I cold-called a speaker with more stage experience than I had life experience. Hoped he wouldn't answer.

He did.

I stumbled through my script. Thought I did ok.

Until he cut me off:

"Are you reading a script? Sounds horrible. I was convinced you were AI."

He then proceeded to tear my script apart. Line by line.

"Alright, I'm going to go now."

"My bad. I actually just wanted to help. Don't you want to try and sell me?"

One week later, $5,000 hit my account.

A month later, mid-call, he stopped and said: "You're really good at this."

3 months later, he called to tell me his rebuilt talk had lined up three 6-figure conversations off the first presentation.

Maybe I’m a better coach than a salesman.