What if the first sixty seconds of a session matter more than the next sixty minutes?

For years, introducing myself felt like a high-stakes puzzle. With only an hour to facilitate, the pressure to prove credibility felt immense. The trap was easy to fall into: speaking for five minutes, listing achievements, and watching the energy in the room drop.

When I were a participant in a training, I keep questioning other trainer’s intro who falls into the same trap… Then the realization hit me that I do not need a trophy case.. I need a bridge… What you say,... “So what’s in it for me?”

Now, I focus on one question in all my introductions: What is in this for them?

Every word must offer value, relevance, and real human connection. Here is the frame of thought that helps me:

• The hook: Start with a belief or a vision, not a name.
• The scar: Share a vulnerability that connects, not a title that separates.
• The gift: Turn personal experience into a tool the audience can use right away.

If I were to introduce myself with this approach for our soon-to-be launch Podcast, I would say…

"Books only matter if they change how we live. My name is Pim. I am dyslexic. Because words on a page challenged me, I had to find uncommon ways to learn. If you love to read, that is beautiful. But if you learn differently—by listening and doing—you are not alone. That’s why I host the podcast 'huMAN UP!' to help us thrive in our relationships."

The ripple effect was instant. Audiences stopped listening to a speaker and started looking at their own potential.

Deep gratitude goes to every participant who has sat in these short sessions. The willingness to trust a stranger creates the very soil where growth takes root.

Stop introducing the past. Start inviting people into their own expansion.

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