Ty Hoesgen

Do you ever try to explain something in a meeting,
but it doesn’t come out as clearly as you want it to?

You over-explain.
You're not concise. 
Or you leave the meeting overthinking:

“I should have said that better.”

Most people assume they just need "more practice"
That’s rarely the problem.

It's actually about a lack of structure.
And how your brain responds to pressure. 

That's why  work with professionals who want 
to be seen as more clear, confident, and credible.

(especially in high-stakes situations)

So far, I’ve coached 330+ professionals with a 99% success rate. 

Many are managers, directors, executives, and founders. 
People in positions where clarity actually matters. 

The work focuses on 3 things:

1.) Clear, concise speaking on the spot

2.) Confidence and composure under pressure

3.) Executive presence in important situations

This is 1-on-1, customized, and built around 
the real-life meetings, presentations, and 
conversations you'd like to speak better in. 

If crystal clear speaking would be helpful 
for you and your professional life,

DM me “CLEAR" to learn more.

Founder & CEO / Communication Coach

🧠 Advanced Growth Institute is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations from around the world master their communication and people skills. 

🏆 1.) Elite Private Coaching — for individuals who want to gain a positively unfair advantage in their life and career. 

💬 Our Elite Communication Accelerator is a private coaching program for growth-minded individuals who want to:

✅ Advance their career
✅ Become strong, influential leaders
✅ ​Get more respect
✅ Earn what they deserve
✅ ​Elevate their social life
✅ Form deeper relationships
✅ ​Live a less stressful life 

📈 AGI works closely with clients on their communication and people skills, helping them overcome unique challenges and accomplish their personal and professional goals. 

⭐ 2.) Custom Corporate Trainings — for organizations who care deeply about their team members and clients, and want to maximize their success in every interaction. 

🎤 Attendees are taught practical, science-backed communication strategies to boost sales, form deeper relationships, build trust and influence, listen with intention, and connect better with clients, co-workers, and customers.

✍️ Our captivating presentations have attendees smiling, laughing, rapidly taking notes, and leaving with a ton of actionable takeaways. 

📖 3.) Other Resources — best-selling books, courses, guides, video trainings

7 easy things to do this week to be a better speaker: 

1.) Think of your point before speaking. 

2.) End your points with strong volume.

3.) Be clear - don’t beat around the bush. 

4.) Hold eye contact (most of the time). 

5.) Use examples when possible. 

6.) Take your time - speaking isn’t a race. 

7.) Use more “you” and less “I”

- 

Which 1 jumps out at you the most?

And how good are you at following directions? 😅

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Helping leaders & teams communicate with clarity & confidence 🏆 World Class Certified Speaking Coach / 3x Bestselling Author / TEDx Speaker / Trusted by leaders at Amazon, Microsoft, & More

Welcome, I appreciate you being here. Quick question - can you relate to any of these?

→ You don't always explain your points clearly and concisely.
→ You sometimes feel nervous when speaking or presenting to groups.
→ You don't feel as confident in difficult situations (or around certain people).
→ You find it hard to organize and articulate your thoughts on the spot. 

If so, I totally get it. 

Even the lifetime overachievers and high performers feel this way sometimes. 

But what if you could make these 3 changes?

1) Learn to speak with unshakeable confidence
2) Master charisma to captivate any audience
3) Learn to organize and articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely 

(Especially on the spot or in high pressure situations)

If you do, you could gain:

— The ability to stay calm under pressure
— The power to own the room when speaking
— Increased respect from everyone you meet 
— A strong reputation in your company and industry 
— Open doors to new career/business opportunities

Now you might be thinking, 

"This all SOUNDS good Ty, but how the heck do you actually get there?" 😅

Great question. That's where coaching comes in! 

There are 3 key parts of my coaching program: 

1.) Personalized 1-on-1 coaching sessions tailored to your needs
2.) Step-by-step weekly plans to ensure constant improvement
3.) Messaging access for additional support and questions throughout the week 

Everything in the program is backed by science (and has been done with hundreds of people)

Because I know everything works, there's a 100% money back guarantee.

And if you're curious, here's a bit more about me:

→ Former shy, awkward farm kid who was a TERRIBLE speaker and loved avoiding people 

→ Today, 330+ professionals coached 1-on-1 across tech, sales, healthcare, finance, and more

→ World-Class Certified Speaking Coach
(Trained by Craig Valentine, former #1 ranked public speaker in the world) 

→ 3x best-selling author on communication skills 

→ TEDx speaker (recent talk given April 2025)

With all that said...

If you're ready to elevate your speaking skills and advance your career...

DM me the word “COMMUNICATION” 

Happy to have a quick chat about how everything works.

