Early in my career I belonged to a businesswomen’s group, and they held a speaking contest. First prize was $100. I entered, I prepared and was disappointed when I didn’t win first prize, I didn’t even place in the top 5!

A mentor of mine who was in the audience, gave me the following feedback: “You had a death grip on the podium, did you think it was going to run away? You stumbled over your words and the two stories you told didn’t connect to the topic.” I was devastated. It was all I could do to not cry on the way home in a car full of other women.

But I was determined to conquer my fears, create stories that make an impact and craft a presentation that would wow the audience.

Fast forward 10 years and my then employer sent me to present our safety program at an industry conference. This time the prize was based on the impact of the program not the presentation, yet when people approached me afterward and gave me compliments on my delivery and the stories I shared; I knew I’d moved well beyond that timid young woman losing a speech contest years before.