I want to share a piece of the inner work that I do before every speaking event.

I always arrive early, and I get into the room and get still.

Of course, when you first get to the venue, there’s a lot of craziness. Where’s your PowerPoint? Where are the order forms? And all of that.

But I always make sure to leave enough time to find some place in a back corner and get quiet and connect with Source. (You may say “God,” or “higher self,” or whatever you call that greater sense of knowing.)

I open up and feel the room. I try to sense what’s going on. What’s the vibe of the people? I notice what the speaker before me is talking about.

I’ll also say a prayer. I’ll say something like, “Source, please speak through my mouth and let me hear through your ears so that I can provided exactly what they most need from me today. Thank you for allowing me to serve this way.”

I’m asking to be guided to exactly what would open people up. What is it that they most need to hear?

So, while I have my whole structure and my game plan and I’m ready, I still leave room for divine inspiration.

That guidance has really served me—and my audiences—well.