Since I was a kid I have loved building stuff with my hands. 

My dad having his own workshop, let me play around with tools and various materials. 

It lead to a passion for technology and creating stuff. 

My dad got me into racing gokarts and formula/car racing from when i was 12 till i was 18. 

When I was 17 I got into MMA and have been having fights as well. 

I studied Mechanical engineering at Aalborg University for 3 years before I started my own company, DIC Group, during the summer before my 4th year. It was an incredible experience and I quickly saw that in the first 2 months of starting my own company that summer, I made more money that I would in half a year as a mechanical engineer. This, combined with my extensive background growing up in a workshop, allowed me to bet on myself and take the leap into DIC Group full time instead of finishing my studies. 

By age 22, I scaled DIC Group to 22 employees, $2 million (USD) in revenue, and made my first million in profit (DKK). Then, I experienced by biggest business hardship at the time when a massive contract went south. In the end it unfortunately cost me my company and ended in bankruptcy. Even though I felt like giving up, I refused to do so. I simply believe that the way to win is through perseverance. So, I got back up and took all of my learnings and experience into my next venture, Airflight.

Shortly after the bankruptcy I founded @Airflight together with a team ( now we are only 2 founders) with the aim of making ordinary people get an extraordinary experience by flying in a flying car.

We flew the flying car and got a lot of media attention that showed us an market opportunity within the Wind turbine industry for flying spare parts and tools. 

Airflight now applied for grants and investment to convert the flying car into an unmanned 100kg payload drone called the AF100. One of the largest quadcopters in the world. 

With the AF100 flying we raised capital and got more grants to build the AF200 a 200kg payload drone that would be able to solve multiple industry headaches. 

Unfortunately we crashed the AF200 in the midst of a funding round, forcing us to scale down operations. This crash seemed to be the end of Airflight. 

I have now partnered up with one of the best companies in Denmark, Jack Foged A/S, to head their sales efforts and deliver even more value to even more customers. 

If you want a serious partner to build your piping project, then reach out to me and let's talk. 

I love the game of business and will probably work till the day I die, because I just cant stop.

Mikkel K.

2026 er landet og det er vi også hos Jack Foged A/S hvor vi er i gang med flere projekter i både sort og rustfrit stål. 

2025 var et år med spændende projekter indenfor energi og industri. 
Det som er spændende for en teknologi nørd som mig selv er at være med til at se projekter som rent faktisk gør en forskel for Danmarks borgere. 

Altså det når projekter går fra ideer og koncepter til at stå som færdige løsninger som producerer varme eller andet. 

Det som vi oftest glemmer i vores branche er egentlig vigtigheden af vores arbejde. Vi bygger hvert år rør til anlæg som bidrager til en bedre verden. 

Det er sku meget fedt, hvis jeg selv skal sige det.

Mikkel Karsgaard

Welded piping experts: Design → installation | 39+ yrs | @JACK FOGED A/S

Så er vi landet tilbage på Dansk jord og må sige det er noget af en kontrast fra Brasilien.

At komme fra 30 grader og sol hjem til - 5 grader og sne er noget som sætter tingene i perspektiv. 

Det fik mig til at tænke at sådan er det også tit i erhvervslivet fordi hvordan ved vi egentlig hvad godt er hvis ikke vi har prøvet dårligt?

Hvis ikke vi har kontrasten at måle med så tager vi måske det gode for givet. 

En af de ting jeg tager med som vi kan være stolte af i Danmark det er vores infrastruktur på mange måder, lige fra toilettet til kloakken til veje uden de store huller. 

Er en stolt dansker idag.

I en verden der synes at blive mere og mere skør er det vigtigt at have stabile samarbejdspartnere. Jack startede Jack Foged A/S i 1986.

Ham og teamet bag Jack Foged A/S har klaret sig igennem flere kriser end de fleste og virksomheden styres idag af hans to sønner Philip og Jacob. 

Når man er virksomhedsejer som Jack var og som han har lært hans sønner så lader man ikke nyhederne gå sig på. 
Man møder stadig ind og lægger sig i selerne for de kunder som har brug for en. 

Vi har lavet rør i 40 år og som jeg ser det så sker det nok også de næste 40 år som ejerledet virksomhed. 

Så har du de lange briller på i jeres virksomhed eller skal have en samarbejdspartner der er stabil, så ring eller skriv og lad os tage en snak.

I have come to realize in my life that the time I feel the most alive is when I am growing.

But growth doesn't come without pain, suffering, or failure, which is what I usually try to avoid from a logic perspective. 

Which brings me to the quote: "A man who never fell has no glory; the man who fell 21 times but got up 22 times—that man has way more glory."

When we humans put the fear of suffering or failure behind us and try anyway, that is where the real growth and happiness are buried. 

At least I have found that to be true for me.

To ting som ikke kommer til gå af mode i 2026:

Den gode svejsning og den gode relation. 

To ting som vi går ekstremt meget op i hos Jack Foged A/S.

Fordi den gode relation er med til at danne fundamentet for den gode svejsning og den gode svejsning er fundamentet for den gode relation i vores verden. 

