What Makes You Different?

It takes a special person to want to be a public speaker. You need grit, passion, stamina, and an overwhelming love for the big stage. You're comfortable with hundreds, or even thousands, of eyes on you, and you thrive under pressure.

Those are the prerequisites for any speaker. But if you want to succeed, you need to ask yourself an important question: What makes you different?

Getting paid to speak is challenging. Companies and conferences are investing hefty sums in you to inspire their audiences. It's a risk and one that shouldn't be taken lightly. Make it worthwhile by having a firm stance on who you are and what you want to say.

As you start to develop your own style, I encourage you to consider:

1. Is your speaking style different from most speakers, in a positive way?

2. Are there any other speakers who specialize in your area of expertise?

3. Who is your greatest competition in the speaking world, and why?

After doing some market research and competitive analyses, you'll be in a much better position to set yourself up for success. If you're different, you're often valuable. Don't forget that.