***Please mention whether you're interested in:

- 1-on-1 coaching programs
- Corporate group trainings

Book Your Free Strategy Session

Speak Like a Confident Leader in 7 Days

Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization that provides music lessons to underprivileged youth.

Speak clearly and confidently under pressure in 90 days (guaranteed) / World Class Certified Speaking Coach / 3x Bestselling Author / TEDx Speaker / 330+ clients coached

The fastest way to RUIN your speech or presentation…

Is to realize you’re short on time.

Because most people get this wrong. 

Let me explain:

Early on in my career, whenever I realized I was short on time… 

Whether it was a presentation, speech, or even a meeting…

I’d speed up. 
Stop pausing.
Try to get through all the content I had planned. 

But every time… it was terrible.

People’s eyes would glaze over.

They were clearly struggling to follow along.

And it made me look disorganized.

Here’s what I learned: 

When you rush to get through everything, the audience doesn’t think:

“Wow, he is so efficient! 
He wants me to get the most out of this!”

They actually think: 

“He clearly didn’t manage his time well. 
Now he’s rushing to compensate.”

The best speakers do the opposite.

When they realize time is tight, they continue to keep their pace under control. 

But they edit on the spot. 

They cut anything that isn’t crucial.

They only say what’s most important.

If you do this right, your listeners should have no idea what’s happening. 

So if you’re running out of time, don’t rush your words. 

Edit them. 
Finish calm. 
Finish under control. 

You got this.

Lots of blessings this holiday season.

One that stands out: 

The people I care about are happy, healthy, and each growing in their own ways. 

It’s a wonderful thing. 

What’s 1 blessing in your life you’ve been recently reminded of?

I used to hate meeting people.

Now I love it.

And it’s made life a lot easier.

But I didn’t become more outgoing.

I worked on 3 skills: 

1. First impressions. 

- Confident body language 
- Focus on the other person
- The right tone of voice 

2. Small talk. 

- Best questions to ask 
- Building connections quickly
- Steering conversations in positive directions 

3. Answering questions. 

- Making boring answers more interesting
- Being confident but not arrogant 
- Knowing when to joke and when to be serious 

Having go-to answers for common questions like: 

“What do you do?”

Has been particularly helpful. 

That one skill alone has led to clients, referrals, and opportunities I never expected.

My clients experience this too.  

One of my clients ended up interviewing for a job with a 30% higher salary… 

Because of a conversation with someone he met on the train. 

The man said my client "made a great first impression"

And connected him with someone from his company. 

My client didn't take the job because they needed him in the office more than he wanted, but the point still stands 😅

The more you level up these skills, 

The more these things will happen. 

What do you think - is this something you could level up in 2026?

And what have you found helpful when meeting new people?

I made 3 BIG mistakes when 
learning to speak better...

1.) Thinking “just speaking more” would help me improve
2.) Memorizing scripts with fancy words 
3.) Copying other people who sounded confident

These seem like they could be helpful. 

But they don’t solve anything. 

Here’s what actually makes a difference:

(Based on over a decade of learning and 300+ clients)

1.) Clarity
Clear and concise = easy for others to understand 

2.) Delivery
Engaging voice = easy for others to keep listening 

3.) State 
Optimized state = easy for you to speak at your best 

If you're lacking in one of these,

Things are harder than they need to be. 

But they're all important to learn. 

Do you agree?

Can’t go home for the holidays without getting a workout in with my best pal. 

And as a bonus:

The more calories you burn earlier in the day… 

The more you can eat at Christmas dinner. 

(At least that’s what I tell myself) 

Merry Christmas Eve! 🎄

-

P.S. What are you most excited about this holiday season?

I still replay conversations in my head.

I think, “I should have said that differently”

And it bothers me. 

But thankfully, it doesn’t happen much anymore.

In fact, it’s pretty rare now. 

Only because I have tools I can rely on.

Tools to:

— Speak more clearly 
— Stay more composed 
— Articulate with intention 

And most of the time, I say what I mean to say.

But when I don’t….

There are other tools that help me move on quickly. 

(The “toolbox” has grown a lot over the years 🧰) 

Because there’s a big difference between: 

1.) Being annoyed about something for a few MINUTES 

vs.

2.) Being annoyed about something for a few DAYS 

Remember this: 

You don’t need to speak perfectly.

You just need the right tools to speak at your best.

Do you ever replay conversations in your head?

And do you ever think “I should have said this differently”?

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How to Handle “Grinches” and Overly Negative People

Did you encounter any Grinches over the holidays? 

How about someone who was: 

- Extremely negative?
- Bringing you down?
- Constantly complaining?

It’d be great to avoid these people altogether. 

But sometimes that isn’t realistic.

So here are 3 things you can do to make these conversations as short as possible: 

1.) Make minimal eye contact. 

Eye contact increases connection and engagement. 

