Steven

So if they can get here before then, then I'm more than happy to like sign the books and stuff, whatever they want me to do. And it was so interesting how much better I felt about myself when I was just honest with this guy. Like I was like, no, I don't have anywhere to be. I just want to go. Exactly. Yeah.

So if they can get here before then, then I'm more than happy to like sign the books and stuff, whatever they want me to do. And it was so interesting how much better I felt about myself when I was just honest with this guy. Like I was like, no, I don't have anywhere to be. I just want to go. Exactly. Yeah.

But it's not easy on a day-to-day basis because even when I did land here in Austin, there were people that texted me saying – Of course. here in Austin, let's go for a coffee. And in reality, here's what my brain is saying. My brain is saying, I need to spend time with my partner. When I'm not recording this podcast, I need to do my bloody, like my to-do list and my Slack and my emails.

But it's not easy on a day-to-day basis because even when I did land here in Austin, there were people that texted me saying – Of course. here in Austin, let's go for a coffee. And in reality, here's what my brain is saying. My brain is saying, I need to spend time with my partner. When I'm not recording this podcast, I need to do my bloody, like my to-do list and my Slack and my emails.

And then I need to go to the gym as well. So it's not that I don't want to go for coffee with you. It's that like, I have other priorities that I'm pressing. So how would I communicate to them in that moment that, they're just not a high priority. It's not a high priority for me to go for a coffee.

And then I need to go to the gym as well. So it's not that I don't want to go for coffee with you. It's that like, I have other priorities that I'm pressing. So how would I communicate to them in that moment that, they're just not a high priority. It's not a high priority for me to go for a coffee.

And then that's where the anxiety kicks in, and that's where we just push it off. What if the excuse is real? So I've been invited to this dinner in London. I actually can't go, but it's someone that I care about a lot. I can't go because of my calendar, and I haven't responded to the email yet. I think in part because I'm trying to figure out how to let them know.

And then that's where the anxiety kicks in, and that's where we just push it off. What if the excuse is real? So I've been invited to this dinner in London. I actually can't go, but it's someone that I care about a lot. I can't go because of my calendar, and I haven't responded to the email yet. I think in part because I'm trying to figure out how to let them know.

You see how it's taking up your energy even now? It is taking up my fucking energy, yes. So in that situation, I should say, I was going to say terribly sorry. No, no, no. Okay. I can't make it on this occasion because I'm in... The Middle East. But thank you for the invitation. Yes. And if this ever pops up again, please do let me know. I'd love to come. Yeah. Because all of that is true.

You see how it's taking up your energy even now? It is taking up my fucking energy, yes. So in that situation, I should say, I was going to say terribly sorry. No, no, no. Okay. I can't make it on this occasion because I'm in... The Middle East. But thank you for the invitation. Yes. And if this ever pops up again, please do let me know. I'd love to come. Yeah. Because all of that is true.

And don't say terribly sorry.

And don't say terribly sorry.

Of course you're not. I'm not terribly sorry. You're not sorry at all.

Of course you're not. I'm not terribly sorry. You're not sorry at all.

It's so ironic that I started this with an um while I was holding this particular image. Nice. So what is this image that I have in my hand for people that can't see this conversation right now?

It's so ironic that I started this with an um while I was holding this particular image. Nice. So what is this image that I have in my hand for people that can't see this conversation right now?

Verbal fillers. One thing we've come to learn from doing this podcast is that when a guest on the show uses a lot of verbal fillers, people get irritated in the comment section. It's so interesting, but it's really taught me a lot about how to speak better. Because if someone comes on the Diary of a CEO and the guest is constantly saying like, like, um, like, like, like, like, um, like, like,

Verbal fillers. One thing we've come to learn from doing this podcast is that when a guest on the show uses a lot of verbal fillers, people get irritated in the comment section. It's so interesting, but it's really taught me a lot about how to speak better. Because if someone comes on the Diary of a CEO and the guest is constantly saying like, like, um, like, like, like, like, um, like, like,

It's like the top three comments. I just did it then. Yeah. It's the top three comments on the video. Right. Should I be getting rid of these filler words? They're like, if I want to be a more effective, impactful communicator. Because the great communicators that I see on stages and stuff, they don't use like...

It's like the top three comments. I just did it then. Yeah. It's the top three comments on the video. Right. Should I be getting rid of these filler words? They're like, if I want to be a more effective, impactful communicator. Because the great communicators that I see on stages and stuff, they don't use like...