From Flop Sweat to Flow: What My First Terrible Live Shot Taught Me About Talking Like a Pro
- Mike Petchenik
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
I still remember my first live report for a real TV audience.
Junior year at the University of Missouri. I was cutting my teeth at the university-owned NBC affiliate as part of my broadcast journalism classes.
I don’t even remember what the story was. Breaking news. Friday night. Cold, dark, and raining. I’m standing on a bluff over the Missouri River.
Between me and thousands of eyeballs? A camera lens. A blinding light. One very calm photographer.
His pre-shot wisdom:“Breathe. Collect your thoughts. Then talk.”
Simple advice.
I’ve since incinerated the tape. You’re welcome.
I looked ghostly white after over-applying powder.
My eyes were the size of dinner plates. My voice jumped two octaves. And under my ill-fitting suit jacket? Flop sweat cascading down to my toes.
In short, I was a nervous wreck. And it showed.
Over the next twenty years in TV news, every rep got easier. Less sweat. Less squeaky voice. More control. More confidence.
The Unavoidable Truth
If you run a business, you’re going to have to talk in front of people. There’s no hiding.
You’ll pitch. Lead meetings. Sell. Present. Record videos. Jump on Zoom. Network.
And just like live TV, you’ll have to take messy, complicated information and make it clear, compelling, and human.
Confidence isn’t optional. Clarity isn’t optional. Showing up isn’t optional.
You’re on!
Messaging Matters
Back in my reporter days, I never memorized scripts. I wrote bullet points.
A few key messages on a notepad. If my brain short-circuited mid-sentence, quick glance down, reset, keep rolling. You should do the same.
Before you speak, figure out your three to five core points. That’s it. Not twenty. Not a TED Talk manifesto. Three to five. Just know what you want people to remember.
Here’s an example:
I call myself a “media consultant,” which is… fine. But also vague enough to mean basically anything.
So I tightened it up:
“I help small and mid-sized businesses cut through the noise and tell their story in the most compelling way possible.”
Cleaner. Clearer.
Then I break it down:
• PR: I connect clients with the right media to amplify their stories
• Media training: I teach leaders how to show up confidently on camera and in interviews
• Legal work: I produce long-form documentaries that help shape perception during sentencing mitigation
Same core message. Different angles.
Peak Performance
Even seasoned pros still get the willies sometimes. Adrenaline never fully leaves. And yeah, even late in my career I had a few “oh crap, we’re live” moments.
That first photographer’s advice still holds up:
Breathe in.Breathe out.
It’s weird how something that basic actually works.
Stand tall. Smile. Deliver your points.
Rinse. Repeat.
And if you’re into the old “picture them in their underwear” trick… go for it, I guess. Personally, that just sounds distracting and mildly traumatizing.
You don’t need to be Tony Robbins or a megachurch pastor to communicate well.
Just be yourself. Clear. Confident. Direct.
Even if you’re faking it a little at first.
Because here’s the secret: everyone’s faking it a little.
Including 1999 me (and, yes, even the 2026 version), shaking on a bluff in Missouri while pretending I totally had it together.
Spoiler: I did not.
TL;DR
• You’re going to have to speak in front of people. No escape hatch
• Nerves are normal. Reps make it easier
• Prep 3 to 5 key messages, not a script
• Breathe. Stand tall. Keep it simple
• Confidence is mostly practice and a little bit of acting
Clear beats perfect. Every time.
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