When I Thought I Had 45 Minutes to Speak… But Actually Had 15
I just got back from an incredible weekend in San Diego, where I joined fellow authors and entrepreneurs at IndieBooks International’s Agency Rainmaker Forum. I laughed, I learned, I connected—and yes, I had my own little moment of self-inflicted chaos. Here’s how to manage public speaking anxiety.
I Was Ready. Or So I Thought.
As a proud faculty member, I was given a speaking slot to preview my upcoming book, Charismatic Presence: Five Principles for Magnetic Presentations (coming April 24th!). I’d been prepping for weeks. I even rehearsed on the train to San Diego, with my incredibly patient husband playing the role of audience. I was cool, calm, collected—maybe a 2 out of 10 on the stress scale. Totally ready.
Until I wasn’t.
The Rookie Mistake
Day one of the conference, I casually flipped over the printed agenda on the table. I wanted to confirm my speaking time for the next day. There it was:
Eleni Kelakos – Charismatic Presence for Agency Rainmakers – 9:45–10:00 AM
Wait. WHAT?! That’s 15 minutes. I had prepared a 45-minute talk! I read it again. Still said 15 minutes. Cue the mental mayhem.
I’d misread the digital agenda weeks earlier and had somehow convinced myself I had a full slot like last year. Rookie mistake. Totally on me.
Stress Level: Rising Fast
In an instant, my stress level shot from a mellow 2 to a solid 7. I spent the rest of the day trying to stay present while scribbling ideas in the margins of the printed agenda. That night, after the reception and dinner, I finally got back to the hotel and started reshaping the talk. I narrowed the focus to one key point, rewrote the opening and closing, and begged my husband to sit through it—twice.
Still not satisfied, I locked myself in the bathroom and delivered the talk three more times aloud. (Yes, I believe deeply in preparation. Can you tell?)
Sleep? What’s That?
Sleep that night? Ha. According to my trusty Oura ring, it was a mess. No surprise there. I went to bed late, still buzzing from adrenaline and half-drafting my talk in my head.
The next morning, I got up, did the usual hair and makeup routine, ran the talk out loud one more time, and headed to the venue. Stress level? Maybe a 3 out of 10 now. Manageable.
Nervous + Excited = Game Time
As my time slot approached, I felt that familiar cocktail of nerves and excitement—what I like to call “the good kind” of stress. I reminded myself: “I’m nervous and excited,” not “I’m about to pass out.”
Ten minutes before go-time, I did what I always coach my clients to do before they speak:
- Shook out physical tension
- Took a few deep breaths
- Reconnected with my intention to serve the audience
And then, I stepped onto the stage.
And… It Went Great!
Despite the last-minute pivot, the talk went beautifully (she says, modestly). The audience was engaged, I hit my time limit, landed my key points, and even got some laughs. Stress level? A blissful 1 out of 10 by the time I sat back down.
My Oura Ring Doesn’t Lie
Later, I checked my Oura ring’s “Stress and Heart Rate” data. Yep—confirmed. A lovely cluster of pink dots (a.k.a. stress indicators) from about 8:30 to 10:15 AM. My heart rate was up, HRV was down. My body knew I was stressed, even though I was functioning just fine.
So, What’s the Point?
Here it is: Stress is normal. Even for seasoned speakers like me. And you can be stressed and still do a fantastic job.
Stress doesn’t have to derail your performance. What matters is how you prepare and how you manage it. You can control your content. You can practice. You can adopt rituals to calm your body and mind. And even if your heart is racing, you can still shine.
Final Thought
I hope this peek behind the curtain helps you feel less alone if you ever find yourself sweaty-palmed before a presentation. Sharing your voice matters more than your nerves. And if you need help navigating performance anxiety, I’m here. I’ve been there—and I’ve got the tools to help you thrive.
Let’s connect! Follow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenikelakos/
Eleni Kelakos, CSP The Speaker Whisperer®