Use Olfactory Anchoring to Trigger Peak Confidence

Back in 2010 I found myself on a whirlwind world tour giving talks in cities I could barely pronounce. Los Angeles, London, Kuala Lumpur—I was so jet-lagged I began hallucinating debates with my luggage. Yet I had to step on stage each night and deliver peak-energy performances. It was exhausting.

I’d tried breathing exercises, pep talks, even espresso IVs—nothing lasted. My adrenaline tank drained by show two of every three. That’s when I stumbled onto a hack from a colleague practicing neurolinguistic anchoring: olfactory anchors. He wore peppermint oil in his jacket, inhaled it before each demo, and—voilà—he transformed into a laser-focused version of himself.

Skeptical, I grabbed a small menthol vape and headed to my next gig. In the wings, I closed my eyes, replayed the roar of the crowd from a previous sold-out event, inhaled, clenched my fingers—“Yes!” I whispered. Moments later I was the Brett Favre of sales training, firing touchdown passes at audiences.

That peppermint became my backstage superpower. Whenever the nerves crept in, a single sniff and I was back in that victorious mindset—calm, energized, in total control. I bottled that technique into my own roller and have taught it to thousands since. Try it yourself: you’ll find a tiny scent can carry you to your very best self in under ten seconds.

Before you dial in or walk onstage, reach for your scent bottle—mint, citrus, or any bright aroma that signals ‘power’ for you. Close your eyes for two seconds and replay your proudest moment as if it’s happening right now. Inhale deeply, press your fingers together, and whisper ‘Yes.’ Let that confidence bubble up. Then launch your call or talk, carrying that peak-energy feeling with you. Trust me, you’ll ace it.