Two Reasons Why You're Always Nervous & How To Reverse It

Written by Jake L. Thoma

Posted on July 29, 2025

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Have you ever felt nervous? 

I'm not asking if you felt shy, because that's not nervousness. I'm talking about the experience where you feel a knot tightening in your stomach, your hands shaking, sudden sweating, your mind racing, and you feel ashamed and want to leave.

I certainly have, countless times. The truth is, nervousness isn't some rare affliction; it's a fundamental part of being human, especially on stage. It's perfectly normal to feel it. In my experience, nervousness often isn't a sign that something bad is about to happen, but rather a powerful indication that something significant is unfolding.

I've worked with countless seasoned professionals—speakers, hosts, and facilitators who have graced stages for decades. Almost every one of them has openly admitted to feeling a jolt of nervousness each time they step into the spotlight. Yet, what they've shared is profound: a significant portion of that nervousness stems not from fear, but from a potent mix of excitement and passion, coupled with a healthy anticipation of the outcome. Many recount that their most successful moments were precisely those where nervousness was most visible.

However, for many, that's not always the case.

Nervousness remains a serious threat no communicator should take lightly. While it can signal unfolding success, the reality for countless individuals is that its grip breaks, rattles, and ruins them. Nervousness can destroy many deals, undermine crucial advocacy efforts, and cause communicators to miss significant opportunities. I contend it is the number one impact-killer for every communicator, and we must address it head-on.

Drawing on both my lived experiences and the profound insights of respected professionals, I have devoted considerable time to exploring this subject, which has led me to conclude that there are two primary causes of nervousness. In this blog post, I'll share these insights with you, offering practical and effective strategies to address them. I hope that by the time you finish reading, you'll begin to see nervousness not as an enemy, but as a positive indicator of a significant and impactful outcome.

"Nervousness isn’t a sign that something bad is about to happen—it’s a powerful indication that something significant is unfolding."

First Of The Two Reasons Why You're Always Nervous: Lack Of Proper Preparation

We readily acknowledge the idea that preparation is essential for an impactful presentation or speech. This fundamental truth is universally understood, and therefore, I won't belabor the common understanding of its necessity. Instead, I want to invest our time and intellectual energy in exploring a far more nuanced and critical aspect: the profound absence of proper preparation as a fundamental root cause of nervousness.

It is a common misconception that simply dedicating time to a task equates to readiness. Everyone can "prepare," but not all preparations are equal, nor are they equally effective. A speaker might, for instance, spend an entire day meticulously designing visually appealing slides, or perhaps tirelessly run through an outline multiple times. Yet, despite this considerable investment of effort and time, they may still find themselves crippled by nervousness when the moment arrives.

Many aspiring and even experienced communicators fall prey to this deceptive trap. They operate under the assumption that if they're devoting substantial hours to crafting elaborate slides, accumulating extensive references, or structuring detailed outlines, they are inherently "prepared." This belief, while well-intentioned, overlooks a crucial dimension. There is a strategic depth to preparation, a set of often neglected practices that extend far beyond these surface-level activities. It is precisely these unaddressed elements within our preparation regimen that leave us vulnerable, allowing nervousness to take hold and diminish our potential impact.

What is proper preparation?

Proper preparation, at its core, is about strategic, intentional, and holistic readiness that extends beyond mere activity. It's the disciplined act of equipping oneself not just with information, but with the confidence and adaptability to navigate the dynamic environment of a presentation or interaction.

Think of it like building a house. "Preparation" might involve gathering lumber, bricks, and tools. You're doing something. However, proper preparation consists of having the architectural blueprints, understanding the structural integrity, familiarizing oneself with local building codes, anticipating weather conditions, and having a contingency plan in place for material shortages. It's the difference between accumulating resources and meticulously designing and executing a robust construction process.

Here are what makes proper preparation different from preparation and how not having them triggers nervousness.

1. Mastering the Message's Intent

"Preparation" often stops at knowing your subject matter inside and out—memorizing facts, statistics, and references. This definition is foundational, but it's incomplete. Proper preparation goes further: it's about deeply understanding the why behind your message. What specific action do you want your audience to take? What emotional resonance are you aiming for? How will this message genuinely benefit them?

For example, simply knowing every detail about a product is a form of preparation. But knowing how that product solves your client's unique, unstated problem and crafting your delivery around that solution is proper preparation.

