I for one do not do it for the applause. I do it for far grander reasons. Like the day when someone came up to me after a talk and said I saved their daughters life. Not sure where they were coming from, a conversation ensued.

It turns out a few months earlier, a lecture I gave at my hospital where I was employed was heard by a group of doctors. Within a week they faced a crisis on the very topic I lectured on and just happened to be one of a few nurse experts in the US with this modality of health care.

In this crisis, they called me, a RN to ask for help with the challenge. Offering to give the names of other expert doctors in the field for a telephone consult, they declined. There was no time.

They basically asked me to manage the crisis. The doctors were responsible and signed off on what ever I suggested but they recognized me as the expert.

Needless to say, the advice given over the phone saved the young woman’s life. The advice was asked because of my appearing like an expert when giving the original lecture and the grueling question and answer session after. The applause, I never even hear it. Those words however are priceless.

Unlike most speaking gigs, this required weeks of coaching and practice with the many potential questions and making sure to get the wording just right. There were numerous ethnic and religious sensitivities to address in the lecture. Yes, even though a coach myself, I hired a coach to help me with my presentation.

Perhaps the challenge is not just that of being a business (for some). There are a lot of speakers making lots of money who are not necessarily great speakers. Some may have flaws that their celebrity allow them to get away with. One of the current high paid speakers has the push a thumb tack in the teleprompter mannerism and he gets 100K per speech.

If there is an intersection of great businessman or businesswoman and masterful public speaker, that is the place I would like to park for a season or two of my life.

I am curious what others think.

I’m not saying your wrong. Just for some, there is what you said and more that is involved.

We just became friends on FB. I find this article of yours interesting. Please tell me more!

Cheers!
Boom