100 MPH in Slow Motion

I could see the car crash coming. It was right there in front of me. The other cars seemed to be driving 100 mph and in slow motion all at the same time. I swerved right and then back hard to the left.

Let me set the scene properly. I was fully prepared, sitting at my desk ten minutes early, my papers and notes laid out before me. When the time came for my presentation, I wanted to be ready. I wanted to have my game face on and have everything I needed to jump into the action. Things started out smoothly enough until finally the cue was given.

I was up. It was showtime with a capital S.

Staring Down the Smirk

I could see right away that it was put-up-or-shut-up time. One of the main guys in the meeting had a certain presence, less of a friendly how are you doing and more of a “show me what you got” attitude. His smirky grin gave him away. I introduced myself and started my presentation. Oh how I hate presentations! Yes, yes, I know that most everyone hates them, but I really hate them. This is where my stutter still likes to come out—where it still likes to let me know who’s boss.

My stomach starts to stress, my heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my body, and I fumble words like they’re a hot potato. My stutter sabotages me. It makes me come across as less than confident in my knowledge and expertise. On this day, though, I took a look at the crash wreckage all around me and was determined to give it the middle finger.

F-you, nerves. F-you, stutter.

The smirking guy was eager to “help out” and play his role in the challenge. He tried to take me off course right from the get-go. I swerved to the right, dodging the collision, and then swung back to the left, forcing the presentation back on track. The psychological rainstorm and limited time tried to slow me down, but I continued unfettered. I was not going to be stopped today. I was determined to have my say.

Of course, then came another question. The guy’s accomplice wanted to throw in his two cents, too. The second guy wanted to play Bellatrix Lestrange to the smirking guy’s Voldemort routine. Not a fan of Harry Potter, then how about Dr. Evil and Mini Me from Austin Powers fame, Jafar and Lago, the talking parrot, in Aladdin, or even Scar and the Hyenas from The Lion King?

In my mind, both guys seemed to be out to trip me up. I was not to be stopped. I looked both of them straight in the eyes—even if it was through my laptop screen—and responded with the facts. I wasn’t going to be talked down to and I most certain wasn’t going to be deterred.

Making the Final Pitch

I looked at the clock and saw it was time for the call to action. I summed up my spiel and made my pitch. My story came together just as I had planned. I might not get the exact result I wanted, but I was gonna give it my best shot. And that’s what I did. I may not win every battle, but it wasn’t going to be for a lack of trying.

F-you, mystery man. He was going to rue the day he tried to derail me. I was going to walk across that corporate battlefield proud of myself.

And I did.

We’ve all been there—staring down the “smirker” in the room, feeling our hearts beat out of our chests, waiting for our false steps to trip us up. But sometimes, just standing your ground is the win.

Have you ever had to fight to keep a presentation or a project on the rails? How did you handle the “evil Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader” from Star Wars in your work and home life? Let me know in the comments below.

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A few related posts:

• Fighting my stutter
• Hello, my name is . . .
• Hiding in Plain Sight!
• I have a voice!
• The birth of a blogger