

That's so interesting.

[B]

As much respect as anyone else. Really more so.

[D]

Why?

[B]

Why? Because I'm willing to be out there. You know, I'm not hiding behind a rock. But.

[D]

But listen, like, I'm just gonna take the other side.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No. Yeah.

[D]

You work where you work On Wall Street. Yeah, the office is on Wall Street. New York City. Things move quick, people talk quick. They don't a lot of time.

[B]

I grew up here.

[D]

Listen, speed up, speed up, buddy. I don't have all day. Like, very nice in your personal life and in the school yard with the waiter, but like, let's go. Let's go, buster. Like, we don't have all day to listen to you, Mark. Like, we got another hearing coming up. How do you deal with that? Because that's out there.

[B]

No, you invited me testify. You know, I'm here because I've been invited, because I make a major contribution. It's the price that you pay by being a little more patient than you might otherwise pay. It's funny though, when, when I mentioned friends and my children, my sons and my romantic partner.

[D]

What a great title that I was.

[B]

We laugh about it, that I was doing this podcast about the stuttering.

[D]

It's not about stuttering.

[B]

The response. Right, right. But it. Okay, right. The response by everyone was but, but you don't stutter. You don't have any issues. Why would you. Why would they want to speak. Speak with. With you about.

[D]

So why did you come uptown to record this? Why did you want to do this?

[B]

Well, you know, if I can be an inspiration to even one individual is worth it. How much more fluid. I'm much more prepared, if you will. I. I walk through exactly what will.

[D]

That's the other part I want to ask you. What would you. I was going to ask like the Goldilocks effect on preparation, because is there such a thing as too little preparation? For sure. Is there also something that's too much preparation? Do you ever feel like you're stifled by it? And as you're saying now, like, you're always trying to be prepared. You know how to navigate. Does that have a cost or is there a cost to being over prepared?

[B]

Well, it's only. Well, I wouldn't characterize it as over prepared, but when I make a. A speech or a presentation, and it's most often brief, war attorneys, government leaders, Top accountants in the world, and these people all follow me on social media for my insights. So I have the reputation, but I play out in my mind exactly the way I want this to play out. So I don't put up slides with a lot of words on them, even though I talk about extremely complex issues. When I'm up there, first thing I put up is a picture, whether it's a bird or a masterpiece. Van Gogh or Rembrandt or something. And I tell the audience, I don't want you reading my slides. I'm going to email all the slides to you. I want you to look at me. I'm going to walk around, ask you questions, focus on me and my words, because that's all that matters. It's why you're investing lost money and. Time in being here. Just listen to me. Not to read with slide. Then I'm going to email you anyway.

[D]

That has nothing to do with stuttering. That's a good tip for anyone presenting. Don't put all your. All. Your whole speech doesn't need to be on the slides. So speaking of listening to your slides, I'm with you.

[B]

I put a bird.

[D]

I don't even like slides. I hate slides.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

But if that's what the culture is and that's what they need, I'll put some slides together. I did it this past Sunday.

[B]

I've never done it. Well, I used to when I was a kid, beginning at Price, Wardhouse, Coopers, but. But not decades.

[D]

I want to read something you wrote and then give you a chance to respond to that. These are some of those beautiful words. Very moving.

[B]

Thank you.

[D]

Sit back and listen to this. Fear stays. It changes, but does not leave. We face it daily. Some mornings it weighs heavier than others. The thing that causes dread. A telephone podium, a crime. Crowded room sits, patient knowing. But we step forward anyway, again and again. Not because the fear vanishes, but because we learn to carry it, even embrace it. Like grief, it cannot be erased, only carried differently. As the years pass, the weight remains, but the shoulders grow stronger. Those who love us see not the pauses, but the persistence. Colleagues value not smooth words, but true ones. The fear becomes like an old injury. It aches before storms, but no longer prevents the journey. We step into uncomfortable spaces now, without waiting for courage. We've learned that courage comes in stepping. The fear remains always, but it no longer decides where we go. These words by Mark are on our blog. Very proud to share them and to share this conversation. So glad that you joined us. Do you have a parting thought? Something that you would want to leave the listener with that you didn't already get a chance to share?

[B]

One guiding principle I've always had in my life, whether it's personal or professional, is put your health in uncomfortable situations. Because that's the only way one will will grow. And in writing those words, that was really my message. It's always hard for me. Appearing here is not easy.

[D]

1 to 10, 10 being the most comfortable one being excruciating where would you gauge coming in today?

[B]

It's not excruciating.

[D]

I'm just trying to gauge it 1 to 10. Where'd you put it? Well, there's on the outside you look like on the outside it looks like a 10. What's it like on inside?

[B]

For Mark, 10 meaning the most.

[D]

10 is the most comfortable. I always like 10 being the best, most desirable.

[B]

Well, I'm extremely comfortable. Okay. But there is that the year, if you will, which I I mentioned. It's always with me, always will be, but it will never hold me back from anything.

[D]

Mark, thank you so much.

[B]

Thank you for taking me.

[D]

Thanks for getting uncomfortable and having this conversation. Well worth it for us.

[B]

I'm very comfortable and you have made it extremely comfortable.

[D]

Takes two to tango. I wouldn't have anyone to talk to if you didn't come. Thanks.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Thanks for listening to TranscendingX. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who could benefit from it. If you want free tips to help you talk more and fear less, sign [e-mail] email until next time. Remember, tomorrow's breakthroughs. Start with what we do today. Let's keep talking.