That's what I kept telling myself as I stared at the Ultraspeaking welcome email. My screen was already drowning in urgent messages from the BestSelf acquisition I'd closed just the day before.
I had a company of one (me), a mountain of contracts to review, and a team to rebuild from scratch. A communication course felt like the last thing I needed to focus on right now. But something in my gut said to try it anyway.
"I don't have time for this," became my mantra as I clicked each Zoom link, watching another hour of my workday slip away.
Yet something interesting happened. Every single time I finished a class, I had the same thought: "That was incredible. I'm so glad I didn't skip this." This pattern repeated itself throughout the course, teaching me something crucial about growth: the moments we feel we have the least time for learning are often when we need it most.
Most online courses follow a familiar pattern: you watch some videos, complete some worksheets, and maybe join a Facebook group that quickly becomes another notification to ignore. The "live" elements usually involve staring at a grid of muted participants while one person presents.
Ultraspeaking flips this completely. From the moment you join, you're in an active learning environment where everyone participates. No hiding behind a muted mic. No multitasking in another tab. Just intense, focused practice that pushes you out of your comfort zone in the best possible way.
Ultraspeaking takes a different approach. Instead of lectures about body language or memorizing presentation structures 🥱, you're thrown into speaking games that make you forget you're learning. In "Rapid Fire Analogies," you learn to think on your feet and explain complex ideas simply. During "Snow Globe," you practice using silence and breathing to stay calm and clear under pressure.
What makes it especially powerful is the combination of peer practice and professional coaching. You're not just getting feedback from other participants - speaking coaches are also there to guide you, point out patterns, and help you break through plateaus.
Each exercise builds specific skills:
And because you're practicing these skills through games rather than studying theory, they actually stick. It's like learning to ride a bike - you can't do it by watching videos, you have to get on and pedal.
This is where the real value shows up - not in formal presentations, but in those everyday moments:
These are the moments that define our success, yet most of us just wing it and hope for the best. Ultraspeaking helps you approach these situations with real confidence - not because you've memorized some speaking tips, but because you've practiced the fundamental skills hundreds of times in low-stakes environments.
Why it works
The format is what makes it powerful. Each session is a rapid sequence of challenges that push you just enough - never so far that you freeze up, but never so easy that you get comfortable. And unlike typical Zoom breakout rooms that feel awkward and forced, these become spaces where real growth happens. Maybe because everyone's equally committed to improving, or maybe because the exercises are so well designed.
It worked so well that I ended up joining their year-long unlimited program. Now that the year is over, I'm strongly considering doing it again - and I rarely repeat programs. That's how much I got from it.
Looking back, what seemed like terrible timing - starting this while buying back my company - was actually perfect. These skills became immediately useful in:
Quick disclaimer: I'm not an affiliate. I don't get anything for sharing this (except maybe helping someone else discover something valuable). I just know how rare it is to find something that actually delivers on its promises.
If you want to learn more about their approach and see the team in action, I'd recommend watching this video to learn more:
If you're looking to invest in yourself this year, consider Ultraspeaking. Not because you need "public speaking" help, but because being able to communicate clearly and confidently is probably the highest leverage skill you can develop.
And sometimes the best time to develop that skill is exactly when you think you don't have time for it.
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