Over a two-and-a-half-week period, I gave each of the 16 Denver Startup Week Pitch Competition semifinalists a private coaching session.

Since I had the opportunity to see so many talented entrepreneurs present in such a short amount of time, it was easy to see some patterns emerge.

4 things really stood out to me about what separates a good presenter from a great presenter.

I mustered up all my optimism at the start of quarantine to talk about why comics get onstage, tips for making your next Zoom meeting better, and, yes, the time Daniel got punched by a total stranger right before our now infamous gig in downtown Denver.

I’ve appeared on a handful of podcasts to date, but this by far was my favorite. If you’re even remotely interested in taking a peek behind the curtain of stand-up comedy, this episode is for you.

It’s been 90 days since we all started working from home. Are you starting to feel more comfortable in front of your camera?

I hope these 4 tips help you feel more confident and engaging during your next videoconference.

The grief is real. The energy we create from being face-to-face with our clients is gone.

So for the short term, we’ll count our blessings, endure the endless videoconferences and fight back against Zoom Fatigue.

But this is NOT the new normal. Regardless of what Zoom, DoorDash and Slack want you to believe.

Conan O’Brien calls David Letterman “the North Star” for comedians of his generation. Jimmy Kimmel says Letterman was more important to him than sleep, and he refers to Dave as “my Jesus.”

Even if you didn’t watch late-night television throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s (back when DVRs didn’t exist), you knew Letterman.

Before we jump in… I get it. The irony isn’t lost on me that Letterman is famous for his Top-10 lists.

But let’s face it, you’re busy, I’m busy, so a Top 5 list it is.

My first time on stage I absolutely BOMBED. I was so deep inside my own head about what the audience was thinking of me, I totally blanked.

Since then I’ve learned active listening is the best way to take the focus off of ourselves and dial down our own personal judgment.

When we’re fully present in the moment there’s no room for self-consciousness.

Why is sitting in uncomfortable silence so hard?

Creative Mornings’ December theme was Silence and while I’m an ironic choice for this topic, it was fun to share stories from my career as both a sales leader and stand-up comedian on how to use silence to build tension, truly be heard and find your authentic path.

The holidays are full of cheer, let them be full of laughs too!

Make a good decision for once at your company’s holiday party and host a Pitch Lab improvisation workshop!

This year give your team the gift of stronger communication, creativity and collaboration!

When it comes to presenting, it’s all about connection.

So what’s the best way to connect with your audience?

Not by being perfect, but by being authentically you. Here’s how.

What could possibly be funny about tree-ring dating or Russian gem carvings? Lots, if you hear about them from Steve Nash.

As Director of Anthropology and Curator of Archaeology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (whew!), this author has a list of accomplishments longer than a Diplodocus tail.

Pitch Lab caught up with Steve to ask him a few questions about his worst experience on stage, what’s so funny about ancient Pompeii and why every scholar needs to work on their public speaking skills: