So You Want To Speak At Next Year's Summit? Why Wait?

[BizyDad]

First off, the summit speakers were amazing. All did a great job (yes, I mean all.) They were so inspiring in fact, that I've heard/read it 5 or 6 times now:

"I want to speak at next year's summit"
"Maybe I can talk about XYZ at next year's summit"
"I don't want to just go to next year's summit, I want to speak."

And if 5 or 6 people have expressed it, then more are likely thinking it.

So my first question is, "Why?"

Why do you want to speak? Do you have something to say? Are you just getting swept up in the emotion of the moment? Did @Mutant convince you that it is an excellent networking opportunity? She was quite convincing...

Or is there some measure of validation you are seeking? So is it about you? It's not an ego thing, is it?

No, of course not! You want to bring the value.

You want to help people.

Am I right? So my next question is, "Why wait?"

If you have something to say, post up. Drop some knowledge bombs. Why wait a whole year?

"Well, I want to build enough experience this coming year so that next year I can present something awesome." Great. My friend, you sound like a perfect candidate for a progress thread.

Still don't feel like you are "thread starter" material? That's cool. So bring the value by helping others on here. Be a cheerleader. Be a connector. Be a resource.

Bring so much value in the coming year that next year when @MJ DeMarco puts out the call for speakers, people are asking you to speak. That's bringing the value my friends. This community is what you make it.

 

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[andrewsyc]

First off, the summit speakers were amazing. All did a great job (yes, I mean all.) They were so inspiring in fact, that I've heard/read it 5 or 6 times now:

"I want to speak at next year's summit"
"Maybe I can talk about XYZ at next year's summit"
"I don't want to just go to next year's summit, I want to speak."

And if 5 or 6 people have expressed it, then more are likely thinking it.

So my first question is, "Why?"

Why do you want to speak? Do you have something to say? Are you just getting swept up in the emotion of the moment? Did @Mutant convince you that it is an excellent networking opportunity? She was quite convincing...

Or is there some measure of validation you are seeking? So is it about you? It's not an ego thing, is it?

No, of course not! You want to bring the value.

You want to help people.

Am I right? So my next question is, "Why wait?"

If you have something to say, post up. Drop some knowledge bombs. Why wait a whole year?

"Well, I want to build enough experience this coming year so that next year I can present something awesome." Great. My friend, you sound like a perfect candidate for a progress thread.

Still don't feel like you are "thread starter" material? That's cool. So bring the value by helping others on here. Be a cheerleader. Be a connector. Be a resource.

Bring so much value in the coming year that next year when @MJ DeMarco puts out the call for speakers, people are asking you to speak. That's bringing the value my friends. This community is what you make it.

I think your speech outline is already here: What I Learned Being A Banker & Interviewing 2k Businesses

 

[Bekit]

I think your speech outline is already here: What I Learned Being A Banker & Interviewing 2k Businesses

Thank you for linking to that thread! I've wanted to refer back to it but then lost it and couldn't remember what it was called. Great stuff!

I second the motion to hear that speech at next year's summit.

First off, the summit speakers were amazing. All did a great job (yes, I mean all.) They were so inspiring in fact, that I've heard/read it 5 or 6 times now:

"I want to speak at next year's summit"
"Maybe I can talk about XYZ at next year's summit"
"I don't want to just go to next year's summit, I want to speak."

And if 5 or 6 people have expressed it, then more are likely thinking it.

So my first question is, "Why?"

Why do you want to speak? Do you have something to say? Are you just getting swept up in the emotion of the moment? Did @Mutant convince you that it is an excellent networking opportunity? She was quite convincing...

Or is there some measure of validation you are seeking? So is it about you? It's not an ego thing, is it?

No, of course not! You want to bring the value.

You want to help people.

Am I right? So my next question is, "Why wait?"

If you have something to say, post up. Drop some knowledge bombs. Why wait a whole year?

"Well, I want to build enough experience this coming year so that next year I can present something awesome." Great. My friend, you sound like a perfect candidate for a progress thread.

Still don't feel like you are "thread starter" material? That's cool. So bring the value by helping others on here. Be a cheerleader. Be a connector. Be a resource.

Bring so much value in the coming year that next year when @MJ DeMarco puts out the call for speakers, people are asking you to speak. That's bringing the value my friends. This community is what you make it.

To add onto this, I've heard people saying, "I'm not qualified to speak yet" or even, "I'm not qualified to go to the summit until I have more progress to show."

And while I respect the humility that says, "I've got some learning to do before I teach others," I also call BS on the idea that there's some elusive status level that makes you "worthy" to do something like this.