Without a clear understanding of your message's ultimate "why" and its benefit to the audience, you enter the communication space without a compass. This ambiguity breeds a deep-seated, purposeful anxiety. You become nervous not just about what you're saying, but why you're saying it, and whether it even matters. This lack of clear purpose leads to questioning your relevance, manifesting as hesitation, rambling, and a pervasive feeling of being adrift or ineffective. The accurate measure of readiness isn't the volume of facts you've gathered, but the clarity of the 'why' behind your message; without it, your internal compass spins wildly, and the resulting disorientation is the very nervousness that signals a lack of direction, not a lack of data.

2. Engineering the Audience Experience

Many speakers spend countless hours perfecting their slides, including fonts, colors, and animations. While aesthetics matter, this is often where "preparation" ends. Proper preparation views slides and visuals as tools to enhance the audience's comprehension and engagement, not merely as a teleprompter or a design showcase. When preparing, consider pacing, cognitive load, and visual storytelling, and ensure each slide contributes to the overall narrative flow, guiding the audience on a seamless, impactful journey. You're not just creating slides; you're engineering an experience.

When you haven't strategically considered the audience's perspective, their existing knowledge, or how they will best receive your message, you are communicating in a vacuum. If we notice this on stage, this immediately triggers a fear of disconnection. You become acutely worried about their reactions—are they bored? Confused? Dismissive? This preoccupation stems from not having established a bridge of understanding in your preparation, causing you to become nervous. Your nervousness then manifests as second-guessing, over-explaining, or a defensive posture, as you struggle to compensate for an un-engineered rapport.

3. Cultivating Adaptive Fluency

"Preparation" might involve running through your speech multiple times, aiming for word-for-word recall. But this style can make you rigid. Proper preparation focuses on cultivating adaptive fluency. It means understanding your material so thoroughly that you can adjust, elaborate, or condense it on the fly, responding naturally to audience cues, questions, or unexpected technical glitches. It's about knowing the soul of your message – your core message – so well that you can navigate any detours while still reaching your destination. It’s not memorization; it's mastery that allows you to be dynamic and strategic in your presentation.

Relying solely on memorization or even well-marked handouts without adaptive fluency creates extreme vulnerability. When even a slight deviation from your planned script occurs—a question, a technical glitch, a momentary lapse—it can feel like the entire structure is collapsing. This leads to rigidity and panic. Your mind, accustomed to a specific pathway, script, or pattern, freezes when forced off-course. This results in mental blocks, stammering, and visible distress, as the perceived loss of control triggers a primal fear of failure in front of others.

4. Anticipating and Strategizing Interaction

   
   

Often, preparation is a solitary act. You practice alone in a room. Proper preparation recognizes that communication is a two-way street. It involves actively anticipating potential audience questions, objections, or areas of confusion. It means mentally rehearsing not just your delivery, but also your responses, your transitions, and even the moments of silence. This strategic foresight enables you to transform potential disruptions into opportunities for deeper engagement, demonstrating a command that radiates confidence and authority.

Failing to rehearse potential audience interactions, questions, or objections mentally leaves you vulnerable. Each unexpected query or challenge becomes a direct assault, triggering vulnerability to the unknown. Your nervousness stems from the sudden realization that you are unprepared for the dynamic, interactive nature of communication. It manifests as discomfort, defensive responses, or an inability to think clearly under pressure, as every unforeseen element feels like an existential threat.

5. Crafting a Cohesive Narrative

   
   

Many simply outline their points and go on stage with just a piece of sticky note and three bullet points. There's no problem with that, especially if you're discussing the same topic multiple times. However, thinking that doing such is preparation is a pitfall. 

Proper preparation involves intentionally designing a cohesive narrative. It is not just listing points, but consciously designing a compelling opening that hooks attention, building logical progression through your arguments, supporting claims with vivid evidence, and culminating in a memorable, actionable conclusion. It's about storytelling with purpose, ensuring the audience can follow, connect, and retain your message.

When your preparation lacks a meticulously designed narrative arc, your communication becomes a collection of disparate points rather than a flowing story. It breeds disorientation and a perceived loss of control over your material. You become nervous because you intuitively sense that your message lacks cohesion or impact. As a result, your presentation becomes disorganized, you struggle to transition smoothly, and you feel overwhelmed by the content, leaving both you and your audience feeling unanchored.