Står du med et projekt hvor du skal have lave et rørsystem og du gerne vil have en samarbejdspartner der har styr på alt hvad der har med svejste rørsystemer at gøre og som vægter den gode relation. 

Så kan det være tiden er inde til at række ud til mig og tage en uforpligtende snak og se om der kan opnås en god relation så vi kan leverer nogle gode svejsninger til jer.

Noget af det sværeste ved at være projektleder er når telefonen begynder at ringe oftere og oftere og emails bliver flere og flere med problemer omkring dit projekt. 

Jeg kender det, Philip og Jacob kender det. 

Derfor har vi fokus på at hjælpe projektledere med at have en partner som gør arbejdsloading for projektlederen mindre så de kan fokusere på det rigtige. 

Det er derfor vi ikke kun laver rørarbejde:
- Dimensionering og spændingsverifikation (Rohr2) 
- Support-design og sekundært stålgalleri 
- Præfabrikation, montage, NDT 
- Godkendelse gennem notified body 
- Komplet dokumentation

Fra første beregning til sidste mærkeplade.
Ikke fordi vi er bedre til hvert enkelt element.
Men fordi koordinations-overhead dræber bundlinjen i flere projekter end dårligt håndværk.
Og fordi én ansvarlig part betyder nul tid brugt på at finde ud af hvis fejl det egentlig var.
Hvis du har haft et projekt hvor koordinationen tog mere tid end arbejdet så ved du præcis hvad jeg snakker om.

Vi er ligeglade med hvad farve du gerne vil have dine rør i, vi er mest interesteret i at levere et godt stykke håndværk - Uanset farven og størrelsen.

Jack Foged A/S fordi vi elsker rør.

Power to X er en af de fremadgående industrier i Danmark. 
Derfor er jeg taget til konference i Vejle for at repræsentere Jack Foged A/S. 

Power to X anlæg kræver mange procesrør og vi står klar til at hjælpe med at bygge, installerer og dokumenterer dem for jer.

A little behind the scenes for when we were putting the finishing touches on a big piping project last year.

 The project had pipes with pressures up to 140Bar. 
Carbon pipes up to 12" 
stainless up to 8" PN100 

Complex system in general. 
Tight deadline. 

But we made it happen in the end. 
Because we love making pipes and we love trying our best for our customers.

Sharing this today as I couldn't help but feel this matches the way Philip and Jacob thinks in Jack Foged A/S.

Just always trying to expand the mindset and capabilities. 

Truly inspiring and a great place to work. 

It makes a big difference for our clients as well when you have a partner that constantly is looking to become better and deliver more. 

Because they are going for it.

I have found that some of the most profound insights and growth have come from traveling. 

This winter I changed the cold in Denmark 🇩🇰 with the heat of Brazil🇧🇷 

What you gain when you travel far and experience different cultures is perspective. 

One thing that traveling all over the world have taught me is that the majority of the world consists of great people that are soing their best to do good in the world. 

Remember that when the media portrays stuff. 

We only see the extreme stuff because that's what drives revenue because of clicks. 

If you were to report on the majority it would be boring. 

I will over the coming weeks share some of the insights I have gained and the contrasts between the two countries. 

Enjoy the weekend!

PS. Found out why people love to ride horse my first time trying it, WOW 👌

LinkedIn er enten verdens mest kraftfulde salgsmaskine eller det er Facebook for folk i jakkesæt.

Forskellen er ikke platformen.
Det er hvordan du filtrerer den.

Jeg brugte sidste måned på at rydde op i mit feed.
Unfollowede 4000+ personer.

Ikke fordi de er dårlige mennesker.
Men fordi de fylder mit "intelligence dashboard" med støj.

Her er hvad jeg lærte:
De fleste bruger LinkedIn som "passiv scroll" - ligesom Instagram.
Scroller. Liker. Føler sig opdateret. Lukker app.
Nul forretningsmæssig værdi.
Men hvis du behandler LinkedIn som et intelligence filter i stedet, ændrer spillet sig totalt:

FØR min oprydning:
180 minutter om dagen på platformen
80% irrelevant indhold (motivational quotes, viral reposts, humble brags)
2-3 relevante posts om ugen
0 konkrete leads

EFTER min oprydning:
60 minutter om dagen
90% direkte relevant for Jack Foged A/S (industri-nyheder, projekt-opdateringer, potentielle kunder der poster om udfordringer)
2-3 relevante posts om DAGEN
4 konkrete samtaler startet sidste uge alene

Det er ikke ROI. Det er ROA: Return on Attention.
Så hvad unfollowede jeg?

Type 1: Motivation Merchants Folk der deler generisk "inspiration" uden branche-kontekst.

Type 2: Viral Chasers Folk der re-poster andres indhold for likes uden at tilføje indsigt.

Type 3: Personal Brand Performere Folk der deler "min rejse" stories uden praktisk værdi for mit arbejde.

Hvad FØLGER jeg stadig?
Type A: Problem Posters Folk der deler konkrete udfordringer i vores industri.