(Not what you want with this type of person)

2.) Don’t nod. 

Nodding shows you’re listening and encourages them to keep going. 

(Again, not ideal)

3.) Don’t add anything. 

Both agreeing and disagreeing will add fuel to the discussion. 

Disagreeing will certainly add more.

But any contribution will keep them talking WAY longer. 

If you feel the need to say something, limit it to neutral things like: 

- Mmm
- Got it  
- Never thought about that 


And if they don’t take the hint after awhile… 
(many won’t)

Raise your hand (visual cue) and say:

“NAME, I totally hear what you’re saying. 

I need to run to the washroom/get a drink/get some air/catch up with XYZ/say hi to XYZ. 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day/night.”

Then exit quickly. 


NOTE: 

There are obviously warmer ways to handle and leave a conversation. 

But remember - this is for the true Grinches. 

The people who really bring you down. 

It’s important to protect your time and energy. 

So you don’t want to encourage future conversations with them. 

-

P.S. Would you try any of this?

I sincerely hope you don’t have to 😅

You don’t get better at speaking by thinking about speaking.

But you do need 1 thing BEFORE you start practicing. 

Clarity on your flaws. 

We can also say “areas of improvement” if that makes you feel better 😅

Progress starts from awareness. 

Because if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong, 

How are you supposed to fix it?

So pay extra attention the next few days. 

Notice: 

- When you ramble 
- Which filler words you use 
- When the words don’t come out right 
- Which situations feel less comfortable  

No judgment. 

Just see what comes up.

You got this.

This is something a lot of people 
don’t think about with communication…

It’s the level of intention they have. 

Most people are on autopilot throughout the day.

And their communication suffers. 

Don’t be one of them. 

My challenge to you is the following: 

Before the next conversation you have…

Set an intention for:
 
- How you want to show up 
- How you want to communicate 

It costs nothing. 

And it takes almost no time. 

I bet you’ll notice a difference. 

Do you accept the challenge?

Had an INSANE dream last night. 

I dreamed that people stopped saying “just following up” 

Then I woke up and checked my email. 

Definitely just a dream. 😅

I also see a lot of emails ending with just:

“Thanks" 

Even though most of them aren’t thanking you for anything.

Emails are funny, aren’t they?

You don't want to sound the same as everyone else. 

But you also don't want to be too crazy, right?

Here’s what I find works best. 

If I do these things, I tend to get better responses: 

1.) Use positive priming words 
(But not too many)  

2.) Have lots of white space 
(No big chunks of text)

3.) End with a question 
(No "thanks" unless there’s a reason)

4.) Avoid wildly overused phrases 
(Touch base, follow up, etc.)

What do you think? 

Are there any funny things you've noticed about emails over the years?

One thing I’ve noticed about great speakers:

They don’t just try to sound confident.

They try to sound clear.

And here’s where it gets interesting:

Most people think confidence comes first.

And it does for some. 

But for others, it really shoots up when they become more clear.

For example:

1.) You explain a point clearly. 
2.) People buy in and are on board. 
3.) Confidence increases. 

Rinse and repeat. 

Next thing you know - 

Confidence is higher than ever. 

But I’m curious how this shows up for you:

Do you struggle more with confidence or clarity when you speak?

Are you usually a confident person, 
But don’t always speak at your best under pressure?

This is very common. 

I work with a lot of high-performers who are exceptional at what they do.

But when:

- The pressure’s on 
- They're put on the spot 
- Intimidating ppl are around

Their communication doesn’t always reflect that at the highest level.

They walk out of meetings thinking:

“That didn’t come out the way I wanted it to.”

Here’s the good news.

If you’re already confident most of the time, you don’t need to change much.

For example, one of my clients Kim was in a solid place in her career.

But with high-level stakeholders,

She didn’t always like how she was coming across.

She’d rush through things or second-guess herself after speaking.

And after completing my 1-on-1 program,

She doesn't have to worry about those things anymore.

Why? 

- She knows how to speak with calm authority.
- She gets to the point clearly and quickly.
- She leaves conversations feeling proud of how she spoke.

3 months from now, that could be you as well.

-

If that sounds interesting and you want to learn more...

Message me the word “CLEAR”

-

And no matter where you're at on your communication journey right now…

I'm rooting for you.

It’s 2026. STOP overexplaining yourself. 
(That means no more word zomit)

Have you ever heard someone take 3 mins to explain something that should have taken 30 secs? 

How frustrating is that to listen to? 

If you want to stand out as a clear, concise speaker, try using structure when explaining something. 

Here’s an example of structure: 

1.) Main idea/message 
2.) Why you think it
3.) Example or story to support it 
4.) Restate main idea/message 

In practice: 

1.) “Communication is one of the most valuable skills to learn.”

