The one question that changed how I speak (and create content) [WRAP 195]

Hey Reader, want to know the fastest way to lose your someone’s attention?

Talk like you're trying to prove something instead of share something.

A speaking coach just called me out on this, and now I can't unsee it in my own work. Here’s what he asked me…

Michael (more on him in a minute) helped me realized how often I'm performing instead of connecting.

How many times I've stretched a story too long or kept talking just to sound smarter than I actually feel.

Here's the mental block I didn’t recognize: your audience doesn't see your insecurity until you show it.

Nobody knows you're uncomfortable until you tell them. So here's what clicked for me. Sometimes you have to let the logic go and let your natural self take over. Stay in character. Act like someone who's good at this stuff.

Because here's the truth: everyone's pretending a little. And that's okay.

I learned about how to stop “leaking insecurity” (and a lot of other skills) from the team at Ultraspeaking. Michael, Tristan, and the team have put together an incredible experience that will help anyone become a more confident speaker.

Besides the insecurity block, here are 3 other AHA! moments I got out of my time with them.

🪗 The Accordion Method

Compress your idea into 60 seconds. Then 30 seconds. Then 15 seconds. Now expand it back to 60 seconds with only what matters.

This one technique forces you to find your actual point instead of talking around it. I'm using this for every video and email now.

😬 Rambling is a Symptom of Nervousness

When you ramble, it's like sending an email that's just a wall of text. Nobody can follow it. But when you break it into clean sections with clear points? Suddenly people get it.

Same thing happens when you speak. Clarity isn't about saying more—it's about saying less, better.

⏸️ Build a Relationship with the Pause

After you make a point, stop 🛑

3-5 seconds of silence feels like forever to you, but it gives your audience space to actually absorb what you said.

I'm terrible at this. But the best speakers do it constantly, and now I can't unsee it.

🤔 Think About It This Way

Most of us create content to prove we belong. We're not expressing what we know, we're performing to show we're worthy of attention.

But when you speak to express, you're calm, clear, grounded. When you speak to impress, you're frantic and over-explaining.

Next time you record a video, write an email, or get on a call, ask yourself:

Am I speaking to express or to impress?

That one question changes everything.

Thanks for reading,

Matt "Turn the Dial to 11" Ragland

P.S. Ultraspeaking isn't your typical speaking course. No 400-slide decks. Just live speaking games in small groups with real-time feedback.

I used what I learned to improve my YouTube videos and webinars immediately. The live cohort is one of the best I've been a part of, and you can join here. But don't wait too long, their last cohort of 2025 closes in 5 days.

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Not ready to go live? Start with their free 5-day email course and get access to a live speaking class. I've done these exercises myself. They work.