It had been years since I agreed to talk with a group of youth.
Why? Because something shifted in those audiences a few years back for me, and I haven’t dared return.
So, there I was, standing back stage as the arena filled in with over 11,000 FFA youth from across Ohio.
I never feel nervous before an event. I feel excited, anxious, and generally confident in what I’m about to do.
Of course, there are those feelings inside of imposter syndrome or being tired from a bad night’s sleep in a hotel, but this day was different.
I felt sick to my stomach.
There is always a moment before stepping on stage that most people don’t think about unless you’re the one waiting to be introduced.
The room is set. The audience is waiting. The expectation is there.
And in that moment, it’s easy for the focus to turn inward.
You begin to have a conversation with yourself:
How will this go?
Will this connect?
Will this be received the way I hope?
Those are natural questions.
But over time, I’ve found they aren’t the most helpful ones.
Because they center everything on you, the performer/speaker/presenter.
And the more focused we are on ourselves, the more difficult it becomes to genuinely connect with others.
So instead, I began looking at each young person as they lined up backstage to get their awards prior to my presentation.
I realized they are 30-35 years younger than me.
I could easily be the dad back home asking them over dinner how the event went, which speaker made an impact, how did it feel to learn from them?
My focus went from worrying about me and how I came across to these youth, and what they thought of me, to asking a different question:
What do these young people need from me right now?
What’s most important to them that only I can share?
It’s a simple shift.
But it changes everything.
It moves the focus from performance to purpose.
From self-awareness to awareness of others.
From pressure to responsibility.
And in that shift, something important happens.
I felt at ease, while feeling excited to address them with everything I have.
A confidence I hadn’t felt before youth in many years enveloped me and I knew exactly how I could connect.
When we do this level of meditation and reframing our minds, connection becomes easier.
As I took the stage, I felt the familiar sting of “they’re not getting it”…and instead of pulling back and shying away, I leaned into it.
I said to myself, “They’re not getting it, YET!”
I pushed forward with what I had prepared, while allowing the spirit of speaking to flow through me, to the point I could feel their hearts shift towards me.
When the laughs come, that helps.
When the head nods happen, that’s special.
When they are smiling, anticipating, giggling and shrieking for what’s next…that’s the moment you’ve got ’em.
As I ripped into comedy routines I haven’t done in years, they scream laughed at my ridiculous impressions of a horse, turkey and goat.
FFA kids after all – I mean, come on! You have to do the barn animals.
Then the message landed all the more, as The Promise to Youth when I speak is mostly about having the courage to be yourself.
Its a home run for kids in leadership, as they already stand out, they’re already weird, and I’m just confirming it’s ok to lean all the way into your Signature Moves, to ICM Process the heck out of yourself and change the world!
They went bonkers over it. Standing ovation was long and strong, after I closed with “God Bless The USA”.
Within the hour I was already at the airport and through security, when I decided to load TikTok on my phone and post a video about the prep of the day, expressing some of my doubts before the room filled in.
That video is now the highest viewed video I have on TikTok, and grew my followers by nearly 700 in a matter of hours. The comments were crazy, the requests to speak at FFA’s around the country flooded in, and it reassured me that yes, we had connected, and they loved the message.
@jason.hewlett Just had a most wonderful event with the Ohio FFA. Between 8-10k youth leaders making America’s future secure in the hands of amazing youth. The response was astounding. What a group. Here’s the pre show sound check video.
When we make the mental shift to GIVE instead of worrying about how we will be perceived, all things change for the better as performers and presenters.
The experience becomes less about proving something—and more about delivering something of value.
This principle extends far beyond a stage.
It applies in meetings, where the goal is not just to contribute, but to move something forward.
It applies in conversations, where listening often matters more than speaking.
It applies at home, where presence and attention carry more weight than anything we might say.
In each of these moments, the question remains the same: What is needed from me here?
When we ask that—and respond with intention—we begin to show up differently.
Not perfectly, but more meaningfully.
And the people around us can feel the difference.
This is Keeping The Promise.
4 Responses
Jason that’s so cool that you went to an FFA event. Those students are so great- FFA has A LOT of followers and makes a HUGE impact. I work with students in a similar organization-TSA (Technology Student Association) and it is a privilege to see what these kids are capable of accomplishing. Presenting for corporations and businesses certainly has its benefits, but impacting youth at such a young age who have so much more of life to live- those lessons learned will end up affecting many many more people.
It was really eye opening for me to be there. Well done helping the TSA kids. I would love to speak to that type of group as well, if you know of anyone who helps with their events. Thank you!
“…When we make the mental shift to GIVE instead of worrying about how we will be perceived..”
YES this is it, Giving! Even when you had doubts, you made it about them and came through shining. Congratulations on keeping the promise, both to your audience, and yourself.
Thank you my friend. It is awesome to hear from you. I know you are all about this level of giving.