2.) “It helps you get more respect, build deeper relationships, and advance your career.”

3.) *Example of how improving my communication made me more successful*

(Or an example of how it helped someone else)

4.) “That’s why communication is one of the best skills a person can learn.”

I teach clients how to build the skills to speak with structure like this on the spot. 

So even if you don’t have time to prepare…

(which is most situations)  

You can be confident knowing you have the skills to give a clear, powerful answer. 

If you want to learn the exact process for building your speaking on the spot skills…

Message me the word “CLEAR”

Let’s leave the word vomit in 2025. 

Would you agree?

Most people overthink being likeable at work.

But it can be easy as doing 3 simple things.

(When I started doing these,
people helped me out WAY more)

1.) Give specific appreciation.

If you’re being specific,
you wouldn’t just say “thanks.”

You’d say:

“I appreciate you completing that
and sending it back so quickly.”

And remember to be generous
with your gratitude.

It builds relationships fast. 

2.) Make a note of personal details.

For example: 

if someone tells you about their dog,
(and the dog’s name is Bark Twain)

Write down that name
in a note on your phone.

Then ask them about Bark Twain
next time you see them.

People love when you 
remember these things.

3.) Be an optimist.

Being overly negative
is a very unattractive quality.

Instead of complaining about problems,
focus on solutions, next steps,  
and moving things forward. 

Reflection time: 

Which one of these 3 things
could YOU be better at?

You’ve lost your audience’s attention when speaking. 

How do you get it back?

Here are 3 things the best speakers in the world do: 

1.) Add some vocal variety.

— Speed up or slow down your pace 
— Raise or lower your volume 
— Emphasize a word or phrase 

2.) Ask a question.

Example:

"Has this ever happened to you? *pause*

How did that feel?" *pause again*

The pauses give them a chance to answer the question in their minds. 

3.) Get them involved with an exercise.

a.) Have them turn to the person next to them.

And practice what they just learned.

Or if that doesn’t make sense…

b.) Have them trade ideas on something that you just spoke about. 

This should be quite quick.

Around 30 seconds or so. 

Summary: 

— Vocal variety
— Questions
— Exercises

(Bonus: Tell a story)

Ideally these things would already be planned in advance. 

That way you don't lose your audience's attention to begin with. 

But if it does happen… 

You need to have the right tools on your tool belt. 

-

P.S. Do you have any presentations or speeches coming up this year? 

(Even short ones at work count)

This is a weird thing I do to feel less nervous when speaking. 

No exaggeration - this changed my life. 

I view every situation as practice. 

Instead of a performance. 

This applies to everything: 

- Meetings 
- Presentations 
- Speaking engagements 
- Everyday conversations 

It’s all practice for you to get better. 

I grew up as a very shy, awkward kid. 

And I really struggled with speaking when I entered the professional world. 

But once I learned and applied this… 

Improving my speaking skills became MUCH easier. 

And I still think about this today. 

What do you think?

Do you see how this could work?

3 Reasons Why Dave Chapelle is GREAT at Speeches: 

1.) Pacing 

- He takes his time. 
- He sounds extremely calm and composed. 

His words carry more power this way. 

2.) Storytelling 

- He uses relevant stories. 
- He knows it's a speech so uses much shorter ones than his standup. 

He connects with the audience more this way. 

3.) Humor 

- He tells jokes (no surprise here) 
- He alternates from serious to funny 

He captivates the audience more this way. 

(Compared to being serious the entire time or funny the entire time)

What did you think of his speech?

Here’s the real reason you overthink important conversations:

It’s not just a lack of certainty or confidence.

It’s also what pressure does to your thinking. 

When Josh and I started working together, high-pressure moments scrambled his thoughts.

Sales calls with big prospects. 
Important internal meetings.

He knew his material. 
And was an intelligent guy. 

But when the pressure kicked in, 

He overthought what to say and how to say it.

So what did we do? 

1.) Trained him to simplify, organize, and clearly articulate his thoughts

2.) Taught him science-backed tools to stay more calm and composed under pressure 

3.) Focused on communicating with control and intention (verbally and nonverbally)

Here’s the part most people miss.

Confidence doesn’t come from forcing yourself to be bold.

It comes from clarity and control when it matters.

Shout out to Josh for being such an awesome client. 

He was hard-working, eager to learn, and followed the plan step-by-step. 

And the good news is this:

These are skills ANYONE can learn.

Do you agree?

Happy New Years Eve ✊

Here’s an important question for you: 

*What’s 1 thing you’re proud of from 2025?*

You might have a win or a milestone that comes to mind immediately. 

But if nothing jumps out right away, think about: 

- Starting a good habit 
- Stopping a bad habit 
- A positive internal change
- A difficult situation you overcame
- A small improvement in any aspect of life 

When someone asked me this question, the first thing that came to mind was my TEDx talk. 

