Things to Do Before Becoming a Motivational Speaker
So you want to become a motivational speaker. It could be because you’ve overcome something that you’re really proud of and you want to share how you did it with others. It could be because you’ve helped countless friends get over their hurdles and you’ve realized that you shared the same core message despite using different words and experiences. To be a public speaker, you’ll need to do a few things.
First, you’ll need to reevaluate your communication skills. How did you come to the conclusion that you can inspire or motivate others? When you changed someone else’s life for the better, how many conversations did it take? Some speakers do it over the course of a few sessions. Others only speak for an hour. You should be able to do your motivational speeches in an hour without your message losing any value.
Another thing to do before becoming a speaker is to be an expert in your chosen niche. Choose a niche that you are really good at and have a passion for and you’ll be fine. If you have personal experiences related to that niche, even better. You’ll want to be seen as an authority on the subject matter you choose. Being able to connect with an audience almost always guarantees that they will listen to you.
Taking classes is also a good option. Public speaking is like voiceover work. Voice actors often have backgrounds in singing, theatre, acting, and improv. If they don’t, they usually take classes for them. Do the same for public speaking. Join Toastmaster organizations. Attend improv classes. You don’t necessarily have to be an English major, but brush up on your English so as to not sound too redundant on your speeches.
Finally, you’ll want to learn a little bit of marketing. The main difficulty in public speaking careers is the fact that the demand is too little and too occasional. When an event calls for a speaker, there are a lot to choose from and you want to stand out. This is where your expertise and English skills come in. In addition to advertising, you can also create an online presence through writing content on your chosen niche. Practicing your written English also helps in creating concise yet valuable speeches.
Once you’ve done all of the aforementioned things, you will be ready to embark on your journey to become a motivational speaker. It’s important to remember that there are hardships ahead and you will need to persevere to live your dream.