I have been in an especially intense work session & it resulted in smoking cigarettes for two hours a day. A pack. And i smoked two at the same time and it was actually so satisfying that I'm not addicted to cigarettes. What would you do?
Three seconds. That's how long it took. Your shoes. Your posture. The way you held your drink. Whether you looked at the floor or looked at her.
She already filed you away. Interesting. Boring. Safe. Bold. Before you even opened your mouth.
Everything you say after that is just her confirming what she already decided.
So stop rehearsing lines. Fix the first three seconds. Stand tall. Look up. Smile like you mean it. Walk like you belong wherever you're standing.
The words come later. The impression comes first.