Do tough things.

That was one of the messages Kory Best brought to our Silver Creek Area CEO students yesterday.

Kory began the morning talking with our students about his work in AI and robotics. And believe me, our students were fascinated by that. But what stood out to me most was the way he challenged them to think differently about how they approach difficult things, difficult conversations and the opportunities in front of them. He gave them three simple words to remember: Present. Prepare. Pitch. And while those words may sound simple, Kory spent the rest of morning showing them that there is a lot behind each one.

Be present. Not just physically in the room, but really present. Pay attention to the people around you. Listen to what they’re saying. Notice what they’re not saying. Watch the body language. Be aware of your surroundings.

Kory put that one to the test. He had everyone stand up, turn around, close their eyes and stay completely still. Then he told them they had two minutes. They had absolutely no idea what was coming next, and you could almost hear the wheels turning. After the exercise, Kory asked what they thought was going to happen, and the answers made us laugh. One thought he was going to make them walk backwards and run into each other. Another said he was ready for something unexpected. And another simply said, “I wasn’t expecting anything.” That was exactly the point. They were so focused on what might happen next that they weren’t thinking about anything else. Kory then brought it back to everyday life. How often are we sitting in one place while our minds are already somewhere else? Thinking about the next class. The test later. Practice. Work. Everything waiting for us outside the room. It’s hard to be present when your mind is already three steps ahead.

Then comes prepare. Research. Know who you’re talking to. Know the business. Learn about the person you’re going to meet. This part made me smile because our students are already learning this. Before a guest speaker comes into our classroom or we go on a site visit, they research them. They learn about their business. They come prepared with questions. Kory was showing them why that preparation matters.

And then came pitch. Kory walked around the room, handed students a pen and said, “Sell me this pen.” One by one, they took their shot. Then Nathan got his turn. Instead of immediately telling Kory why he should buy the pen, Nathan asked Kory a question about himself. And suddenly, the whole conversation changed. Nathan wasn’t just pitching a pen. He was building a connection. That little moment said so much.

Kory’s message was that when you are present and prepared, the pitch becomes easier. Maybe not the first time. Maybe not the tenth time. But with focus, preparation and repetition, it becomes something you can do with confidence. And our students are going to have a lot of opportunities to practice. They’ll be pitching throughout this year, through our class business ventures and eventually through the individual businesses they create and launch.

Present. Prepare. Pitch.

Three simple words. Easy to remember. But I have a feeling they may become three words our students remember long after this year is over.

Today, Emma was our CEO of the Day, and Nick took on the role of Photographer of the Day. I love seeing our students step into these roles and take ownership of what happens in our classroom.

Kory, thank you for spending your morning with our students. Thank you for challenging them, getting them out of their comfort zones and giving them something they can take with them far beyond our classroom. And thank you for reminding them that sometimes the things that make us a little uncomfortable are the very things that help us grow.

Do tough things.

I think our students are going to get pretty good at that.