Positive reframing and logic fail when your body is in a state of fight-or-flight. You cannot access a more powerful story when you're physiologically overwhelmed. The first step must be a physical practice—like breathing, meditation, or exercise—to calm the body before attempting to change the mind.

For his high-stakes live event, Alex Hormozi practiced not just his words, but the entire physical "flow" of his presentation—hand movements, signals, and stage positions. This is analogous to a musician learning to play an instrument while singing, making the mechanics second nature so he could focus entirely on delivery.

When faced with an immediate prospecting objection, use a pre-memorized phrase called a 'ledge' (e.g., 'I figured you would be, and that's exactly why I called'). This creates a 'magic quarter second' that allows your rational brain to take control from your emotional, fight-or-flight response, preventing you from being flustered.

UCLA research shows that consciously labeling a negative emotional cue (e.g., thinking “that was an eye-roll”) calms the amygdala’s threat response. This mental act restores physiological control, stopping a downward spiral in high-stakes situations like presentations or negotiations.

During negotiations or high-stakes conversations, observe hand gestures. Confident individuals spread their fingers, occupying more territory and signaling comfort. Fearful or anxious people do the opposite: their fingers come together, and in extreme cases, their thumbs tuck in as a self-protective measure.

Creative leader David Abbott would calmly read a novel before high-stakes presentations. This deliberate act of nonchalance signaled complete control to his team, managing their anxiety and setting a tone of confidence more effectively than any pep talk could.

For high-stakes situations like interviews, your emotional state is more critical than your prepared strategy. Top performers use pre-game routines to get into a peak state. Develop your own pre-interview ritual—involving breath work, music, or visualization—to ensure you show up calm, clear, and confident.

In a tense meeting or interview, focusing on summarizing the other person's points serves a dual purpose. It makes them feel heard, but more importantly, it gives your own nervous system time to settle. This shifts focus outward, reducing internal anxiety and allowing you to respond more calmly and effectively.

Rather than a vague instruction to "relax," the guide suggests a specific physical action: letting the jaw slide forward and down by a mere millimeter. This tiny, concrete movement acts as a powerful trigger to initiate a cascade of relaxation through the jaw and throat, which are common tension points.