Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill 10 Tips for Public Speaking: Tip #8 Mistakes Happen, Keep Going [E087] - Speak Up! Effective Communication

Episode 87

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Published on:

23rd Mar 2026

10 Tips for Public Speaking: Tip #8 Mistakes Happen, Keep Going [E087]

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound

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In our episode today:

We are continuing our ten part series on ten tips for public speaking, and we have arrived at tip number eight — Mistakes Happen, Keep Going.

The original Toastmasters tip is listed as "Don't Apologize."

I find that worth challenging.

A brief, natural acknowledgment of a mistake is perfectly human. What we are really talking about is not dwelling. Not drawing attention. Not making the mistake bigger than it was.

I open with a scene I have watched play out many times at my Toastmasters club — the ah-counter who begins narrating their own filler words in real time. It is a perfect illustration of our word of the day:

Perseveration. The tendency to repeat or dwell on something well past the point where it serves any useful purpose.

I walk through three stages most communicators move through — from unawareness, to hyper-awareness and the spiral, to the veteran ease that comes with time and practice.

The goal was never perfection.

The goal is reaching a place where mistakes no longer derail you.

There is a point where dwelling on a mistake causes it to become the focal point of the entire interaction — and the audience now has to manage your emotional state rather than receive your communication.

Self-criticism pulls you out of presence. And presence is the entire prerequisite for connection.

We close with a callback to tip number seven: people want you to succeed.

If that’s true, and mistakes happen… Keep going!

Sincerely,

Craig O'Neill

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound

AutoFlow at AutoFlow.com. Your partner in technology, Autoflow consolidates your client interactions - before, during and after the visit to a single thread. Learn more at Autoflow.com

Shop Dog Marketing at Shop Dog Marketing.com. "Want to see your auto repair shop thrive? Let Shop Dog Marketing be your guide. Our customer-first approach, combined with AI-driven creative content, ensures top rankings.

In-Bound at CallInBound.com. Cover your communication needs and revolutionize your auto repair business with AI-driven call analytics from InBound.

Contact Information

  1. Email Craig O'Neill: speakup@craigoneill.net
  2. Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/

Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/

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About the Podcast

Speak Up! Effective Communication
With Craig O'Neill
A perfect compliment for an individual and for small businesses is to be a better communicator. Craig O'Neill exemplifies influence and leadership in helping people find their fullest potential as communicators. “Speak Up!” is a podcast that clearly focuses on learning to communicate more effectively so that we can influence positive change in all our interactions.