Type B: Markedsintelligens Folk der analyserer trends, regulering, nye projekter.

Type C: Potentielle Partnere Folk hvis virksomheder kunne bruge vores løsninger eller vi kunne samarbejde med.

Den simple test:
Hvis jeg læser dette post, ved jeg noget jeg ikke vidste før som gør mig bedre til mit arbejde?
Hvis nej → unfollow.

De fleste er bange for at unfollow fordi "hvad nu hvis jeg misser noget?"
Men det du misser ved at IKKE rydde op er langt værre:
Du misser signalerne i støjen.

Sidste uge postede en potentiel kunde om et rør-problem.
Jeg så det. Kommenterede. forsætter samtalen i DM's og får Email til at sætte et møde op. 
Den post havde 12 likes. Algoritmen viste det næsten ikke til nogen.
Men jeg så det fordi mit feed er renset for alt andet støj.

Det er ikke om at se ALT.
Det er om at se det RIGTIGE.

Næste gang du åbner LinkedIn:
Spørg dig selv: "Bruger jeg dette som entertainment eller som intelligence?"
Hvis entertainment → Du konkurrerer mod TikTok og taber.
Hvis intelligence → Du har en unfair advantage ingen andre bruger.

Dit feed er dit våben.
Rens det.

Det i får ved at vælge Jack Foged A/S som jeres partner det kan ses på dette billede: 

To knejter der har haft passion for rør næsten lige så lang tid som vi har eksisteret. 

Philip Foged og Jacob Foged brænder for at drive virksomheden deres far byggede op videre I samme ånd. 

Jeg vil næste vædde med virksomheden stadig eksisterer om 40 år og stadig er i familien. 

Det gør mig stolt at være med på en rejse der har lange briller på og som er bygget på de gode værdier. 

Har I brug for en stærk samarbejdspartner til at lave jeres rør projekter så ræk ud. 

Vi elsker rør.

Something magical happens when you speak from the heart. 
People see you in your purest form, and then if they decide, they will connect to you in the deepest way possible. 

In moments like these, we create relationships that has a foundation that is rock solid because we know who the people are.

Because they showed their heart, not their intellect. 

Some people want to use their intellect to divide and conquer the world. 

Love is the strongest force in the world and has the power to restore order. 

Let's come together and use our hearts to guide us. 

This Monday starts with gratitude for all the amazing people I have met around the world who showed me their heart.

For nogen er det bare en svejsning, for os er det meget mere. 

Rør - Fittings - svejsning - dokumentation - installation - svejsning - dokumentation. 

Alt sammen med et forsøg på at blive 1% bedre hver gang for vores kunder og for Danmark. 

For med en stærk industri så står Danmark stærkt i verden. 

Vi er glad for at bidrage til en stærk industri. 

Jack Foged A/S Vi elsker rør. 

Har du et projekt hvor i skal have lavet rør så ræk ud og få en snak.

Jeg er ved at læse Morten Münsters's nye bog afdelingen for magisk tænkning og der er en ting jeg bider fast i. 

Gør mindre. 
og 
bliv bedre. 

Noget der går meget imod hustler culture men som faktisk giver rigtig god mening. 

Vi har alle sammen et livs hjul fyldt med: 

Bolig 
Sundhed
familie/venner
Arbejde/studie
Parforhold
Personlig udvikling
Fritid
Økonomi

Når vi bliver forblændet af folks highlight reels på sociale medier så kan vi få den forståelse at nogle folks livshjul er maxet ud og er 10/10 på alle områderne. 

Fakta er at du ser 10/10 på et område, hvilket i de fleste tilfælde betyder 1/10 på et eller flere områder. 

Hvis du skal have et godt mentalt helbred så er vi nødt til at sænke forventningerne til os selv på alle områderne og vide at hvis vi rammer 7/10 på de fleste områder så er vi faktisk mest lykkelig. 

Men vil du gerne være verdens bedste til noget og vinde guld til OL, så glem balance og gå ALL-in på et område og forsøm alle de andre i den periode. 

De fleste er ikke klar til at ofre det som skal til for at være verdens bedste og det er helt okay. 

Sænk forventningerne til dig selv og lad være med at sammenlign dig selv med andres ekstraordinære highlight reels og fokuser på at være middelmådig og lykkelig på de fleste områder. 

Med det sagt husk at intet er perfekt og alting er dynamisk. 
Godt nok er bedst for langtids lykke for den almindelige borger uden ønske om OL.

I går så jeg vigtigheden af kommunikation. 

Hvis du som kommunikator ikke får segmenteret dit budskab i folk så de husker dig og din info så har du fejlet. 

I den tekniske verden er der efter min mening simpelthen ikke nok fokus på at give folk træning i kommunikation. 

Hvis folk ikke kan huske dine slides og dine pointer fordi din kommunikation er dårlig, ja så har du spildt din egen tid, virksomhedens tid og andres tid. 

Men det er ikke din skyld, det er simpelthen fordi kommunikation som fagkundskab aldrig bliver prioriteret, da det jo virker som spild af tid. 

