An investment company executive had to deliver a speech before 1,000 people at a convention. She was introducing a new product. Wall Street would be there. So would the media and her competition. The chairman of her company would be in the audience as would many of her colleagues. It was a big deal.

“I’m terrified,” she told me. “I’m a terrible speaker. I get so nervous that I literally forget everything I’m going to say. I have panic attacks, and I feel like I’m going to faint. You’ve got to help me.”