But it doesn't have to be something big. 

It could be anything.

What’s yours? 

-

And if you can’t think of ONE thing you’re proud of…

You gotta step up your game next year. 😅

Age 8, I was visiting my grandparents house in Pakistan

My uncle announced an "English-speaking competition"
One by one, my cousins stood up and spoke
Their words flowing like water

Me?
I froze.
Words trapped in the translation. 

I Failed, they won
Everyone laughed.

This wasn't just an everyday failure
It was a delibrate attempt to prove me inferior to my cousins.

And I learned the UGLY side of my family.

Humiliation overwhelmed the 8-year-old me
And a seed was planted that day... deep in my gut:
→ “I’m not good enough.”

That belief became my shadow.
My deepest insecurity.
My secret tormentor.

On surface, I was thriving..
Straight A’s. 
Class topper. Medals.

But behind every achievement was a boy seeking validation.
Every success became less about growth…
and more about desperately proving:
→ “I do belong.” 

2012: 
Graduated in Electrical Engineering.
2 Master's degrees followed.

Still, that question echoed in every silent moment:
"Am I enough?"

The answer never came.
Imposter Syndrome sure did.

Fast forward to 2019.
I moved to U.S. for PhD studies. New chapter.
But one evening, at a cultural event in Rolla, Missouri...

History repeated itself:

A media reporter shoved a mic in my face.
The spotlight scorched.
Heart racing.
Palms sweating.
Voice cracking. 

I froze and then...
15 seconds of broken words spilled out.

The “English-speaking competition” all over again.
→ Same humiliation... just a bigger crowd.
→ Same shame... higher stakes.

Confidence? Rock bottom. 
Wanted to hide someplace far and dark.

But this time.. I've had IT.
That night, I made a decision: 

ENOUGH!

Let this be the last time I make a fool of myself in public.
My voice is broken? I will rebuild it.

2 years of relentless effort.
 - Toastmasters practice.
 - Digital courses.
 - Day-long bootcamps.
 - More failures than I can count. 

But this time, failure didn't stop me.
And slowly.. silence gave way to strength.

Since then...
 → Spoken 4 times at The Moth, sharing personal stories with 300+ strangers.
 → Coached 30+ individuals to find their voice.
 → And most importantly... rewrote the belief that ruled my life. 

If I can go from Silent to Seen..
SO CAN YOU!

DM “WORKSHOP” for Live Free Workshop on Public Speaking Confidence.

These are the types of results you can expect:

🔥 “This wasn’t just coaching. It was reconstruction. Not just of my speaking, but of my identity.”
-Dr. Joshua Oigara, CEO, Stanbic Bank Kenya

🔥 "The coaching didn’t just help with communication, it helped with overall confidence and leadership." -Carl Lane, Founder & Business Owner, USA.

Waqas P.

I've been learning public speaking for 5+ years

These 5 myths still make me cringe.

1/ Your stage presence must be "polished"
Umm No.. must be human & relatable..

(with something of value to share)

2/ 'Speak like a CEO' or 'Speak like an executive’
Umm No. Speak like YOU..

(just a bit amplified version of you)

3/ Fake confidence and one day you'll make it
Hell Noo! it's a perfect recipe for 'Imposter Syndrome'

(instead fix root causes & triggers that keep you silent)

4/ Practice in front a mirror 
Never understood the logic behind it..

(instead record yourself on phone and later analyze it)

5/ Public speakers are born, not made
BS!! as long as you can speak you can be public speaker

(it's a skill, not a talent)

You don’t need to sound "perfect” or "polished"

You need to sound like HUMAN

Like YOURSELF...

Who we can relate to.

♻️ Share if this hit home
➕ Follow Waqas, P. for more on public speaking 

📌 Which myth do you see is most common?

Waqas, PhD 🎤

I Help Mid-Senior Tech Leaders Speak with Confidence & Authority… Without Changing Who You Are | Engineer-Turned Public Speaking Coach | From Silent to Seen

→ My 1st presentation exposed me in front of my class
→ My 2nd one was reading word for word from slides
→ My 3rd one made me insult a class-fellow for laughing

(I still feel bad for him and for my older self)

But 15 years later... 

I spoke to 300+ strangers at The Moth Stage, Denver
and got unforgettable cheering and applause.

But what if I gave up? 

It woulda been a huge mistake and..

I would've missed out on:

- Restoring my self-confidence, my worth
- Speaking at The Moth Stage 4x
- Speaking countless times at Toastmasters
- Building my very own coaching business
- Coaching/training 100's of professionals
- Hosting workshops on speaking confidence
- Growing my LinkedIn audience to 21k
- Growing my Newsletter audience to 1.5k

And most importantly:

This belief... 

