We all hate that feeling of showing up somewhere and not really knowing anyone. Whether it be some networking event, social gathering or random family reunion with people you only see once every few decades, it’s not a pleasant experience.
As humans, we all naturally gravitate to things that feel safe and comfortable. You’ve seen the stats that public speaking is consistently listed as one of the biggest fears for people. So as much as you may like the idea of speaking, it’s totally natural to wonder if you can actually do it.
I get it.
The first time I was paid to speak ($1,000 to speak for 45 minutes), I found myself wondering, “Who am I to be up here talking to this audience? I’m no one special.”
Today I’ve become a pretty good speaker, but do you know how that happened? By actually getting on stage and speaking. Shocking I know right? :)
It’s not fair to compare your starting point as a speaker to someone who has been at it for years. Of course, they’re going to be better than you.
But you don’t have to be this refined, polished, world expert to get booked and paid to speak. You can start with your current base of knowledge, your experiences, stories, and journey and still make an excellent speaker.