Cultivating Proper Preparation

To move beyond superficial readiness and embrace the depth of proper preparation, consider these wise, actionable steps:

1. Define Your "Why" and "What For"

Before drafting a single slide or outlining a point, clearly articulate your primary objective. What is the single most important idea you want your audience to grasp? What critical action do you want your listeners to take? This singular focus will serve as your guiding star, ensuring every element of your preparation is purposeful.

This step is the purposeful architecture of your communication. Without a clearly defined "why," all subsequent efforts—research, slide design, and rehearsal—become mere busywork, lacking direction and failing to genuinely calm the underlying nervousness. You’re not just piling up materials—you’re building something that’s meant to stand strong and serve a purpose. This intentionality is the bedrock of confidence, preventing the aimless wandering that fuels anxiety.

2. Learn About Your Audience

   
   

Research your audience as meticulously as you research your content. What are their existing knowledge levels, their concerns, and their aspirations? Tailor your message, examples, and even your tone to resonate specifically with them. This empathetic approach transforms your delivery from a broadcast into a genuine conversation.

Doing this action step shifts you from speaking to an audience to talking to them. By truly understanding their needs and perspectives, you become a guide, not just a performer. This profound empathy is a powerful antidote to self-consciousness, as your mind becomes genuinely occupied with their needs, leaving less room for self-critique. When you design your message for them, the fear of disconnect naturally diminishes, replaced by a desire to serve.

3. Structure for Clarity, Not Just Content: 

   
   

Develop a logical flow that serves your audience's understanding. Think in terms of a compelling narrative arc: a strong opening that hooks them, clear main points supported by evidence, and a powerful call to action or memorable conclusion. Visual aids should complement, not duplicate, your spoken word.

A well-structured message is not just a gift to your audience; it's your internal anchor. When you organize your thoughts into a clear, logical framework, you feel more secure. You also reduce the cognitive load during delivery, lessening the anxiety of getting lost or rambling. It's like having a well-lit, clearly marked path in the dark; you're far less likely to stumble, and your confidence in navigating the terrain grows exponentially.

4. Practice! Don Not Memorize

Rehearse not just what you'll say, but how you'll say it. Focus on key phrases, transitions, and the overall rhythm. Record yourself to observe body language, vocal variety, and pacing—practice handling potential interruptions or complex questions to build mental resilience and adaptability.

This preparation technique isn't about achieving perfection; it's about strengthening your professional flexibility to be strategic and dynamic. The goal is to internalize your material so profoundly that you can respond dynamically, not rigidly recite. The confidence you gain here comes not from believing you'll make no mistakes, but from knowing you possess the capacity to recover gracefully and adapt to the unexpected. This "muscle memory" for dynamic communication frees you from the panic of rigidity, allowing your authentic message to flow.

5. Conduct a "Pre-Mortem" and Contingency Plan

Envision the worst-case scenarios. What if the projector fails? What if the audience asked you an impossible question? What if you lose your train of thought? For each potential pitfall, develop a clear and concise contingency plan. This exercise builds confidence not by eliminating problems, but by assuring you have a strategy to navigate them.

This simple habit trains your mind to stay calm and resilient—even when things don’t go as planned. By confronting potential failures before they happen, you effectively neutralize their power to surprise and derail you in the moment. You're not just hoping for the best; you're preparing for the worst, which paradoxically frees you to deliver your best. When you plan ahead, those vague fears lose their power and become manageable situations, allowing you to approach the actual event with a quiet confidence born of preparedness, rather than a fragile hope.

This meticulous, multifaceted approach to readiness—this pursuit of proper preparation—is precisely what many communicators inadvertently miss. We dedicate time, but often to the wrong aspects, or without the necessary strategic depth. It is this fundamental omission, this gap between mere activity and actual readiness, that leaves us vulnerable. When we neglect these vital dimensions of preparation, our nervous system, sensing a lack of comprehensive control and true mastery, accurately signals alarm. It is not our inherent inability that causes nervousness, but rather the absence of this deeper, more intentional form of preparation.

Second Of The Two Reasons Why You're Always Nervous: Selfishness

It might seem counterintuitive, even a touch provocative, but a deeper analysis of communication anxiety reveals a potent truth about nervousness. After countless conversations with hundreds of seasoned speakers and professionals—individuals who stand on stages, lead crucial meetings, and engage in high-stakes dialogues—a pattern consistently emerges from their candid admissions regarding nervousness. Their internal monologues echo sentiments like:

"I feel they're judging me—my sense of fashion, my pronunciation, my posture."

