You want to become a paid speaker? Here's why so few people achieve that goal: Most people in those early stages have the right intentions, but focus too much on their topic and not enough time understanding how the business of speaking works. Because it is a business. They write a talk. Update their social profile that they're a keynote speaker. Post some of their ideas for others to see. Tell their friends and colleagues that they're a professional speaker. Maybe there's a couple early wins, but there's no real momentum or sustainability. Here’s what successful speakers actually do: They treat this like a business, not a hobby. Let me show you the difference: 👎 What most people do: – Create a talk without knowing who it’s for – Talk about a topic or their own story, but don't solve a real problem for the audience – Ask their network of connections for stage time – Post vague content hoping someone notices 👍 What real speakers do: – Start with the market, not just their idea – Study what’s already working – Position themselves with clarity and confidence – Build proof, then momentum, then income Here’s how to get out of your own head and into the game: ➡ Go to a speaker bureau site like WSB, BigSpeak, or Gotham ➡ Click on a category like AI, culture, sales, or innovation ➡ Filter by fee range ➡ Look at taglines, bios, and pricing ➡ Ask yourself: Is my topic truly unique? What marketing assets do they have in place (website, video, social profile)? Do I actually bring something different to the table? Are others getting booked for this topic? Could I eventually charge what they charge? And most importantly… Do I feel excited after this exercise — or intimidated and drained? You don’t need to be the only one in your lane. With others in that market category, it validates that there is a category. Stop wondering if you can do this. Start studying the game strategically to really understand how it works.