I had the opportunity to take the stage as a finalist in the Last Story Standing competition hosted by NSA Wisconsin.
Five minutes.
No slides.
No props.
No safety net.
Just a story.
It was one of the most energizing professional experiences I’ve had in a long time.
Why This Competition Matters
Last Story Standing isn’t about delivering a keynote. It’s about telling one story and making it land. Judges evaluate clarity of purpose, emotional impact, and delivery.
In other words:
Can you move a room with nothing but your voice?
As speakers, we talk about storytelling all the time. This format strips everything down to the fundamentals. It quickly reminds you whether your message resonates.
And it forces you to sharpen.
What I Learned
The story I told centered on a winter morning, a semi-truck, and a moment that clarified something I didn’t want to admit:
I was reliable for everyone else.
But I regularly rescheduled myself.
I was putting off big things I needed to do. Things I said were important to me, but I wasn’t fully showing up.
That realization reshaped how I think about leadership, visibility, and courage.
It’s easy to keep appointments for clients, audiences, and expectations.
It’s harder to “hit send” on the work that feels vulnerable.
The takeaway was simple:
Ready is a myth.
Regret is real.
So hit send.
Preparing for the finals pushed me to refine that message even further. Feedback from judges helped me tighten the arc, strengthen the call to action, and deepen the emotional beats. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you put yourself in environments where excellence is expected.
Gratitude
I’m grateful to:
- NSA Wisconsin for creating such a well-run, high-caliber experience
- The judges for thoughtful, specific feedback
- The photographers, videographers, and stage crew who make speakers look polished
- The audience who came out in true Wisconsin winter fashion
- My fellow finalists and competitors — cheering each other on backstage was a highlight
And especially to my husband, who drove me to the event when the windchill made even stepping outside questionable.
What’s Next
Competitions are not the point.
Growth is.
This experience made me sharper. Clearer. More committed to the kind of keynote work I want to be doing, work that moves leaders to act.
I’ll be back next year. (Hopefully, as a finalist, at least as a contestant.)
And in the meantime, if your organization is looking for a keynote on trust, visibility, influence, or the courage to move before you feel “ready,” I’d love to talk.
Because sometimes the most important move is simply this:
Hit send.