"I'm not sure if I'm saying it right."

"I get nervous if I mispronounce a word."

"I get nervous if they ask questions because I'm afraid I might not give the exact answer."

"I get nervous if the audience is silent because I think they're not interested."

Do these thoughts resonate with your own experiences of nervousness?

They certainly resonated with mine for a long time. It was a challenging realization to accept, but these anxieties, at their core, are manifestations of selfishness. As more and more communicators confessed similar internal battles, and as I deepened my understanding of how selfishness fundamentally impacts our interactions, the conclusion became undeniable: selfishness is a major, often unrecognized, catalyst for nervousness. It subtly undermines our ability to connect and perform genuinely. This behaviour isn't about malice or ill intent; instead, it's a profound absorption with the self that closes our eyes to the actual, outward purpose of the moment, ironically diminishing the very impact we seek to achieve.

How Should We Define It?

Selfishness, at its core, simply means an unwavering and extensive focus on oneself. It's when you direct all your time, attention, energy, and resources—and even your interactions with people, groups, and networks—toward accommodating your comfort, worries, desires, and goals. This intense self-focus makes it genuinely challenging to see or prioritize what others need, or to grasp the true objective of the moment fully.

When selfishness prevails, it inherently cultivates self-consciousness, turning our attention inward to critique every perceived flaw in our actions and appearance. This hyper-awareness often spirals into crippling self-doubt, as we question our very worth and capability. We then become overly preoccupied with interpreting external opinion, anxiously seeking validation or fearing judgment from others, rather than engaging genuinely. Ultimately, this pervasive self-centeredness manifests as a constant need for self-validation and self-gratification, diverting vital energy away from true connection and genuine contribution. This paradoxically fuels the very anxieties we desperately try to avoid, creating a self-defeating cycle.

How Selfishness Triggers Nervousness

Understanding selfishness as one of the two reasons why you're always nervous is crucial. Let's now explore the distinct ways this innate, deadly behaviour fuels nervousness, subtly undermining our capacity for genuine connection and impact.

1. Too Self-Conscious

This behaviour, highly influenced by selfishness, happens when your attention becomes acutely fixed on your own perceived flaws, gestures, and vocal delivery. Every minor slip, every awkward pause, and every imagined imperfection becomes magnified under the harsh glare of your internal scrutiny. Your mind is less on your message and more on your performance of being "you."

Imagine standing to speak and, instead of thinking about your compelling opening statement, you're internally obsessing: "Is my hand shaking? Are they noticing this faint blush? Did I just mispronounce that word?" This relentless self-critique dominates your mental space.

This overbearing self-consciousness leads to cognitive overload. Your mental processing power, which should be entirely devoted to recalling information, structuring thoughts, and connecting with your audience, is instead diverted. A significant portion of your brain's capacity is occupied by self-monitoring and self-judgment. This divided attention creates immense internal pressure, making it difficult to access your stored knowledge fluently, which can lead to stammering, mental blocks, and visible signs of nervousness as your system struggles to manage both communication and self-critique simultaneously.

When you're busy examining your reflection, you can't see the landscape honestly, nor can you navigate it effectively.

2. Doubting Yourself

This negative inner thought manifests as a deep-seated questioning of your worth, competence, and even your right to be in the spotlight. Despite preparation or past successes, this doubt whispers lies, telling you that you are not good enough, intelligent enough, or experienced enough for the task at hand.

You've prepared diligently, perhaps even rehearsed. Yet, moments before you begin, a voice inside insists: "Who am I to be speaking on this? I'm not qualified enough. What if they see through me?"

Self-doubt is a subtle yet insidious form of internal self-sabotage. By challenging your capability, you effectively instruct your subconscious to brace for failure. This internal conflict depletes your mental and emotional reserves, creating a negative feedback loop that actively hinders performance. The nervousness here is a direct manifestation of your mind preparing for a self-fulfilled prophecy of inadequacy, making you hesitant, weakening your voice, and diminishing your overall conviction. It's the psychological equivalent of trying to run a race with invisible weights tied to your ankles.

Doubting your strength makes the smallest challenge feel impossibly heavy.

