You've Got 8 Seconds

|CONCLUSION|

The Next Step

“Showmanship, George. When you hit that high note, say goodnight and walk off.”

—JERRY SEINFELD,(from NBC’S Seinfeld)

Practice

“When Barack Obama watched the video of the debate, he grimaced. ‘It’s worse than I thought’ ran through his mind.”¹

It was 2008. Obama was just beginning his run for president. Although widely acknowledged as a gifted communicator, he knew he could do better.

That’s how high-performers think, they commit to continuous improvement.

Four years later, after his first debate with Mitt Romney, President Obama probably grimaced again. Post-debate consensus: Obama lost badly.

Turns out, most U.S. presidents lose their first reelection debate.² One reason: lack of practice. Practice doesn’t make perfect, ...