Are you considering making a career out of speaking on stage?
Speaking pays well but you have to show up.
And showing up doesn’t mean you’re just winging it. It actually takes more time, more research, and more effort than you probably think – but you will get there!
Here are 7 tips to help you get started:
1. Look for models.
Look at those doing something similar but are a step or two ahead instead of those who are lightyears ahead of you. Be self-aware to know that you can do this but be realistic at the same time.
2. Be the steakhouse, not the buffet.
Don’t make the mistake of casting a wide net of trying to appeal to everybody and nobody at the same time. But trying to position yourself as the go-to person in all of those things just completely waters down what you’re doing.
3. Just show up.
There are literally thousands of events all over the world on a variety of subjects, topics, and industries on a daily basis. There’s no way one speaker can do all of those. So there’s no shortage of opportunities there.
4. Be someone who’s easy to work with.
Being a successful speaker has a lot to do with how you are off the stage. Don’t be a diva. Get back to the event planner’s emails immediately. Make their life much easier.
5. Give yourself some grace.
Recognize that everyone starts from zero so give yourself from grace. You might find people who are bigger and better, but they have years of a headstart on you that you don’t have. They also started from scratch.
6. Tell more stories.
Your talk is your best marketing material and stories are always relatable, memorable, and really powerful. Use a first-person, relatable, human story.
7. Practice, prepare, and perfect.
Spend lots of time practicing, enough to make you feel comfortable and confident with where you’re going. Give them at least two options that you can talk about so each time you’re giving the talk, you know it’s really well-done. Make your talk a signature dish. Many restaurants have their signature dish because they’ve made it thousands of times and they’ve perfected it.
If you want to learn more about great tips to become successful in speaking, and your business in general, check out the Diary of a Doer Podcast.
