My Origin Story

I’m an introvert. I studied art and design, then graphic design, got a job as a video game level designer, fell in love with performing stand-up comedy, became a full-time stand-up, didn’t become a star and so gave it up, went back to games and started a family.

While working at a games company I saw a really bad presentation and realised that all the writing and performance skills I’d learnt as a stand-up needed to be put to good use. I decided that things needed to change. If an introvert like me can do it, then I think anyone can transform into a confident communicator. 

In 2013 I set up my own coaching business, working with groups in Cambridge and London. After much hard work I have flourished, having found my place in the world. Clever me, eh?

The Fantasy Version

I stepped into the dark fortress: a comedy club stage. My heart pounded like a war drum.

The Fear Dragon roared, breathing fire, but I dodged the flames! I fumbled, I sweated, I delivered my material. Somewhere in that chaos, I found it: the elixir of confidence. I snatched it, heart racing, and made my escape.

Now? I carry that potion everywhere. I share it with the ones still stuck at the fortress gates. The quiet freaks. The shy weirdos. The brilliant nerds.

I’m one of you. A misfit. And I’m here to change the world – one voice at a time.

Building Confidence & Having Fun

I easily connect with introverts, but I also have great success supporting extroverts. I really enjoy immediately getting people past their perception of their skill level and then building on that foundation to become confident communicators. 

My training and talks always feature some laughter. Not because I do jokes <shudder>, but because I create a safe, creative setting where laughs can happen. That’s the skill I learnt as a stand-up comic: fearless, positive curiosity without ego.

Too many people have suffered watching boring speakers delivering dreadful material. I’m on a mission to change that. No matter what sector you are in, I bet you’ve sat through some pretty tedious training. It doesn’t have to be like that; I make training sessions fun, interactive and meaningful.

“Once in a generation, someone comes along who changes everything. Jon Torrens is not that person, but he met them once and tried to wow them with his Alec Guinness impression.”

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Here’s a quote that nicely sums up how I can help:

‘I think communication is the single most important skill in a team. Most people I meet in the workplace don’t know how to praise, reprimand, encourage, listen, sell, or apologise. If you can’t do those things well it doesn’t really matter how good you are at your craft as you are so limited in your interactions with others. Being good at what you do is important but to be great at what you do you need to be a great communicator.’

Jamie Walker – Co-Founder, HundredStar Games

Nerd Credentials

I claim ‘nerd’. Let me try to qualify that claim:

• I love sci-fi, probably because I saw the first ‘Star Wars’ as a little boy (when it was released). Robots, spaceships and futuristic interfaces really float my boat. Er, escape pod. ‘Aliens’ is my favourite sci-fi movie and is always quotable. Probably followed by TRON Legacy and then… Rogue One. There, I’ve said it.
• I love The Dark Knight Trilogy and the MCU (our son’s middle name is ‘Logan’).
• I have some experience of Dungeons and Dragons (one campaign, probably 12 hours) and I really loved it. I have some liquid centre dice and a dice tower.
• My favourite video game is ‘The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker’ but the first ‘Metal Gear Solid’ is pretty special, too. Currently hooked on ‘Pokémon TCG Pocket’.
• I love ‘Blackadder’ (2, 3 and 4). I watched them all when they were first broadcast. Even more quotable than ‘Aliens’.
• I bought a lot of 2000AD back in the late 80’s (especially ‘Rogue Trooper’ (especially drawn by Cam Kennedy)).
• There’s probably more evidence, but my excited little brain is tired now. Sorry.

Taken by Colin Ramsay