There is a cafe near where I live that hosts open mic each week. I am going to start this with the text of a recent piece I wrote and read to a small audience twice (reasons for this later).

The first reading was powerful for me but maybe not anyone else as I was likely visibly shaken as I took my seat afterwards. The second time I pushed my words through the back of the room, not with volume but I grabbed every bit of presence I could touch. Success is in our own perception and thus I delivered.