Matt Abrahams

There are lots of circles around my coin. Thank you. Yes, I grew up in a family of people who talk all the time, so I had to learn to be louder and more focused. I grew up in a family of teachers, so I've always been focused on that. But yes, martial arts has played a big part of my life. I've studied martial arts for over four decades, many different styles. I've taught martial arts.

There are lots of circles around my coin. Thank you. Yes, I grew up in a family of people who talk all the time, so I had to learn to be louder and more focused. I grew up in a family of teachers, so I've always been focused on that. But yes, martial arts has played a big part of my life. I've studied martial arts for over four decades, many different styles. I've taught martial arts.

I still teach martial arts. So yes, it's had a huge impact on my life. And quite frankly, I think everybody should have some physical outlet that helps them explore the issues of their lives in a different way. You know, I have chosen a very cerebral profession where we do research, we teach, we talk about, we discuss, we debate.

I still teach martial arts. So yes, it's had a huge impact on my life. And quite frankly, I think everybody should have some physical outlet that helps them explore the issues of their lives in a different way. You know, I have chosen a very cerebral profession where we do research, we teach, we talk about, we discuss, we debate.

And I think it's important to have some physical outlet where you can still deal with some of those same issues. And maybe it's hiking, maybe it's a musical instrument, maybe it's doing something else with your hands. But really for me, martial arts has been really, really important.

And I think it's important to have some physical outlet where you can still deal with some of those same issues. And maybe it's hiking, maybe it's a musical instrument, maybe it's doing something else with your hands. But really for me, martial arts has been really, really important.

Right. So the martial arts for me helps me be helps me be more present oriented. You know, people see the martial arts as just physical and you watch these things on TV where people are just pummeling each other. And that's maybe one tiny portion of the martial arts.

Right. So the martial arts for me helps me be helps me be more present oriented. You know, people see the martial arts as just physical and you watch these things on TV where people are just pummeling each other. And that's maybe one tiny portion of the martial arts.

But martial arts are very spiritual, very connected, very, very psychological endeavor, as is, I believe, any sport at a certain level. And so for me, it helps me be more present oriented. It helps me when I'm practicing to just be in the moment, gets me in touch with my body and my breath. When you're working with another person, let me tell you, the feedback comes in lots of ways.

But martial arts are very spiritual, very connected, very, very psychological endeavor, as is, I believe, any sport at a certain level. And so for me, it helps me be more present oriented. It helps me when I'm practicing to just be in the moment, gets me in touch with my body and my breath. When you're working with another person, let me tell you, the feedback comes in lots of ways.

But in the martial arts, it's very direct and sometimes quite painful. And you learn from it. So it's helped me be present. It's helped me listen. And people think listening in the martial arts. You know, when you're doing what you do in the martial arts, you have to pay acute attention and you're focused and listening to how somebody moves, how they breathe, what their tendencies are.

But in the martial arts, it's very direct and sometimes quite painful. And you learn from it. So it's helped me be present. It's helped me listen. And people think listening in the martial arts. You know, when you're doing what you do in the martial arts, you have to pay acute attention and you're focused and listening to how somebody moves, how they breathe, what their tendencies are.

These are all skills that help me, I believe, in my day to day life. It also is a space where I do it for me and it's a way of recharging and revitalizing myself. So I have a whole lot of benefit that comes to me personally, just like I think anybody can find in any physical endeavor.

These are all skills that help me, I believe, in my day to day life. It also is a space where I do it for me and it's a way of recharging and revitalizing myself. So I have a whole lot of benefit that comes to me personally, just like I think anybody can find in any physical endeavor.

Excellent. Thank you for the opportunity. So I've written two books. The first book is Speaking Up Without Freaking Out. It really tries to help people find ways to manage anxiety. Everybody is different when it comes to anxiety. The one thing that is true is most people feel anxiety when speaking.

Excellent. Thank you for the opportunity. So I've written two books. The first book is Speaking Up Without Freaking Out. It really tries to help people find ways to manage anxiety. Everybody is different when it comes to anxiety. The one thing that is true is most people feel anxiety when speaking.

And so the book is really designed to present different options, tools, and tactics that you can use. Even though there are 50 in the book, the hope is that three or four will work for you. Not everybody responds the same way. And then the newest book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, is all about what we started to speak on, which is how to speak better in the moment.

And so the book is really designed to present different options, tools, and tactics that you can use. Even though there are 50 in the book, the hope is that three or four will work for you. Not everybody responds the same way. And then the newest book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, is all about what we started to speak on, which is how to speak better in the moment.

So the first part of the book is a methodology. It's a methodology I developed to help our Stanford MBA students, but it applies to everybody. And then the second part of the book highlights very specific situations like we talked about, feedback and small talk, but also how do you make apologies? How do you introduce yourself? How do you answer questions?

So the first part of the book is a methodology. It's a methodology I developed to help our Stanford MBA students, but it applies to everybody. And then the second part of the book highlights very specific situations like we talked about, feedback and small talk, but also how do you make apologies? How do you introduce yourself? How do you answer questions?