Men det er det virkelig ikke, det er noget som kan have stor værdi for dig, dine kunder og dine samarbejdspartnere. 

For mere fokus på kommunikation.

For most of my adult life and career, I have been training the wrong muscle.

I have realized the true impact of that now. 

Coming from a home where alcohol abuse was close to my everyday, "normal" was something I wanted to get away from. 
Hence, I have never wanted to be "normal" or do normal stuff.  

What that has allowed me to do in my career is to do extraordinary stuff and also in my personal life. But 33 years in and closing in on 34 years, it has struck me what the downside is:

Doing the basic stuff is HARD. 

Why? 

Because deep down I associated that with pain. 

Yet most of the really extraordinary achievements and joyful moments come from doing the basic stuff really, really well. 

We are constantly looking for the next hack or tip that can advance us in our lives. 
Yet, what you are looking for is already there; in most cases, you are just not doing it. 

The muscle I have been more aware of training the last couple of years, without me knowing fully, is the muscle of doing the basic stuff really well. 

Training the muscle of doing what you know you should be doing but you aren't. 

That muscle is what many of us should be training. 

Not looking for an extra PDF to download from LinkedIn that you end up not using anyway. 

Start doing the basic boring stuff.

Ghostwriter & Messaging Strategist helping leaders achieve 70% opt-ins with a Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint to build trust and convert hesitant prospects into eager customers.

Most businesses struggle to convert leads because they rely on forgettable downloads and meaningless discounts that fail to create an emotional connection. 

Prospects don't just need information, they need to feel valued, to trust you, and to experience genuine engagement. 

That's why I created the concept of the Microstory Journey, a 5-day emotional experience that uses the 3-Minute Story Blueprint to touch hearts, build authentic connections, and establish unshakable trust, turning hesitant prospects into eager customers ready to take action.

AWAI Verified Copywriter
Case Studies Certification
Sales Enablement Certification

WRITING SERVICES I PROVIDE:

📨 5-Day Education Email Courses
💲 Ghostwriting on Social Media Platforms
📰  Newsletters
🌐   Web Content
✍️   Blog Posting
📧   Email Marketing
🛒   Sales Pages
📱   Facebook/Google Ads 

WHOM I WORK WITH: I help executives, CEOs, founders, & coaches.

3 Simple Steps to Powerful Messaging
1. Define your goals and messaging. 
2. Develop a customized storytelling strategy. 
3. Execute and refine messaging for maximum impact.

HERE'S WHAT TO DO NEXT:
Email me at mike@mikehays.net OR
Book a call with me at https://calendly.com/ask-mikehays

Mike Hays

Stop Saying 'Should.' 

It's Killing Your Progress.

"I should prospect more." 
"I should post on LinkedIn." 
"I should work out."

Yet nothing changes. The list grows longer while your results stay flat.

Here's what actually happens when you 
replace "should" with different language:

Scenario 1: Your prospecting goal.

↳Old language:
"I should reach out to five prospects today."
Then guilt when you don't. Repeat tomorrow.

↳New language:
"I'm reaching out to five prospects today."
Or admit: "I'm choosing not to prioritize this right now."

↳Result: You either act or you own the choice. No guilt loop.

Scenario 2: Your content creation.

↳Old language:
"I should post three times this week."
Followed by excuses about time, perfectionism, fear.

↳New language:
"I must post three times this week to build my authority."
Or: 
"I'm not ready to commit to this yet."

↳Result: Clarity replaces confusion. Action replaces avoidance.

Scenario 3: Your personal commitments.

↳Old language:
"I should work out tomorrow morning."
Then snooze the alarm. Feel terrible. Repeat.

↳New language:
"I will work out tomorrow at 6 AM."
Or: "I'm prioritizing sleep over exercise right now."

↳Result: You honor your decision either way.

"Should" is the language of obligation without commitment.

It keeps you stuck in a cycle of intention without execution.

When you eliminate "should" from your vocabulary, 
you force yourself to either commit or let go.

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

Mike  Hays

Messaging Strategist & Ghostwriter for Leaders - I help you turn short stories into trust, influence, and premium clients with my Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint.

You know exactly what you need to do.
But you're still not doing it.

Here's why:

Your brain isn't lazy.
It's just running a calculation you don't see.

Every decision comes down to emotional math:
↳ Pain of taking action vs. pain of staying stuck
↳ Whichever feels heavier wins

I used to think I lacked discipline.

Turns out, I'd just linked massive pain to starting:
- Anxiety about failing publicly
- Worry about wasting time
- Fear of looking stupid

Meanwhile, staying stuck felt... safe.

Uncomfortable, sure. But familiar.

The shift happened when I realized:
Inaction has a cost too.

It's just quieter.
More gradual.
Easier to ignore.

So I started asking myself:

"What's the real pain I'm avoiding here?"

Usually, it wasn't the work itself.

It was the vulnerability. The visibility.

The possibility of being wrong.

Once I named it, the math changed.

Taking action became less scary than staying invisible.

