How do you become a Motivational speaker? Is a question I get asked a lot.
The best way to get started is to become an excellent public speaker. Through a lot of practice, you develop more confidence, establish your style and content. It's best if you had the audience reaction to test material and develop the most relevant content. Interaction with the audience also helps you develop timing and monitor energy levels.
Speak a lot, everywhere they will listen, even if you are speaking for free
(however, if someone wants to pay you, take their money). Once you get good at it ( 500 plus presentations later), people will ask you if you do this for a fee, and it builds from here.
I used to call up toastmasters clubs and ask them if I could come to a meeting and speak for 20 minutes ( no less, it's not worth your time). Toastmasters' mission is to help people with public speaking skills, and they are a fantastic organization. I recommend everyone join toastmasters, it's fun, you build confidence, and you meet some great people who want to support you. Toastmaster club meeting speaking slots are usually only 7 minutes, so you need to push for more time, 20 Minutes minimum, or the maximum time they will give you.
Most clubs will grant you extra time for a longer speech, and you are evaluated at the end of your talk. Club leaders evaluate you for specific speech content objectives.
Take the critique for whatever it's worth. Most evaluations are somewhat useful; however, they are looking for specific things that don't always lead to a unique speaking style.
Remember, you are there to get the experience in front of warm bodies (As opposed to stuffed animals arranged as your audience on a couch). Please do not get discouraged; it takes a long time to get comfortable, confident, and develop a compelling message. Toastmasters also has a convention, an inspiring experience for anyone who wants to become a motivational speaker. I also volunteered to give a motivational speech at a lot of Rotary and No- profit groups.
This is a good start; once you get good at speaking in public, eventually, people will want to hire you. They will come up to you after your inspirational speeches and ask you to speak for their group.
A few more ground rules are below, and I can cover the more advanced stages of marketing, setting up your business in another blog. If you have specific questions on the motivational speaking business, how to get started, or others leave your comments below, and I will write a blog about it.
I also recommend you join a professional speaking organization, like the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. I was a member for over 12 years. The Networking is invaluable.
As you are working to become a Motivational Speaker, Never:
-take advice from a motivational speaker who lives in a van down by the river(my favorite Saturday night live episode).
-speak down to the crowd in a condescending or derogatory way.
-"wing it."
MOTIVATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Inspiring other people is a tricky thing. But if you're a natural crowd-pleaser, make use of this skill to uplift people. It will give you monetary independence, but also enrich your life by helping other people.
You can exhibit the charisma of your voice and energy, and help people transform their lives. You need to play the leader or master who paves the way for folks from different walks of life, be it a hopeless entrepreneur, a frustrated writer, or a common man finding it difficult to balance work and family. You can see some top motivational speakers even earn $50000 to $100000 for speaking events.
CAREER AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL GUEST SPEAKER
If you are good at giving instructions to help people, this one is the right career option for you. Your chances of being selected are brighter if you hail from a relevant industry such as teaching, or perhaps you have been a seminar instructor telling people about the functionality of new software programs.
Some organizations hire professional speakers to conduct how-to seminars. But if you want to work independently and earn well, working for yourself will be a better option.
BECOME AN EXPERT GUEST SPEAKER
Focus on what you love doing the most, or focus on where your expertise already lies. If your knowledge is rare and extremely high in demand, you can found your professional career as an expert speaker on it.
Here, you'll have to master the art of translating specialized knowledge into simpler keynotes for people to grasps. Another handy way is to get a book published to become an expert. This will enhance your credibility and give your career as an expert author a hefty boost.
INSPIRE PEOPLE AS A RELIGIOUS SPEAKER
Your role as a religious speaker is to give people facts about life, without hitting too hard. After all, people are looking for guidance, but not one that burdens them further.
While working as a religious leader, you will have to give inspirational speeches, read aloud religious texts, and offer motivating ideas. If you have read the story and determined to become a public speaker, then the following post would be beneficial to you: How to Engage Your Audience During a Speaking Event.
This type of speaking requires you to socialize as much as you can and be busy most of the time. It comes with the responsibility of meeting people who come to hear you speak to develop a spiritual understanding!
Do you have any questions about the public speaking business or motivational speakers? Please leave a comment!
Time flies when you're having fun, and motivational speaking is incredibly fun.
