Hey Reader,

Yay, you’re here! What up, Buttercup?

Today I want to help you sound more confident, command more attention…

By helping boost your Volume!

“Quiet people” get ignored.

The quietest person in the room is rarely the most trusted one.

Quiet politicians don't win elections. Soft-spoken motivational speakers don't fill arenas. And the “low talker” at the boardroom table?

Nobody's asking them to lead the next big project.

None of them “whispered” their way to the front of the room.

They made sure the person in the very last row heard every single word.

That's not an accident. That's a skill.

Here's the thing most people don't realize: when nerves kick in, “Volume” is the first thing to go.

You start talking to your shoes instead of your audience.

And the moment people strain to hear you, they stop listening altogether.

You've lost them before you even got to the good part.

So, how do you ‘fix’ “Volume”?

Grab your phone, walk about 15 feet away from where you're standing, hit record, and just talk. A pitch, a story, anything. Go for at least three minutes.

Then play it back and ask yourself honestly: did every word land? Was it clear? Could someone in the back row follow along?

If the answer is no, try it again until you find what I call your "Magic Volume."

That sweet spot where your brain goes "wait, I have to be THAT loud?"

Yes. Yes, you do.

No room to practice? No problem.

Put your phone on the other side of a closed door and do the same thing.

Not a bank vault door, just a regular interior door.

Talk through it like the most important person in the world is sitting on the other side, because someday they might be.

Listen back and ask yourself if your message landed clearly, not just the words, but the weight behind them. If someone on the other side could understand you AND absorb your message, you nailed it.

Your "Magic volume" is that sweet spot where you sound confident, clear, and completely in command without coming across like a circus ringmaster.

And once you find it, everything changes.

“Volume” isn't about being loud for the sake of it…

It's about being heard, respected, and believed.

Stellar Marketing Quotes

“The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.”

Tony Robbins

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

There's a moment in every live performance when the crowd becomes your co-star. You stop following the script and just... react.

Besides being on the air, I was also our station mascot!

True, it was a long time ago, but I was the “Khit Ape”!

It was in Tucson, and it began with our very popular hockey team.

(Yes, hockey. In the desert. Don't question it.)

Being the “Khit Ape” meant zero rules and maximum chaos.

Air horns blown directly into opposing coaches' ears, T-shirts tossed into screaming crowds, and yes, acting like I was picking gnats out of a visiting coach's hair.

The crowd ate it up every single time because reading a room and responding in the moment is a skill. Even in a sweaty ape head.

Then one night, a drunk fan decided to choke me from behind.

One arm around my neck, full commitment. What he didn't know was that behind that ape mask was a guy with a Black belt in Karate and a Brown belt in Judo.

Off came the head, and one hip throw later, he was sailing three rows down into some empty seats.

No serious injury besides his pride.

The Khit Ape preceded the now super-popular “Go” Gorilla you may have seen at Phoenix Suns games.

If I started that trend, I'd sure love some residuals. 😅

Here's the thing nobody talks about… whether you're a mascot, a podcast host, or a keynote speaker, your ability to read a room and respond naturally is everything, Reader!

It's the difference between someone leaning in and someone checking their phone.

That instinct doesn't just happen. It gets built.

Diversions

Your Thoughts

Where does your voice matter most right now? 🎙️ Podcasting (host or guest) 🎤 Speaking to groups / events 🧑‍💼 Leading meetings or clients 😬 Everywhere… and I don’t love it