In June, I had the honor of speaking at Present to Succeed, the world’s largest conference on presentation skills. The bar was set high—every speaker was a seasoned expert, and the audience of 900 people was ready for insights. No pressure, right?
As if the situation wasn’t intense enough, I encountered a small technical hiccup as soon as I stepped on stage. The countdown timer, which should have started at 25 minutes, kicked off from 17. Within seconds, I knew this wasn’t going to go entirely as planned.
But that wasn’t all. Midway through my session, I realized that the version of my presentation being shown wasn’t the latest one I’d submitted to the tech team. In that moment, I had to think on my feet.
This is the reality of presenting: it’s rarely smooth sailing. There’s almost always an unexpected twist. The true test of a presenter is how well they adapt. Staying composed, maintaining focus on the message, and building a strong connection with the audience is what turns a good presentation into a great one. That’s where the real magic happens.
Although the full recording of my session is available for purchase on the conference’s official website, I’ve included a sneak peek below—three clips that capture the essence of my talk.
Did the audience enjoy it? Judging by their applause, laughter, and feedback afterward, I’d say yes.
Could it have been better? Of course. And I’m already working on ways to elevate my next presentations.
Piotr Garlej
P.S. If you’re looking for a speaker for your event, feel free to reach out. I’m passionate about topics such as presentation techniques, business communication, data visualization, and storytelling. Let’s make your event unforgettable!