I can achieve anything humanly possible if I have burning desire for it.

Now I live, breathe and teach public speaking every single day.

🔵 If this interests you.. 
Hi, nice to meet you and I'm happy to have you here.

➕ Follow me Waqas, P. for more of confidence public speaking.

I Coach Mid-Senior Tech Leaders to Speak with Confidence & Authority… Without Changing Who You Are | Engineer-Turned Public Speaking Coach | From Silent to Seen

Yesterday, I wrapped up my January workshop.

2 days. 4 hours. Diving deeper into public speaking fear

I’m grateful for:

→ people who showed up fully
→ honesty in the Zoom room and
→ The trust people place in me when they talk about something as personal as speaking anxiety.

3 things stood out for me:

1. When you’re doing what actually matters, time flies
  - 4 hours felt like minutes (not for my back tho 🥲)
  - Not because it was easy
  - But it was meaningful.

2. Emotional safety comes before confidence
  - Once the room felt safe, people stopped performing
  - They reflected. They shared. 
  - And the work went deeper than just frameworks.

3. Awareness alone doesn’t fix anxiety
  - People didn’t just learn about triggers
  - They practiced noticing them in real time
  - They experienced what it feels like when the nervous system actually settles.

The biggest shift isn't about learning more skills.

It's this realization:

“Oh, I’m not broken…
I just never understood what was really going on.”

This alone changes how someone walks into meetings, presentations, and high-stakes conversations.

If this hit close to home…
February workshop waitlist is now OPEN:

📅 Feb 15 & 16 | 12–2pm EST
📍 Live on Zoom
Price: your attention & commitment

🟢 Comment or DM "Workshop".

“Just speak up more” is a terrible advice.
Here’s a step-wise guide to build visibility if you’re starting from Zero:

Many introverts live with a quiet frustration of invisibility everyday.

NOT because they don't have what it takes

But they were never taught how visibility actually works.

I spent almost 30 years staying invisible.

In 2025.. I’ve spoken in front of 300+ audiences 3 times without the old anxiety running the show..

The shift wasn’t “be more confident" or "Speak louder" 🚫

Here’s exactly how I’d build visibility and get promoted through public speaking (if I had to start from zero):

1. Admit the real issue → not lack of skill, but fear of being exposed
2. Stop calling it “confidence problem” → it’s nervous system threat response
3. Expect & embrace initial spike of nerves → everyone experiences it
4. If anxiety keeps returning → identify root causes, not surface symptoms
5. Address anxiety triggers bfore learning more skills (don't reverse the order)
6. Kill the myth early → “good work speaks for itself” (it just whispers)
7. Realize cost of invisibility → missed promos, stolen ideas, vague feedback
8. Redefine public speaking → meetings, updates, opinions, reviews
9. Identify where promotions are shaped → recurring leadership convos.
10. Pick 1–2 rooms that matter → staff meeting, sprint review, leadership sync
11. Build visibility there → repetition beats one-off act of bravery
12. Stop "faking" confidence → aim to sound clear and present
13. Stop copying extroverts → visibility ≠ volume. visibility ≠ noise.
14. Speak within first 5–10 minutes → don’t wait for permission
15. Replace “Do they like me?” → with “What value can I add?”
16. Maintain eye contact 3-5 seconds → like you’re conversing with them 1-1
17. Prepare points, not scripts → use examples, analogies, stories
18. Rehearse strategically → never memorize word-for-word
19. Practice out loud → physically moving as if in front of audience
20. Minimal text on slide → use it as visual aid, not the main thing
21. Use this framework for Updates → What. So what. Now what.
22. When caught off-guard → Use PREP: Point. Reason. Example. Point.
23. Make one grounded contribution per meeting → micro-wins compound
24. Normalize imperfect delivery → don’t sweat every single filler word
25. Track progress differently → Being in-control  >  perfect delivery
26. Make public speaking part of identity → “this is how I contribute”
27. Stay consistent → promotions reward patterns, not one-off moments
28. Learn from someone who’s done it before
29. (Do you wanna add anything?)

This is how I'd do it if I had start from zero.
(No Fake-It-Till-You-Make-It BS 😃)

But you must not forget this: 
Be intentional and make it part of your daily life.

You will remain invisible and stuck if you keep waiting for your work to speak for itself.

💾 Save it for future reference
♻️ Share it with your network
➕ Follow Waqas, P. to gain visibility with public speaking.

Most speakers confuse their audience & don’t realize it
It’s not that your audience isn’t smart. 
Or your topic is too "technical".

Most confusion comes from how speakers think, not what they know.