3. Interpreting External Opinion

Distinct from the internal monitoring of our performance that fuels self-consciousness we discussed, this third form of self-preoccupation plunges deeper into the pervasive anxiety driven by our obsession with others' judgments of who we are.

This process happens when you become excessively consumed by the fear of what others might think of you. The imagined judgment, disapproval, or even ridicule from the audience becomes more real and pressing than their actual presence or the purpose of your message.

You're about to present, but your primary concern isn't conveying your findings, but rather: "Will they think my ideas are silly? Will they judge my appearance? What if they laugh at me?"

This constant preoccupation with external validation creates an immense internal pressure to be "perfect" or "universally acceptable." Your focus shifts from delivering value to managing perception, an exhausting and often futile endeavor. The nervousness arises from this intense fear of disapproval, which compels you to censor yourself, overthink every word, and present a stiff, inauthentic version of yourself. You become a performer trying to meet imagined standards, rather than a communicator genuinely striving to connect, because the perceived cost of judgment outweighs the potential gain of authentic expression.

When you prioritize being liked or accepted over being impactful, you will be haunted by fear of failure, rejection, and judgment. You will never notice, you already lost both your voice and your power.

4. Assuming Audience Perception

   
   

This negative mental approach is the tendency to project your insecurities and negative assumptions onto your listeners. You construct elaborate, often negative, narratives about their thoughts and feelings—assuming their boredom, skepticism, or even disdain—regardless of actual evidence.

As you begin, you tell yourself: "They look bored already. They probably think this is dull. They're tired and might not have the energy to listen to me. I'm so prepared, but they look interested." You interpret neutral expressions as negative identity.

By presuming negative perceptions, you're essentially creating your hostile environment within your mind. This pre-judgment establishes an antagonistic mindset where the audience is regarded as a threat to be managed or overcome, rather than individuals to be served or engaged. This adversarial stance heightens your alert system, triggering physiological responses associated with threat—increased heart rate, shallow breathing, and muscle tension—all of which contribute to intense nervousness, as your body psychologically braces for a conflict that exists only within your cognitive framework.

5. Thinking Disastrous Outcomes

   
   

This involves your mind racing to the absolute worst possible scenarios related to the event: forgetting lines, making a fool of yourself, experiencing a public breakdown, or utterly failing to achieve your objective. This fixation on dramatic adverse outcomes dominates your thoughts.

For example, before a crucial meeting, you visualize yourself forgetting all your points, stumbling over words, or having your key proposal immediately shot down, ending your career.

This mental habit of catastrophizing effectively puts your brain into a state of high alert for danger that hasn't materialized and is unlikely to. By vividly imagining worst-case scenarios, you trigger the body's physiological fight-or-flight response, flooding your system with stress hormones before any actual threat emerges. This pre-emptive activation of the stress response directly causes the physical symptoms of nervousness—trembling, sweating, accelerated heart rate, and mental fog—as your body prepares for an imagined catastrophe, depleting your energy and focus needed for actual performance. It's a self-inflicted anticipatory anxiety.

Living through the worst-case scenario in your mind not only makes you nervous but also robs you of your power to be effective at the present and exhausts you before your presentation begins.

Overcoming Selfishness to Conquer Nervousness

As we have already discussed, nervousness can happen to anyone. What do we do to prevent it, or when it happens on stage, particularly when triggered by selfishness?

Below is the list of steps we can take to overcome selfishness-driven nervousness.

1. Reframe Your Purpose from Performance to Service

This action step is the foundational shift. Instead of viewing your moment in the spotlight as a test of your worth or charisma, consciously redefine it as an act of service to your audience. Your primary goal becomes: "How can I best inform, inspire, connect with, or empower these individuals?"

The human mind can only effectively focus on one primary objective at a time. When you aim to "give" value, your attention is naturally pulled outwards, away from internal self-assessment. This is a radical shift from a scarcity mindset (what might I lose?) to an abundance mindset (what can I offer?). It aligns your actions with a higher purpose, making your anxieties feel less significant in comparison to the value you are delivering.

Before stepping into any stage or speaking platform, write down three specific ways you intend to serve your audience at that moment. 

For example: "I will clarify X concept for them," "I will inspire them to take Y action," or "I will make them feel understood regarding Z." Refer to these points internally if nervousness begins to surface.