Here's what I realized:
You're not avoiding action because you're broken.

You're avoiding it because right now, it feels riskier than standing still.

What pain have you been avoiding by not taking action?

Follow Mike Hays  for insights on doing the work that matters

They make it look so effortless.

That's what people say when they see polished work.

But here's what they don't see the invisible architecture behind it.

I used to think making work look easy meant hiding the effort.

The late nights.
The revisions.
The moments of doubt.

But the more I refined my process, the more one truth became obvious:

Work doesn't look easy because you hide the struggle.

It looks easy because you've done the hard work 
so many times that it becomes second nature.

And there are only two approaches to this:

The exhausting way
→ Reinventing the wheel every time
→ Burning out to meet deadlines
→ Starting from scratch repeatedly
→ No systems or frameworks
→ Relying purely on inspiration



The strategic way
→ Learning from past projects
→ Refining with each iteration
→ Making complexity invisible
→ Building repeatable processes
→ Creating templates and frameworks

One drains your energy.
The other multiplies your impact.

The best professionals aren't naturally gifted
they're systematically prepared.

They know that mastery isn't about working harder.

It's about working smarter until the complex becomes simple.

They've failed enough times to know what works.
They've refined their approach until it flows.

Not to show off.

But to deliver consistent excellence without the chaos.

Making work look easy isn't about pretending it's effortless.

It's about doing the behind-the-scenes work so well that others only see the result.

When you build the right systems, excellence becomes your baseline.

What's one process you've refined that now feels effortless?

Follow Mike Hays for more insights on strategic communication.

"Quick question" is never actually quick.

Feel That Stomach Drop?

I used to think it was just me.
Then, one day, I realized something:

"Those two words trigger an instant physical reaction."

I wondered why my stomach tightened every time I heard it.

It's always said like it's small. Casual. Friendly.
But the second you hear it, your body knows better.

Because "quick question" doesn't mean a question.

It made perfect sense to me.

It means a conversation.
With follow-ups. And feelings.

It's the verbal equivalent of: "We need to talk."

That pause you feel in your soul? You're not imagining it.

Here's what I learned about "quick question":
- Your stomach knows before your brain does
- Recognition beats explanation every time
- The tone is casual, the stakes are not
- It always leads somewhere bigger
- It's never one question

So here's my takeaway for anyone who's felt that tightness:

You're not overthinking it.
You're reading the room correctly.

Comment: "I've heard this one," and I'll share
the follow-up script that names what happens next.

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

What's Controlling Your Life Right Now?
It's Not What You Think.

(And it's definitely not your circumstances)

Most people believe their life is shaped by what happens to them.
But here's the truth I've learned:

↳ Your decisions create your reality, not your conditions.

There are three decisions driving everything in your life right now:

1. What You Choose to Focus On

↳ Your focus determines your experience
↳ Not what's happening around you
↳ But where you direct your attention

2. Your Emotional State

↳ Your emotions shape your actions
↳ Your state creates your outcomes
↳ You can change how you feel in any moment

3. Your Blueprint

↳ The standards you've set for yourself
↳ What you believe you deserve
↳ These are your expectations

Here's What Most People Miss:

↳ They wait for conditions to improve
↳ They blame circumstances for their results
↳ They give their power away to external factors

The Real Shift Happens When:

↳ You rewrite your blueprint
↳ You realize you control your focus
↳ You take ownership of your emotional state

Your life doesn't transform when you get the promotion, 
find the relationship, or hit the income goal.

It transforms the moment you decide differently.

When you stop waiting for permission from your 
circumstances and start making different 
decisions, everything changes.

So here's my question for you:

Which of these three decisions do you need 
to take back control of today?

Follow Mike Hays  for more insights on intentional living

Fear Will Move You Forward 

But It Will Never Set You Free.

I've been thinking about what really drives most of us.

Here's what I've noticed:
Fear is the default setting.

Fear of failing. Fear of being judged. Fear of not measuring up.
It's exhausting, and it keeps you stuck in reaction mode.

Here's what I've learned:
• Both create movement, but only one creates freedom
• Fear pushes you away from what you don't want
• Vision pulls you toward what you do want
• Vision gives you energy; fear drains it

The shift happens when you stop running from 
something and start moving toward something.

When I switched from "I can't mess this up" to 
"I'm building something meaningful." 
Everything changed.

The work felt different. The decisions became clearer.

The pressure turned into possibility.

Fear will always be there, that's normal.
But it doesn't have to be in the driver's seat.

So ask yourself

What would you create if fear weren't calling the shots?

What vision would pull you forward if you let it?

Drop a comment or send me a DM
 I'd love to hear what drives you.

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

Ever replay one harsh comment all day?

I do.

Someone once told me my work "lacked depth."
Not in a meeting. Not with context.
Just a quick message, then silence.

I couldn't shake it.

I replayed it during lunch.
During my next call.
Even while brushing my teeth that night.

The comment wasn't even detailed.
But my brain filled in the gaps with worst-case scenarios.

