For the past five years, I have worked in strategic roles in advertising. During my work, I challenged the difficulties in creating an ad that would be relevant to the brand, match its core values, and would also target appropriately consumers with a strong consumer insight. When I contribute to a successful campaign that matches all of the above, what I get is sheer bliss. In this sense, I love advertising.

Nevertheless, I am aware advertising has its gray areas. In many cases, advertisers focus on few features that can distinguish them from the competition, while presenting an incomplete picture of the product. For example, a snack brand can focus on the taste claim and ignore any clear reference to nutritional values and calories of the product. In other cases, advertisers claim superiority by using survey findings that do not agree with consumers’ common sense. Recently, a new Cola was introduced by a major Israeli company, claiming its Cola tastes better than the traditional Coca-Cola. Although such claim is possible, it is highly unlikely that a private-label Cola will be able to better suit the Israeli taste, since Coca-Cola dominates the Israeli Cola market for decades with over 90% market share. Yet, as a marketer, I understand we must be aggressive to put our products in consumers’ consideration set.

From a consumer’s standpoint, however, I have a contradictory attitude towards ads. I have some strong relationships with brands I encounter on a regular basis. I adore the design and innovation of Nespresso. I already replaced 4 iPhone models during the last decade and never bought a basketball shoe which is not a Nike shoe. When these brands advertise, I am open to hear about new products and watch ads. Consequently, I am willing to pay more or purchase more expensive products.

Meanwhile, getting used to certain brands makes me less willing to try new ones. When I experience a brand that does not meet my expectations as my usual choices do, I feel like I made a wrong decision. Moreover, the bad experience increases my skepticism towards new brands.

Overall, I admire the efforts made by us advertisers to increase sales. However, my true desire as a consumer is to minimize my exposure to irrelevant ads as much as possible.

During a visit to the United Arab Emirates, I was invited to speak to college students to learn more about how the country is preparing the next generation for the future. I met with students who were required to present their final projects in a three-minute presentation to members of the ruling family. Now, that is pressure. But learning the art of public speaking is no longer an option to succeed in the 21st century; it is fundamental.

Educators who I have met across the Middle East, Europe and Asia say that they are elevating the art of public speaking to a core requirement along with math and science. Chris Anderson, the curator (负责人) of TED, encourages schools in the United States to make “presentation literacy” a requirement in elementary schools. There is a wrinkle, however. According to an article in The Atlantic, some American middle-school and high-school students are advocating for the elimination (取消) of mandatory (强制的) in-class, presentations.

Their anxiety is real. Psychology professor Matthew Lieberman writes in book, “Our brains crave the positive evaluation of others almost to an embarrassing degree.” That’s why most of us get anxious about public speaking. Anxiety can turn into full-blown panic attacks or create lifelong fears.

As an author whose books are used in public speaking classes around the world, I will explain why public speaking skills are more important than ever. Persuasion — one person convincing another to change their mind — is now responsible for 25 percent of Americas total income, according to Deirdre McCloskey at the University of Illinois. The percentage will rise to 40 percent soon, she assured me. It is a terrible idea to reduce public speaking opportunities in class at a time when students need the skills it can give them to succeed. Today anyone who is better at presenting their ideas can see a sudden, massive increase in wealth that is unprecedented in human history.

In the age of ideas, public speaking is one of the greatest skills that students need in order to learn, grow, and inspire the rest of us to dream bigger. If students enjoy the process of building the necessary skill set, they will learn to love public speaking.