I Did My TEDx Talk: Feeling the Fear and Doing It Anyway
I had the privilege of stepping onto the red circle at TEDx St. Pete Women in Tampa, Florida to share my idea worth spreading:
“The Midlife Advantage – Why Your Greatest Success Can Come After 40.”
No slides. No prompts. Just me, 15 minutes, and my story. And yes, the nerves were there, but I did it. And I walked away proud.
The Truth About “Readiness”
If you had told me at the beginning of this year that I’d be speaking on a TEDx stage in 2025, I would have panicked. I would have thought, “I’m not ready for that.”
But this journey taught me something powerful: there is no perfect time.
You don’t need to wait until you feel confident, until all your ducks are lined up, or until everything is perfectly rehearsed.
You commit. You feel the fear. And you do it anyway. Once you decide, the pieces start to fall into place.
Behind the Scenes: My “Standing Ovation” Moment
The day before I flew out to Tampa, I had a practice session with my TEDx coach. And honestly? I blew it. My head wasn’t in the right space, and it shook my confidence. I think both of us were unsure if I was ready.
But on the morning of the talk, we had one last Zoom together. I delivered the entire 15 minutes, word for word. He stood up, clapped, and said:
“Here’s your standing ovation.”
That was my turning point. His words confirmed what I had to believe for myself: I was ready.
And when I stepped onto that stage, I knew I was going to give it everything.
What I Learned from TEDx
This experience taught me lessons I’ll carry forever and I want to share them with you:
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Don’t wait for the perfect time. It doesn’t exist. The right time is the moment you decide.
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Fear is part of the process. Feeling scared doesn’t mean you’re not capable. It means you’re growing.
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Commit first, confidence follows. Once you commit and start moving forward, clarity and confidence arrive.
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Preparation is everything - but so is trust. Practice matters, but so does trusting yourself when the moment comes.
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Your support system counts. Having a coach, mentors, and a cheering community made all the difference.
What’s Next
TEDx was a milestone I’ll never forget. It’s opened doors I never expected, new speaking opportunities, podcast invitations, and friendships with incredible women in business.
And because I’ve always been someone who moves onto the next big (and often scary) goal… I’m already writing my second book. 📖 More news on that soon.
For now, I want to leave you with this:
👉 Courage isn’t about waiting until you’re ready. It’s about starting before you are.
If there’s something on your heart that feels too big, too scary, or too far away, take the first step anyway. You might just surprise yourself.