Here's what I learned:

Our minds magnify criticism.
→ One negative comment outweighs ten compliments
→ We loop it, dissect it, personalize it
→ It becomes louder than reality

But here's the shift:

That comment forced me to ask better questions.
Not "Am I good enough?"
But "What specifically can I improve?"

I reached out. Got clarity. Made changes.
The work got stronger.

Harsh comments sting because they touch something real.
The goal isn't to ignore them.
It's to separate the noise from the signal, fast.

Because replaying it won't help.
But responding to it will.

What's one comment that pushed you to level up?

🔔 Follow Mike Hays for more leadership strategies

You're watching the wrong thing during presentations.

The Signal That Tells You 10× More

That's what I realized after years of watching presentations.

But here's what most presenters miss:

The slides don't tell you if your message is landing.

The faces do.

People think I'm weird for watching faces instead of slides.

I used to obsess over perfecting every bullet point.
Tweaking fonts.
Rehearsing transitions.
Making sure the data looked flawless.

But the more presentations I attended, the clearer one truth became:

Your audience's reaction matters more than your content.

And there are only two ways to present:

The oblivious way
→ Never checking for understanding
→ Finishing on schedule regardless
→ Reading bullet points verbatim
→ Ignoring confused expressions
→ Staring at your own slides

The adaptive way
→ Reading the room constantly
→ Noticing when energy drops
→ Responding to nonverbal feedback
→ Pausing when faces show confusion
→ Adjusting pace based on engagement

One delivers information.
The other creates connection.

The best presenters aren't just speakers, they're observers.

They know a furrowed brow means "slow down."
They see glazed eyes and shift tactics immediately.

Not because they're mind readers.

But because they prioritize resonance over rehearsal.

Watching faces isn't weird.

It's the difference between presenting at people and communicating with them.

Your slides support your message, but faces reveal if it's working.

What do you pay attention to during presentations?

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Marketing isn't about volume.

It's about clarity.

We often assume more content equals more attention.
But in real business, especially when competing for seconds
positioning shows up in much quieter ways.

I started paying attention to the brands that 
consistently cut through the noise.

↳ They simply knew exactly why they mattered.
↳ They weren't everywhere.
↳ They weren't louder.

And once you notice it, you can't unsee it.

Most entrepreneurs skip the critical step:
Defining what makes them irreplaceable.

They plunge into content, ads, and campaigns
but struggle to explain their unique value in a single sentence.

The assumptions?

↳ "Our product speaks for itself."
↳ "We'll figure it out as we grow."
↳ "People will understand what makes us special."

But without clarity, your message gets lost
and your budget gets burned.

Three truths about positioning in the attention economy:

1. If you can't explain your edge clearly, 
don't expect your audience to figure it out.

2. You're not competing for market share.
You're competing for milliseconds of attention.

3. Vague positioning doesn't win that battle.

Here's what sets standout brands apart:

↳ They lead with relevance.
↳ They craft messaging that cuts through noise.
↳ They anchor every campaign in a crystal-clear answer to: 
"Why should I care?"

Compare that to those stuck in generic slogans, 
feature lists, and "we're better" claims.

One approach resonates.
The other fades.

Before your next campaign, pause and ask:

What makes us the only choice for the right people?

Can you explain your unique value in 10 words or less?

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How Saying Less Helped Me Hear More.

I've been guilty of this for years.

Nodding along while mentally rehearsing my response.

In meetings, I'd:
➤ Plan my counterpoint
➤ Wait for the pause
➤ Polish my story

I wasn't listening.
I was loading.

Then I realized something:

The people I trusted most never did this.
They asked follow-up questions I didn't expect.

So I changed my approach.

Instead of preparing what to say next, I started tracking:

• Where their energy shifted
• What they didn't say directly
• What they emphasized twice
• Questions that would go deeper

That's when conversations became different.

Because real listening isn't about silence.
It's about curiosity.

Stop rehearsing your brilliance.
Start discovering theirs.

The best responses come from what you actually heard, 
not what you planned to say.

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51,500 AI layoffs hit Dow, UPS, Amazon, Pinterest.

There’s one skill AI still can’t replace.

 Because the market isn’t hinting anymore, it’s shouting:

Dow: ~4,500 jobs cut (about 13% of the company). 
UPS: up to 30,000 roles on the chopping block. 
Amazon: about 16,000 corporate jobs eliminated. 
Pinterest: about 15% of staff cut as restructuring accelerates. 

This isn’t random. It’s directional.

And the question nobody wants to say out loud 
is the one that hits at 2am:

“If my job is a set of tasks… am I at risk?”

Then the dividing line becomes obvious:

The one skill AI can’t replace is the ability to 
communicate in a way that changes behavior.

Not “being articulate.”
But creating clarity, trust, and alignment,
especially when stakes are high.

 AI replaces output.
 It doesn’t replace leadership.

And communication is what leadership looks like in plain clothes.

If you want to be future-proof, stop asking, 
“What tool should I learn next?”

Start asking, “Can I move people with clarity, empathy, and precision?”

What’s your plan to sharpen that this month?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication skills training.