15 reasons audience get lost even when speaker is capable:

1. You’re not clear yet, but you start speaking anyway
→ If an idea is fuzzy in your head, it becomes chaos in theirs

2. You overestimate what audience already knows
→ You’re deep in the subject. They’re hearing it for the first time

3. You skip the “why this matters” part
→ Great ideas fail w/o context. People need a reason to care before they follow

4. You try to solve multiple problems in one talk
→ One talk = one core problem. Everything else is noise

5. You confuse complexity with credibility
→ Clear speakers sound confident. Confusing ones "sound smart"

6. You explain everything instead of focusing 'what matters'
→ More info doesn’t equal more clarity. It's often the opposite

7. Your 'transitions' exist only in your head
→ You know where you’re going... they don’t. Guide them

8. You talk in concepts.. instead of concrete examples
→ Concepts float. Examples land

9. You rely on jargon to sound professional
→ Jargon impresses peers. It loses everyone else

10. You don’t anchor your talk to one central idea
→ If they can’t summarize it in one sentence, it's not clear

11. You use stories that don’t serve the point
→ Stories add weight. Side stories dilute it

12. You hide the structure - intentional or otherwise
→ Audiences relax when they know where they are & where they’re going

13. You slides are text heavy
→ Slides are visual aid, not the message. Too much text splits attention

14. You speak like you’re being evaluated
→ When you’re focused on "sounding good".. you stop being understood

15. You never check if clarity actually landed
→ Silence doesn’t mean understanding. It often means confusion.

And remember...
No topic is too complex or technical

And it's not an excuse to being vague or confusing others.

As a speaker/ presenter, it's our responsibility to make it simple & digestible  for any type of audience.

(also know your audience and prep accordingly)

💾 Save it & revisit it before next talk or presentation.

♻️ Share with your network if it resonated.
➕ Follow Waqas, P. for more on public speaking confidence & clarity.

Most tech professionals don’t do these 4 things:
(That's why their career plateaus, even when they’re great at what they do)

It's rarely because they lack skills. Or talent.

It's because their expertise never becomes visible to decision makers.

After witnessing first hand, I noticed 4 things most tech pros consistently avoid.. and it quietly keeps them stuck:

1. Speaking up in meetings
(I wanted my work speak for itself. Often it never did)

2. Asking for promotions
(I waited for 'permission' to ask for promotions. No one ever gave it to me)

3. Storytelling, analogies, examples in presentations
(The bar is so low that even my bad storytelling attempts made me stand out)

4. Learning to communicate with clarity under pressure
(This is what actually changes how decision-makers perceive your value)

Because..

They don’t promote based on technical ability alone.

They promote based on what they can clearly understand, trust and advocate for.

I saw this at my previous role at Lucid Motors:

One of the most technically experienced person on the team had over 15 years in the industry. Everyone would go to him to solve hard problems.

But in meetings with decision makers, he struggled to communicate. 

A LOT.

And over time, that invisibility mattered more than his experience.

If your work isn’t speaking for itself, it’s not a talent problem. It’s a visibility problem.

That’s why the 4 shifts above matter. 

➕ Follow Waqas, P. to gain visibility with public speaking.

It was the last Friday of September 2021. 
My FIRST day of my internship at Tesla. 
Remote work era...

Which is a bit of a letdown as I wanted the full US in-person experience. 

But hey, it’s Tesla. I’m in.

I log into my first team meeting on Microsoft Teams.

30-ish people. All strangers. All brilliant.
The team lead is hosting.

Then it begins: INTRODUCTIONS
You already know where this is going...

And even though I know they’ll get to me eventually, I’m still not ready…

I’m sweating.
I’m rehearsing in my head.
I’m smiling nervously at names I can’t pronounce.

I’m thinking:
“Please don’t mess up. Just say something smart. Have a perfect first impression.. Don’t sound like you don’t belong.”

I’m the last to go. 
My heart is pounding...

“Hi, I’m Waqas…
I’m a PhD student at Missouri University of Science and Technology...”

So far, so good.

But then I try to casually share what I do in my free time:

“…I like reading books on Audible” 👀

Wait.
What?
You don’t read on Audible.
It’s an audio app. You listen. That’s literally the point.

Panic kicks in..
I try to fix it… but I’m in a spiral.

Words come out that don’t even make sense in my own head.

It’s like I’m speaking in alien code.
I abruptly stop...

Silence.

People are confused if I’m done or buffering.

Then finally, the team lead graciously thanks me for “introducing” myself and moves the meeting on.

Looking back…

That wasn’t just a flub.
That was the weight of limiting beliefs doing their work:

- “I have to be perfect or I’ll be exposed.”
- “I need to impress them or I don’t belong.”
- “They’ll find out they hired the wrong guy.”
- “One mistake = career suicide.”

I was so wrapped up in trying to “perform” I couldn’t just be myself.

