Years ago, I was on stage in front of 500+ people, mid-presentation, when everything went dark.

The mic? Dead.

The PowerPoint? Gone.

Just me, a ballroom full of people, and a sudden, uncomfortable silence.

I took a breath, looked out at the audience, and said:

“I don’t need slides. I just want to speak to you from my heart.”

Because of my theater training, I projected my voice to the back of the room.

And then I just talked to them. No script. No tech. No gimmicks.

That talk turned out to be one of my best sales days ever.

Why?

Because at that moment, I didn’t lean on tools. I led the room.

Leadership in sales isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.

It’s about making your prospects feel like, “This is the person I want guiding me.”

Actionable tip:

Next time you’re on a call—or presenting live—ask yourself:

“If all the tools disappeared… could I still lead with just my voice and my conviction?”

If the answer’s no, don’t fix your tools.

Fix your clarity. Your confidence. Your message.

Because when those are strong?

You’re unstoppable—even when the lights go out.

Kick butt, make mucho DEEnero!

Dave “Powered by Presence” Dee