Messaging Strategist & Ghostwriter for Leaders - I help you create instant credibility that gets replies, calls, and conversions with my Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint.

Introducing the Fishbowl Practice

The First Method That Neutralizes Criticism Anxiety

(The drill that builds emotional armor)

I help smart people stop talking like robots.
But here's what nobody tells you:

↳ The fear of criticism keeps you sterile.

My Fishbowl Practice changes that:

1. Write Your Worst Nightmares Down

↳ Every harsh comment you fear
↳ Every cruel judgment possible
↳ Drop them in a fishbowl

2. Pull One Daily

↳ Record your response on camera
↳ Just you and the discomfort
↳ No script, no safety net

3. Watch Your Transformation

↳ Week one: You'll stumble
↳ Week two: You'll find your voice
↳ Week three: You'll own your message

4. Build Resilience Through Repetition

↳ Criticism loses its power
↳ Your authentic voice emerges
↳ Confidence replaces performance anxiety

5. Turn It Into Content

↳ Your growth becomes your story
↳ Your vulnerability becomes your authority
↳ Your responses become YouTube Shorts

The Real Win:
When you can handle the fishbowl, real comments feel easy.

I'm starting this series next week.
Each episode: one comment, one raw response, zero editing.

Quick question:

What's the harshest comment you're afraid to receive?

⤵️ Drop it below
Follow Mike Hays for authentic communication strategies

"I wasn't ready for that."

We say it all the time.

But what does it really mean?

Most people think it's about surprise.
About being caught off guard.

But I've learned something different after years of working with leaders and founders.

"I wasn't ready for that" actually means three things:

↳ First: I didn't prepare mentally.
We knew it could happen, but we didn't visualize it. We didn't rehearse our response.

↳ Second: I underestimated the emotional weight.
Logic told us one thing. Reality hit differently. The gap between knowing and feeling is massive.

↳ Third: I didn't build the support system.
We tried to go it alone. No mentors. No peers who'd been there. No framework to lean on when it mattered.

Here's what I've noticed:

The leaders who say "I wasn't ready" the least aren't the ones who predict everything.

They're the ones who prepare differently.

They don't just plan for outcomes.
They prepare their mindset.
They build their network before they need it.
They create frameworks that work under pressure.

Being ready isn't about knowing what's coming.

It's about building the capacity to handle what you can't predict.

The next time you catch yourself saying "I wasn't ready for that," ask a better question:



🔔 Follow Mike Hays for more strategies on leadership and growth

Have You Ever Won the Argument

But Lost Every Relationship in the Process?

Being right doesn't matter if nobody wants to work with you afterward.

Yet most of us prioritize correctness over connection every single time.

Here's what I've learned about the cost of being technically right:

Scenario 1:

You catch an error in someone's presentation.

↳Old approach:
Point it out immediately in front of everyone.
Make sure they know you spotted it first.

↳New approach:
Pause. Consider the setting.
Pull them aside later with a quiet heads-up.

↳Result: They fix the error and remember your respect.

Scenario 2: A team member suggests a flawed strategy.

↳Old approach:
Shut it down with data and logic.
Prove why it won't work, point by point.

↳New approach:
Ask questions that guide them to see the gaps themselves.
Let discovery replace demolition.

↳Result: They learn. They don't resent you for it.

Scenario 3: Someone challenges your expertise publicly.

↳Old approach:
Defend your credentials with force.
Make them feel small for questioning you.

↳New approach:
Acknowledge their perspective.
Share your reasoning without needing to dominate.

↳Result: The room sees your confidence and their dignity intact.

Being right with the wrong tone doesn't build influence.

It builds walls.

When you choose connection over correction, people actually hear you.

So here's what I'm asking myself now:
What's more valuable, winning the point or keeping the relationship?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

I used to think "watch me fail first" was about humility.
But it's actually about permission.

Most people wait for proof before they start.
➤ They need someone else to go first.
➤ They need validation.
➤ They need certainty.

I realized something different:

"Watch me fail first" means I'm willing to be the example.

Not because I want to fail.
Because I'm willing to learn in public.

Here's what that actually looks like:

• Testing ideas before they're perfect
• Sharing lessons while I'm still learning
• Making mistakes visible so others can skip them
• Building credibility through transparency, not perfection

The leaders I respect most aren't the ones who never stumble.

They're the ones who stumble forward and document the path.

Because when you say "watch me fail first," you're really saying:
"I'll take the risk so you don't have to guess."

That's not humility.
That's leadership.

Stop waiting for permission to be imperfect.
Start creating the path others are afraid to walk.

Your willingness to go first is your competitive advantage.

Follow Mike Hays for more leadership advice.

I blamed my audience for three years.
(they weren't the problem)

The silent killer in every conversation:

Clarity isn't what you say, it's what they understand.

My Wake-Up Call:

→ Perfect presentations
→ Detailed explanations
→ Logical frameworks
→ Zero conversions

I kept thinking:
"Why don't they get it?"