And ironically, trying to sound perfect is what made me sound FAKE.

What I learned and what might help you:

→ Your PRESENCE is powerful than perfection.
→ It’s NOT about having perfect intro or smooth lines.
→ It’s about being GROUNDED in who you are... even when you stumble. Especially when you stumble.

Mistakes aren’t proof you don’t belong... 
they’re proof you’re human.

When you mess up, audience gets a glimpse into REAL YOU..

Stay human!
Build connection and trust… Use humor when fitting.

QUESTION for You:

Think back to a moment where you messed up when speaking..
What belief were you carrying at the time?

I’d love to hear your story.
(Share below one sentence or the whole thing)

Let’s normalize the messy moments that make us real. 
You never know who needs to hear it.

➕ Follow Waqas, P. for on public speaking confidence.

I spent last 3 years coaching introverted leaders speak with confidence & authority. I see the SAME pattern holding them back:

They try fixing symptoms of anxiety..

Not the root causes & triggers.

Their anxiety keeps coming back..

Not because they are bad at public speaking

But they use band-aids for nervous system problem.

You see…

Conventional advice is built around "masking" symptoms.. NOT resolving them:

1/ Deep Breathing: 
Regulates heart rate but..
doesn’t remove what brain interprets as a threat.

→ So fear returns in the next high-stakes moment. 

2/ Positive Affirmations: 
Our subconscious rejects what it doesn’t believe.

→ Repeating “I’m Superman” in the mirror won’t make us Superman. 

3/ Thought-stopping: 
Negative thoughts are symptoms, not the root cause of anxiety.

→ Suppress one… another pops up.

4/ Beta Blockers:
They block adrenaline from entering our system.
They don’t change how brain interprets anxiety.

→ The pattern stays wired in. 

5/ Finding Comforting Face in audience: 
This is like outsourcing confidence.

→ If that person isn’t there next time, anxiety comes right back. 

And this is why so many capable, high-achieving professionals stay stuck in anxiety mode..

waiting for a miracle to happen.

Real transformation starts when you understand:
- your personal triggers
- root causes behind your speaking nerves
- how nervous system actually responds under pressure 

When we learn to work with nervous system responses
- Speaking becomes logical.
- Predictable.
- Doable. 

That’s exactly what I teach in my Free Zoom Workshop:

If you’re tired of band-aids and want to actually fix speaking anxiety at the root:

🟢 Comment or DM “Workshop” for details.

📅  Next event is on Jan 11 & 12 (12-2pm EST)
🔴  Only 4 spots left.

A year ago, I wanted AI to write everything for me

Now the moment I smell AI… I scroll like it carries virus

You know the copy-paste posts… 

with ton of em dashes "—"
excessive emojis like ✨🔥🌟🚀💫🎯

…and ZERO emotional relatability.

This is proof we’re CRAVING humanity more than ever 
(in the sea of abstract words and nothingness)

- messy 
- flawed
- and imperfect…

But unique and beautiful in our own weird ways.

We don’t crave perfection.
We crave authentic, real emotions in these words

We crave a PULSE behind that blue “Post” button

WEIRD CONFESSION:

I celebrate when someone points out typos in my post… it proves it’s me… The imperfect hooman 😅

NOT your 'perfect' AI.

(Use AI but don’t lose your humanness somewhere in those prompts)

📌 Where do you stand on AI for content creation?

Mid-senior introverted Tech professionals:

You solve hard problems but feel invisible in meetings.

You build Great products but..

Someone else gets the credit.

You tell yourself to 'speak louder' and somehow… 

Confidence disappears right on cue.

You wait for your work to be noticed.. while decision-makers promote louder voices in the room.

I know this feeling.
Heck, I lived it!

Tech pros are rarely taught how to gain visibility
or communicate the value of their work.

So they wait for their work to 'speak for itself'.

And often… it DOESN'T.

That’s why I’m on a mission to change this.

I’m hosting a FREE live 2-Day 'Silent to Seen Workshop' for introverted Tech professionals who are done staying silent & invisible.

We’ll dive deep into:

1. Reducing fear of judgment when you speak
2. Understanding what’s causing your speaking anxiety
3. Handling anxiety in the moment without losing your train of thought
4. Guided, practical exercises on all of above topics

You'll walk away with practical tools you can implement immediately.

When: Feb 15 & Feb 16, 12PM – 2PM EST (both days)

🟢 Register here using the link on main page (Registration is must)
🔴 Seats are limited and typically are gone in first 2 weeks after announcement.

View event: Public Speaking Confidence for Mid-Senior Professionals

Public Speaking Confidence for Mid-Senior Professionals

Sun, Feb 15, 6:00 PM - Mon, Feb 16, 8:00 AM CET

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The Battle

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