“Practice makes permanent.”
“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations,
we fall to the level of our training.”
(Archilochus, c. 650 BCE)
“There is no tough. There is only trained…and untrained.”
Left over from decades of training for combat operations, big leadership moments, and Ironman races, these mantras echoed in my mind every day during my TEDx preparation.
I had been offered a unique opportunity—and I had to deliver. That meant I couldn’t just wing it.
I had to craft every word, plan every movement, and rehearse every detail. I needed to become so familiar with the 1,900 words of my presentation that I could pick it up at any point and keep going.
I memorized lines during early morning runs. I rehearsed while driving to work (where I’m sure my hand gestures triggered a few looks from other drivers).
And I recorded video in my home rehearsal space above the garage, which meant getting over the awkwardness of watching myself perform.
Today, I’m excited to share a bit of that video with you.
A Steep Learning Curve
This clip captures my perspective of the 2008 rocket attack on our small base in Sadr City, Iraq—a story I used to set up the core message of my TEDx talk. I’ve added on-screen text to show how I blended the words and movements into a synchronized performance.
Getting this story right was a true learning journey. In this video, you’ll see how I:
- Narrowed the story to only the most essential elements
- Told it in the present tense to build urgency and realism
- Used onstage blocking techniques to refine delivery
- Adjusted emotional tempo and tension to connect with the audience
- Practiced precise slide transitions to support the narrative
But the biggest challenge? Translating the chaos of combat into a story that a civilian audience could genuinely feel.
Thankfully, I believe the preparation paid off—and I delivered exactly as I rehearsed.
Watch for the TEDx Video Launch
The full TEDx talk goes live in the coming weeks. It’s titled:
“How to Lead Through the First 10 Minutes of Any Crisis.”
I can’t wait for you to see it, and I’d deeply appreciate you watching and sharing it with your network of friends and colleagues when it comes out.
Until then, I hope this video offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to prepare for a big moment—and how powerful storytelling can carry a leader’s message.
Thanks for checking it out and I’d love to know what stands out to you in this rehearsal. Email me or leave a comment on social media!
Lead well,
Drew
🎥 Watch the full story rehearsal!
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