Speak with Impact Workshop: From Fear to Confidence

I remember walking into The Astbury Club in Makati on the afternoon of December 7, 2024, feeling a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and curiosity. Public speaking had always felt like a mountain I wasn’t sure I could climb.

I’d read somewhere that 75% of people rank public speaking as their greatest fear, and I was definitely one of them.

The thought of standing in front of an audience, finding the right words, and delivering them with confidence seemed almost impossible. But the Speak with Impact Workshop felt different.

At first, I was skeptical. Could a single day really change the way I felt about speaking in front of a crowd? The room was filled with people from diverse backgrounds—entrepreneurs, high professionals, and leaders—each with their own stories to tell. Then, Mack Comandante, the global coach leading the workshop, took the stage.

Mack had this magnetic presence, a blend of calm confidence and genuine warmth. He didn’t open with a long list of credentials or boast about the 30,000 people he’d trained. Instead, he shared a story from his own journey. He told us about a time when he was just starting out, delivering a speech in front of 300 people. His mentors stopped him midway, and at that moment, he was flooded with embarrassment and doubt. And just like that, he had us. He wasn’t just a coach; he was one of us.

I remember thinking, If someone like him could overcome the fear of public speaking, maybe I could too.

Breaking Down the Fear

Until that day, I’d always thought that great speakers were born with some kind of magic gene. But this workshop dismantled that myth. “Public speaking,” he said, “isn’t a natural talent you are born with. It’s a skill that can be learned.”

This workshop taught me that there are structures to follow—it's not a magic formula. Once I understand the structure, it becomes much easier.

He encouraged us to try it ourselves, and for the first time, I felt a glimmer of control over my anxiety.

I realized something profound: fear wasn’t the enemy. Avoidance was. The more I leaned into the discomfort, the more it loosened its grip.

Stories that Sell

As the day unfolded, we dove into the heart of public speaking: storytelling. The workshop made me realize that a great story isn’t about us—it's about the audience. “Your audience needs to see themselves in your story,” Coach Mack said.

There was one exercise we did. We had to craft a short narrative where we applied the techniques to our everyday stories. It was harder than I expected. At first, my story felt scattered, more about what I wanted to say than what the audience might need to hear. But Mack coached us through it, helping us simplify and sharpen our message.

That’s when it clicked: a story that sells is really about connecting. It’s about understanding the struggles and desires of the people I am speaking to, and showing them how they can overcome challenges with my help.

Actionable Hope

The thing I loved most about the workshop was how practical it was. We didn’t just talk about theories or abstract ideas; we practiced, over and over, until the steps felt natural.

This workshop really gave us tools we could use right away, whether it was structuring a talk, handling a tough audience, or using storytelling to inspire action.

I walked away from that day not just with hope but with the confidence that I could do this. The fear was no longer there. I realized that this is a challenge I knew how to face.

Looking Ahead

As I reflect on that day, I can’t help but think about how many opportunities I’ve let slip by because of fear. But now, instead of dreading the idea of public speaking, I see it as an opportunity to increase my influence, grow my impact, and accelerate my profit.

So here’s my question for you: What story do you have to share? And are you ready to step up, face the fear, and speak with impact? If I could take the first step, so can you.