Oprah has called.
The president has flown in.
The Forbes team is here.
Everything is done.
All the details are handled.
Everything is perfect.
You’ve been given the mic.
The floor is yours.
We’re all here. Everyone.
Our phones are off.
Our minds are clear.
No distractions.
You have our full attention.
There are no time limits.
Nobody is next in line.
You are free to talk as long as you like. For the rest of your life, if you wish.
What would you like to say?
Sometimes we spend so much time and energy trying to get everyone’s attention that we don’t get around to actually saying what’s most important to us.
We debate about what will get the most buzz, the most shares, the most dollar bills, and we don’t actually start the show.
We plan, plan, plan, but never take the microphone.
From now on, behave as if the attention is already there.
Because it is.
We’re listening. We’re watching. We’re ready.
You’ve won the battle.
The auditorium is quiet.
You have the floor.