From Rock Bottom to Rocking The Stage - Billy's Speech Triumph
“The increasing stress in my life, combined with chaotic work conditions, made managing my stutter feel overwhelming. In a moment of desperation, I emailed Uri at 1:00 AM with the subject line, “Help: Stuttering Wrecking My Life.””
“An opportunity arose for me to speak on stage in front of eight thousand people, opening for a former U.S. President. I confidently agreed with just 12 hours’ notice and delivered a 12-minute speech without a teleprompter or written speech—and without stuttering. ”
We get to work with extraordinary people. Billy is one of them.
When they accomplish great achievements, we celebrate their success and feel grateful to play a part - behind the scenes.
Here's Billy's story...
In January 2024, Billy McLaughlin reached out when he felt he hit rock bottom. Overwhelmed by his lifelong struggle with stuttering, his email was a strong call for help. At 1:00 AM, he sent an email titled "Help: Stuttering Wrecking My Life." As a boy, he met my father, Dr. Phil Schneider. Now, as a professional adult navigating high-stakes opportunities, he knew he was ready to do what he wasn't ready to do before.
Within hours, before noon that day, we were meeting on Zoom. He was ready for change and opted into my bespoke intensive therapy. The experience was transformative, and the impact was obvious to thousands of people filling the arena seats on February 19, 2024.
When we started, Billy was the public spokesman for a high-profile national organization. Privately, he was worn down by the stress of life and work dynamics, making it harder for him to get through work and daily conversations.
Through working together, Billy gained clarity and confidence. He showed up stronger in his work role—holding back less and saying more of what needed to be said. The same freedom of speech evolved in his personal life. He became fearless.
Just six weeks after we started working together, Billy stepped onto the stage and delivered a world-class speech to an arena filled with thousands of people.
In Billy's words:
"An opportunity arose for me to speak on stage in front of eight thousand people, opening for a former U.S. President. Without Uri’s coaching, I doubt I would have felt confident enough to accept. However, in the midst of my coaching with Uri, I confidently agreed with just 12 hours' notice and delivered a 12-minute speech without a teleprompter or written speech—and without stuttering. Remember, I am someone who struggles to make dinner reservations over the phone. As I walked off the stage, despite the lifelong stutterer within me recounting every possible mistake, I could hear Uri's voice saying, 'Just take the win.'"
It was an outstanding moment—Billy showed the world the world-class communicator he is. And he showed himself—Yes! I got this!
We are proud of Billy and appreciate the privilege to be part of his success. He reminds us how much more we can do.
Billy and Uri, Englewood, NJ
“I won’t claim that this program will make your stutter disappear forever. However, I can assure you that through Uri’s coaching, you will gain confidence, learn more about yourself, advocate for yourself and others who stutter, and ultimately communicate more effectively. ”
“I highly recommend Schneider Speech to any stutterer seeking to gain confidence in their speech. I have also recommended Schneider Speech to clients who do not stutter but aim to excel in public speaking.
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“Thank you, Uri and Dr. Phil, for your profound impact on my life and for ensuring that millions of stutterers worldwide have someone to help them find their voice.”
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