If you are like me, you probably never seriously considered the possibility of becoming a professional speaker.
In addition to my role as an operations manager at a construction company in the Philadelphia area, I consider myself to be a writer. Notice, I said writer and not speaker. I joined Toastmasters in May to help me advance in my job by improving my overall presentation skills. And I secretly hoped it would help me with my writing career.
A few months ago, I received an email from my alma mater, Grove City College, that changed my perspective. My school contacted me about a speaking opportunity this coming February. I get to talk to students about leadership and delegation. What an opportunity! Because of this request, I have recently started to see myself as a speaker.
And I would like to challenge you to start thinking of yourself the same way. You are a speaker, and you have something to say!
Saying that you are a speaker and actually becoming a professional speaker are two different things. In the pursuit of learning more on this topic, I conducted some research which I’d like to share with you today. In today’s post, I will help you identify some of the steps you will need to consider in order to become a professional speaker. And I hope you will start thinking a little differently about the possibility of making this a reality for you.
Let’s get started!
According to Forbes, speakers like Chris Widener have built their speaking fees up to $20,000 per talk. You may not make this kind of money ever or for a very long time. Or you may strike it rich as a result of your speaking. Regardless, you have something to say, and becoming a professional speaker is a great way to say it to the world.
What are you waiting for?
When I was seven years old, I had some thoughts of becoming a pastor. My Sunday school teacher used to refer to me as the little evangelist. My Dad is a pastor. I like to help people. I like to encourage people. And there is part of me that may have thought preaching was pretty cool.
When I was nine or ten years old, I was convinced I would be an actor when I grew up. After all, I played a lead role in a church musical when I was in third grade. Then I directed and acted in a play in the fourth grade.
In junior high and high school, I excelled at the saxophone. My freshmen year, I earned first chair honors beating out upperclassmen who expected to have top honors. I enjoyed being in the spotlight when I had the opportunity for solos.
My interests turned to engineering, and I put my ambitions for being in the spotlight aside. In fact, I did my best to stay out of the “public eye” as much as possible. Part of it was an attempt at humility, and part of it was a growing discomfort for speaking in public.
Despite this, I had different opportunities to speak in front of an audience – at church, at work, at graduate school. My speaking opportunities weren’t flawless, but I received many compliments and words of encouragement to keep going.
My writing over the past few years has caused me to rethink the whole public speaking thing. This is part of the reason I joined Toastmasters earlier this year. Since joining Toastmasters, I’ve had the opportunity to speak at my job, and I’ve been asked to speak at my college in February.
I believe I have something to say – something worth sharing. And speaking in public may be one way to share.
What if speaking was a direction I should pursue?
This is a question I have started wrestling with more recently. I think it would be an opportunity to stretch myself. I think it would also provide an opportunity to encourage others to stretch.
What do you think? Would you be interested in hearing me speak?