Here's how I got to be a speaker this year:

I went for it. I raised my hand. I threw my hat into the ring.

Here's what I could have done:

I could have easily talked myself out of it. I could have said to myself, "No, I can't do this until I'm a millionaire." or "No, I'm not qualified until I'm getting top-tier copywriting assignments—with royalties!—on a regular basis." or "No, who would want to hear about this?" or "Most or the people in the room are wayyyy ahead of me, simply out of my league," or, or, or... whatever other excuse my brain was ready to fling at me.

This was my first time on a stage like this. It was a huge milestone for me! I haven't spoken at other live events. To me, this was a big deal and a huge highlight of my year.

Sometimes, you've just got to quiet that nay-saying voice in your head, stand up, and GO FOR IT.

Who knows? It just might work.

 

[BizyDad]

I think your speech outline is already here: What I Learned Being A Banker & Interviewing 2k Businesses

I second the motion to hear that speech at next year's summit.

Thank you both. I'm honored and I'm glad you got value out of it.

To add onto this, I've heard people saying, "I'm not qualified to speak yet" or even, "I'm not qualified to go to the summit until I have more progress to show."

And while I respect the humility that says, "I've got some learning to do before I teach others," I also call BS on the idea that there's some elusive status level that makes you "worthy" to do something like this.

Here's how I got to be a speaker this year:

I went for it. I raised my hand. I threw my hat into the ring.

Here's what I could have done:

I could have easily talked myself out of it. I could have said to myself, "No, I can't do this until I'm a millionaire." or "No, I'm not qualified until I'm getting top-tier copywriting assignments—with royalties!—on a regular basis." or "No, who would want to hear about this?" or "Most or the people in the room are wayyyy ahead of me, simply out of my league," or, or, or... whatever other excuse my brain was ready to fling at me.

This was my first time on a stage like this. It was a huge milestone for me! I haven't spoken at other live events. To me, this was a big deal and a huge highlight of my year.

Sometimes, you've just got to quiet that nay-saying voice in your head, stand up, and GO FOR IT.

I love everything about this. Thank you for inspiring others.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

This was my first time on a stage like this. It was a huge milestone for me! I haven't spoken at other live events. To me, this was a big deal and a huge highlight of my year.

You killed it. Congrats on the performance.

 

[ZCP]

Thank you for linking to that thread! I've wanted to refer back to it but then lost it and couldn't remember what it was called. Great stuff!

I second the motion to hear that speech at next year's summit.



To add onto this, I've heard people saying, "I'm not qualified to speak yet" or even, "I'm not qualified to go to the summit until I have more progress to show."

And while I respect the humility that says, "I've got some learning to do before I teach others," I also call BS on the idea that there's some elusive status level that makes you "worthy" to do something like this.

Here's how I got to be a speaker this year:

I went for it. I raised my hand. I threw my hat into the ring.

Here's what I could have done:

I could have easily talked myself out of it. I could have said to myself, "No, I can't do this until I'm a millionaire." or "No, I'm not qualified until I'm getting top-tier copywriting assignments—with royalties!—on a regular basis." or "No, who would want to hear about this?" or "Most or the people in the room are wayyyy ahead of me, simply out of my league," or, or, or... whatever other excuse my brain was ready to fling at me.

This was my first time on a stage like this. It was a huge milestone for me! I haven't spoken at other live events. To me, this was a big deal and a huge highlight of my year.

Sometimes, you've just got to quiet that nay-saying voice in your head, stand up, and GO FOR IT.

Who knows? It just might work.

You were legendary! I've recommended you to a bunch of people. Hopefully your inbox overfloweth!

 

[Andy Black]

Still don't feel like you are "thread starter" material? That's cool. So bring the value by helping others on here. Be a cheerleader. Be a connector. Be a resource.

If you’re a lurker and read something that helps you then reply saying thanks and how it helped. Good things will start happening.

Bring so much value in the coming year that next year when @MJ DeMarco puts out the call for speakers, people are asking you to speak

^^^ This. If you weren’t allowed to throw your hat in the ring then what would you do to get people to nominate you?

Similarly... if you weren’t allowed to advertise then how would you get business?

"Why wait?"

Exactly.

Why wait for permission?

Why wait for a certain date on a calendar?

Why wait till you’re an “expert”?

If you can help someone then why not do it now?


EDIT: I thought I’d mention I don’t have a goal to speak, anywhere, ever. My goal is to not need to because I’ve canned what I’d say and it can help people without me being present.

 

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[Greg R]

I've updated my "why."