One of the biggest mistakes I see aspiring speakers make is believing their job is to inspire everyone in the room. It sounds like a strange thing to say, especially coming from someone who has built a career as a keynote speaker, but hear me out. When we first step onto a stage, we often carry an enormous amount of pressure. We want every person in the audience to laugh at our jokes, connect with our story, write pages of notes, and leave believing it was the best presentati

When people decide they want to become a speaker, one of the first things they worry about is whether they know enough. They wonder if they need another qualification, another course, another certification, or another achievement before anyone will take them seriously. It is a belief that stops many incredible people from ever stepping onto a stage. Over the years, I have spoken to audiences of all sizes, from intimate community groups to large conferences. I have also listen