In the illustrious world of performance, there's an age-old joke that goes something like this: "A boy is walking down the street in New York carrying a tuba. He looks up at the overwhelming buildings, realizing he's lost. Suddenly, an old man carrying a violin walks by and the boy cries out—how do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The man answers, "practice, practice, practice!" and walks on.

That advice isn't just reserved for musicians striving for symphonic greatness. It holds true for another stage entirely—the one where media spokespeople and thought leaders shine.