Awaiting my turn backstage I watched as an entire events team was freaking out, running back and forth, chatter on headsets, teleprompter operators with hands in the air, show producers pacing, every team player not sure what to do. The first celebrity speaker had taken 20 minutes longer than allotted, now the second speaker, an executive, was 15 minutes over. I was scheduled to do an hour following “Long-wind” and “Breathless” (my new nicknames for the speakers before me), sandwiched between the ever sacred Expo Hall opening at 11 AM that would make about 50 Sponsors pull their advertising dollars for future events if they didn’t get their time. The client approached cautiously, with fear in her eyes, as to how I was going to take the news that I had to be done at 10:55 AM and would have to cut my hour to…whatever time this speaker ended. Before she could say a word I shook my head, held open my arms, gave her a big hug, and said, “I’m so sorry you’re going through this.  I know what you’re up against.  I’m on your team.  I can do as long or as little as you need to