The Part Of Professional Speaking No One Talks About

John Ball (: 00:00

You know what? I've been thinking a lot recently about something that doesn't get talked about that much in the speaking world. And it's not because it's controversial. It's also not because it's complicated. It's more that it's uncomfortable. And it's this being a better speaker still isn't enough. Now, before you panic, I'm not saying skill doesn't matter. Of course it does. But I've worked with enough genuinely talented speakers over the years to know this.

Most people aren't stuck because they're bad at speaking. They're stuck because they're trying to grow a speaking career without treating speaking like a business. Now, this isn't the first time I've talked about this, but you know, the difference between just getting up and speaking and having a speaking business is very different. They're worlds apart. The part that people quietly avoid is this. A lot of speakers believe that their job is

to be more engaging, more stories, more energy, more polish. none of that's wrong, but it is incomplete. What actually holds people back from better bookings and better fees usually isn't performance at all. It's more to do with positioning, structure and responsibility. So some people are just quietly hoping someone's going to spot their talent and open a door for them.

there are others who are hoping that their next talk might magically unlock more opportunities. and there's some who hope that their experience and qualifications should do all of the heavy lifting.

Here's the hard truth. Hope is not a strategy. I should really say that several times over because this is so important to remember. Hope is not a strategy. It's a harsh sentence, but it is an honest one. This is the shift that changes everything. At some point, speakers who build sustainable careers make a subtle, but very powerful shift.

they stop trying to impress and they start solving something specific for someone specific. And that one shift can change everything. It changes how they design the talks, it changes how they talk about the work, it changes how people describe them when they're not in the room. and it often leads to a question most people would rather avoid.

Do I actually want a speaking business or do I just want to be on stages? Now, they are not the same thing.

This is usually where the work with my client starts, not with confidence, not with content, but with clarity. We look at what already exists. We talk, we look at the talks, the abstracts, the messaging, the materials, not to criticize them, not to tear anything down, just to see where energy is leaking or where things have maybe become a bit fuzzy. And what we do then is we simplify, we sharpen, we make deliberate choices. Talk titles start doing the real work. Stories create.

proper moments that people will remember. Humour becomes purposeful rather than performative. An emotional range replaces forced confidence. And yes, we deal with the business side too. Clear goals, strong demos, simple pathways for decision makers because speaking rarely lives on its own.

It tends to live within a wider business ecosystem. now treating your speaking like a business changes how you show up. It means taking action before you feel ready. It means letting go of the work that you enjoy, but stuff that doesn't really move the needle. It means choosing growth over comfort. And this is where some people quietly step back, not because they can't do the work, but because

they're not really sure they want what comes with it. And that's okay. This is stepping into the unknown. It's directly challenging your inner imposter rather than negotiating with it when it arises. And that's not easy work.

Most people think that standing still is neutral and it isn't. Inaction is an active choice. Staying where you are often means repeating or continuing work that no longer stretches or fulfills you. Watching others seize opportunities and move ahead, opportunities that you could have had, but convinced yourself you weren't ready for and continually doubting yourself, doubting your own ability or potential.

and really wondering whether you ever really can have the kind of speaking business that you would really like to have. Now that erosion is subtle and it compounds and eventually it weighs more than the risk of change. So when things click something interesting happens. People stop chasing attention and start earning trust.

Referrals start to feel natural instead of forced. Rebookings stop being a surprise. And most importantly, people stop performing confidence and start inhabiting it. Not louder, just clearer. here's something I often say to my clients. Your job isn't just to wow people on stage, it's to serve them in a way that they'll remember. When that lands, progress can stop feeling random and become predictable.

So if you've been thinking like this and you've been thinking, I know I'm capable of more than this, or I don't know why I'm not getting more traction, more bookings. I don't want to keep chasing after work. You might be standing at a quiet turning point. In fact, this might be the inflection point that transforms your whole future career, but you don't need to decide anything today. But if you do want to talk things through, I'm always open to a thoughtful conversation.

And you can message me, you can reach out if that feels useful.

you can find all my contact information in the show notes. You can send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or you can shoot me an email, john at presentinfluence.com. if that's not what you're ready for right now, it's okay. Let the idea sit for a while. Clarity has a way of arriving when it's ready.

tations or plans you have for: 2026

I hope you'll keep Present Influence as a companion along the way as well. And I would certainly like to know the exciting plans that you have for your own speaking career. For the meantime, wherever you're going, whatever you're doing, have an amazing rest of your day. And if you haven't already checked out my last episode with Stephen Puri about...

remote working and more productivity and flow when you work from home. I highly recommend it. We've never talked about remote working on the show before, but most of us in the speaking industry are working remotely and we're not always working as productively and effectively as we could. So go and check that episode out. You'll be happy you did and we'll see you next time.