Showtime!

Inspiration shot June 2025

Only 4 weeks to go. Preparations for my theatre show on June 28 are in full swing. Are nerves getting the better of me? No, not really. Even though there’s still a lot to be done, I mostly feel a deep trust that it will all come together.

But what is happening: I’m learning. A lot. About letting go. About trusting the moment. About the tension between spontaneity and planning. About myself.

In this Inspiration Shot, I’ll take you behind the scenes. Not just of the theatre, but also of the creative process. Because making a show might look spectacular from the outside, but on the inside, it’s mostly a journey. A search for what feels right. For how things could be done differently. And how I can make my own rules.

Maybe you’ll recognise something in my process. Maybe it will inspire you to create your own ‘show’ in your own way.

Stage fright

Stage anxiety, also known as glossophobia or fear of public speaking, is one of the most common fears in the world. Around 70 to 77% of people feel uncomfortable or nervous when speaking in public. About 30% even experience serious panic at the thought of standing in front of a group. In some studies, this fear scores even higher than the fear of death. Pretty intense, right?

Usually, it’s not the speaking itself that’s scary, but the attention and judgment that come with it. What if you say something wrong? What if people look at you strangely? What if you get exposed as a fraud? It’s a cocktail of external pressure and inner voices telling you you’re not good enough.

For me, it’s exactly the other way around. After more than 1,000 keynotes, the stage has become my comfort zone. Not because I don’t feel nervous. But because I’ve learned something important: It’s not about me.

When you focus on what you want to say, you’re stuck in your head. Then you’re focused on yourself. But once you clear your mind and make space for the moment, magic happens. Something flows through you that’s exactly right for that audience, in that moment.

I rarely prepare. Maybe a strong opening or closing line. Or a few talking points. But mostly, I leave space to connect, to feel the energy in the room, and to go with it.

And that is exactly what makes my theatre show a challenge.

Because while I prefer to decide what I’ll say or do at the last minute, the team around me (lighting, sound, tech, video) wants to know everything in advance.

What time does it start? What’s the order? Which visuals? When does the spotlight come on?

Yeah. Structure versus flow.

I get them. And they get me.

So we’re finding a way where my spontaneity and their preparation can exist together.

Because when I’m on that stage, I want to be fully present, not stuck to a script.

Are you afraid of standing in front of a group? Know this: you’re not alone.

But also know: it can change.

Not by trying harder, but by trying to control less.

By simply being there.

For your audience. And for yourself.

P.S. the photo is from the recent Dynamite Circle conference in Mexico, where I was unexpectedly asked to facilitate a group discussion. No problem, when you have the mindset described above: I am here for them.

How is it supposed to be?

“I’ve never done it before, so I think I can do it…”

These wise words from Pippi Longstocking are pretty much my life motto.

Still, I’ve learned that when you’re doing something new, it’s smart to take advice from an expert instead of reinventing the wheel. So I ask questions like: how many scenes are there usually in a theatre show? How long is an average scene? How long is a show supposed to be?

The honest answer? There is no right answer.

And besides, this is MY show.

I know exactly what I want to say and what I want my audience to experience. So I create my own program, my own rules.

Through this process, I’m rediscovering my own wisdom and entrepreneurial spirit.

It IS possible.

And you know what? That’s not just true for me.

Maybe this is your invitation too, to ask less often “how is it supposed to be?” and more often “how do I want it to be?”

The world doesn’t need more copies, it needs more people who dare to create from their own wisdom. Long live our inner ‘Pippi’!