The Real Issue:
↳ I prioritized being right over being clear
↳ I explained features, not transformations
↳ I spoke my language, not theirs

Then I shifted everything:

New Approach:
↳ Watch their faces, not my slides
↳ Test every message with real people
↳ Ask "what did you hear?" not "did you understand?"

The Results:
↳ Clients repeating my message back perfectly
↳ Referrals using my exact words
↳ 3x higher engagement rates

The Truth:
If they didn't get it, your message failed - not them.

Quick Question:

When was the last time you tested your message before blaming your audience?

Struggling to capture attention in conversations?

Start with vulnerability.

I used to think I needed perfect stories to connect with people.
Then, one day, I realized something:

My mistakes were more interesting than my wins.

I wondered why some conversations felt flat while 
others sparked instant connection.

The difference wasn't polish or perfection,
it was honest, human moments that people could relate to.

It made perfect sense to me.

So, I started opening conversations differently.

Weeks went by.
And engagement transformed with every vulnerable opener.

Networking events? Deeper connections.
Client calls? Trust built faster than ever.

And because I led with authenticity,

I stopped trying to impress everyone
and started building real relationships that mattered.

Here's what I learned about conversation starters:
- "I regret this…" invites empathy immediately
- "Don't do what I did" positions you as a guide
- "This is embarrassing" breaks down walls instantly
- Vulnerability creates permission for others to open up
- People remember how you made them feel, not how perfect you sounded

So here's my takeaway for leaders and communicators:

Lead with your humanity
or keep having forgettable surface-level conversations.

Comment: "I lead with vulnerability," and I'll share my conversation framework for building instant trust.

The Smallest Edit That Changed Everything

I almost didn't make the change.

For months, I'd been sending cold outreach messages to potential clients.
Same template, same structure, same disappointing results.

Then I changed one sentence.
Just one.

Instead of opening with "I help executives craft their messaging"...
I wrote: "I noticed your recent post about struggling to stand out."

That's it.
Seven words became twelve.

The response rate jumped from 8% to 34%.

Same offer.
Same credentials.
Same me.

But here's what actually shifted:

I stopped talking about myself first.
I started with them.

It forced me to do the work before I hit send:
→ Understand their actual challenge
→ Show I was paying attention
→ Read their content

The tiny change wasn't really about the words.
It was about respect.

It proved I valued their time enough to be specific.
That I saw them as a person, not a prospect.

Now I apply this everywhere:
In emails, in stories, in every message I craft for clients.

Because people don't ignore relevance.
They ignore generic.

What's one small change you've been avoiding
that might actually transform your results?

Sometimes the difference between invisible and influential
is just twelve words.

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I shot 39 videos to get ONE right.

Was it worth it? Here's what I discovered.

Most creators say, "just hit record and post."
But after my marathon reshoot session, I learned:

↳ Perfectionism vs. progress is real.
Here's what I found on both sides:

The Pros:

Clarity improved dramatically
↳ By video 20, I knew exactly what to say
↳ Each take refined my message
↳ Confidence grew with repetition

Delivery became natural
↳ Eye contact felt genuine
↳ No more reading scripts robotically
↳ Energy levels peaked at the right moments

The Cons:

Time investment was massive
↳ Editing through 39 takes? No way, didn't do it!
↳ 3 hours for one 60-second video
↳ Diminishing returns after take 25

Overthinking killed spontaneity
↳ Started sounding too rehearsed
↳ Lost the raw, authentic moments
↳ Perfectionism became procrastination

The Key Insight:
↳ Beyond that? You're polishing, not improving.
↳ There's a sweet spot around 5-7 takes.
↳ Done beats perfect every single time.

My new rule:

Three takes maximum, then ship it.

What's your video recording process? One take or multiple?

Drop your number below
🔔 Follow Mike Hays for more content creation insights

If you can stay calm under fire,
you can turn any attack into authority...

I used to freeze when someone challenged me publicly.
My mind would race.
My words would fumble.
My credibility would crack.

It hit me during a live Q&A when someone called 
my approach "outdated." Not because they were right

But because I had no system to respond with confidence.

That was my wake-up call.

So I made a decision:
Train my comeback like a reflex.

Here's what actually helped me master the 10-second response:

✅ The Microstory Pivot: Answer with a quick personal example.
(Not a defense. A story that reframes the attack.)

✅ Fishbowl Practice: Write down harsh comments, pull one daily.
(10 seconds. Record it. Replay until it sounds human, not defensive.)

✅ Calm Before Clever: Pause, breathe, then speak.
(Rushed responses sound guilty. Calm ones sound certain.)

That combo flipped something inside me.

I started welcoming tough questions instead of avoiding them.

Handling criticism doesn't require perfect words.
It requires repeatable composure.

Build a process for staying grounded.
Practice responses before you need them.
Let your tone do more work than your argument.

If you wait to feel unshakable, you'll never speak up.
If you train your calm like a skill, you'll never crack.

Stop avoiding the hard questions.
Start rehearsing your response until confidence becomes automatic.

What's one rude comment you'll practice answering this week?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication strategies

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