2. Cultivate Self-Compassion and Grounded Self-Assessment

Self-doubts inevitably supply the gasoline for nervousness to run. Instead of battling self-doubt with force (which often backfires), acknowledge its presence with compassion, then systematically challenge its irrationality. Understand that self-doubt is a common human experience, not a personal flaw, and that genuine competence is built through effort and learning, not perfection.

True confidence doesn't stem from an absence of doubt, but from a rational assessment of one's efforts and capabilities. Self-compassion allows for honest reflection without destructive self-criticism. By grounding your self-assessment in your diligent preparation (as discussed in Reason #1) and your inherent capacity for growth, you undermine the emotional power of self-doubt.

When self-doubt whispers, simply acknowledge it ("I'm feeling doubtful right now") rather than fighting it. Then, immediately reframe: "I have prepared diligently, and I intend to serve. That is my strength."

So long as you took proper preparation, briefly recall the steps you took and mentally tick off the boxes: "I understood my audience. I understood my message, and I believe it contains valuable knowledge and wisdom. The facts don't lie; this is what they need. I may not be perfect, but I am enough to serve." This factual recall counters emotional doubt with rational evidence.

3. Reframe Audience Perception From Judge to Ally

Actively challenge your pre-conceived notions of the audience as critical judges. Instead, consciously choose to view them as allies, fellow human beings who are generally supportive or, at the very least, neutral and open to receiving value.

Our perception shapes our reality. When we choose to perceive the audience as benevolent, it fundamentally alters our physiological and psychological response. This isn't naive optimism, but a strategic shift from an adversarial stance (which triggers the fight-or-flight response) to a cooperative one (which fosters calm and connection). Most audiences want you to succeed because, in reality, they are there to gain something.

Before you begin, identify one friendly face in the audience (or imagine one if none are visible). Direct your first few sentences, or even just your inner focus, towards that individual. This can reduce the overwhelming feeling of addressing a large, faceless crowd.

Briefly scan the audience and mentally note shared human experiences: "They probably had coffee this morning," "They might be looking forward to dinner," "They have their challenges." This simple exercise humanizes them and reduces their perceived threat.

4. Anchor in the Present

Catastrophic thinking pulls your mind into an imagined, negative future. To counter this, deliberately anchor your awareness to the present moment, focusing on what is happening now rather than what might happen.

The only moment over which you truly have control is the present. By grounding yourself in sensory experience, you interrupt the anxious thought patterns that project fear into the future. This practice reduces the "anticipatory anxiety" that drains your energy before you even begin.

If you feel nervousness rising, pause. Take three slow, deep breaths, feeling the air fill and empty your lungs. Then, identify two things you can see right now. Finally, identify one thing you can hear right now. This simple sensory grounding technique brings your mind back to the present.

Commit fully to delivering just your very first sentence or taking your very first action with clarity and purpose. Don't think beyond that. Once it's done, focus on the next small step. This breaks down the overwhelming future into manageable present moments.

By consciously implementing these steps, you systematically dismantle the internal scaffolding of self-preoccupation. This isn't about eliminating natural human emotions, but about strategically redirecting your mental and emotional energy from detrimental self-focus to purposeful engagement. The shift from "me" to "them" transforms the act of communication from a personal trial into a profound opportunity for shared value, inherently reducing nervousness and amplifying your genuine impact.

Final Thoughts

Nervousness, that unwelcome companion, is not a formidable enemy but a solvable puzzle. By looking beyond its superficial symptoms, we discern not external forces, but profound human patterns: a disengagement from diligent preparation and the subtle, yet pervasive, grip of selfishness. The path to conquering these lies in the relentless preparation in pursuit of excellence, not perfection, and a profound shift in perspective—from seeking personal validation to embracing the noble calling of service. In adopting these truths, we transform nervousness from a debilitating barrier into a powerful catalyst for connection, authenticity, and profound impact. The stage, then, becomes not a place of dread but an opportunity for genuine contribution.

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Jake L. Thomas

A social worker by profession, Jake leads the provision of technical assistance to social workers and Social Welfare and Development (SWD) professionals in Local Government Units, under one of the country’s premier SWD agencies. He is the founder of JLTHOMASPRO Training & Development Services. This platform delivers coaching, consultation, and capacity-building programs tailored for social workers, while also offering AI-powered and no-code web development solutions for offices and mission-driven businesses. Jake is the author of the upcoming book, Speak to Influence: 12 Communication Strategies to Inspire and Lead Every Audience—a practical guide designed to help SWD professionals communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact.