Applying the Golden Rule

Put the golden rule into practice with these concrete steps:

• Before every talk, complete this sentence: "The audience will leave knowing how to..."
• Write an empathy draft before outlining
• Replace "I" with "you" in your opening — talk about their problem, not your credentials
• Check in visually during the talk — watch for confused faces and adjust in real time
• Measure success by impact — ask "Did they get value?" not "Did I look good?"

The golden rule will not erase your nerves entirely. But it channels them productively.