What do you do if you're a mid-career professional seeking speaking opportunities in your industry?

To break into speaking engagements as a mid-career professional, focus on your industry expertise. Identify your niche, target audience, & value proposition. Start small by seeking opportunities at local events, company meetings, or professional associations. Volunteer your expertise for workshops, webinars, or conferences. Build an online presence by sharing industry insights through blog posts, articles, or videos. Leverage your network by connecting with event organizers & participating in industry associations. Utilize social media to engage with your network & showcase your expertise. List yourself on speaker directories to increase visibility. Craft compelling proposals & presentations tailored to your target audience's needs.

When venturing into the realm of public speaking, it's crucial to identify your goals. Are you looking to establish thought leadership, share innovative ideas, or network with peers? Your objectives will shape the kind of speaking engagements you pursue. Tailor your speech topics to align with these goals, ensuring they resonate with your target audience while also showcasing your unique insights and experiences. This strategic approach will not only enhance the value of your presentations but will also attract the right opportunities that align with your career aspirations

Go for it! Industry speaking is a fantastic way to increase your exposure and your network. Short presentations, leading a panel, serving as a panelist provide over the rainbow experiences and interactions that are impossible to encounter while at your desk day in and day out.

Look to industry assn for speaking opportunities at upcoming trade shows or conferences. Offer your services for free to get started, but expect rigorous scrutiny. Once you secure your first engagement, remember to tailor your approach to audience size. For large conferences, high-impact presentations, while smaller workshops benefit from interactive discussions. Stay versatile—adapt to keynotes, live events, or workshops, emphasizing clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Time management is crucial; tailor content to fit slots, prioritizing impactful messages for short sessions and incorporating storytelling and visuals for longer ones. This personalized approach maximizes impact and showcases your expertise. Now, go out there and shine!

Elevate your mid-career journey by weaving the tales of how you've turned challenges into triumphs for clients. Each solution is a testament to your expertise. Amplify your voice: start a podcast, invite industry pioneers, and dive deep into discussions. It's not just about entering a room; it's about creating your own where your stories and those of industry leaders inspire and ignite change. This is how you build a bridge to opportunities and establish your legacy.

To thrive mid-career and seize speaking gigs, network like your growth depends on it—because it does. Dive deep, not just wide. Connect genuinely, offer unmatched value. Your expertise? A beacon. Let it shine, solve problems, spark discussions. Value leads to visibility, and with it, stages will seek you.

In a world where your voice can be your most powerful asset, standing out as a mid-career professional seeking speaking opportunities isn't just about showcasing expertise; it's about resonating with your audience by offering massive value. Address the pain points and burning questions your industry faces. Don't just talk; solve. Be the beacon that guides others through the fog of uncertainty. Let your insights be the solution they didn't know they needed. In doing so, you don't just speak; you transform. And in transformation, you find your stage.

A sad phenomenon that I've consistently seen is the majority of speakers talk to the audience and try to pitch them to buy a product or service. When they employ this method the audience is bored and disengaged. Instead, they need to tell fun and engaging stories that get the point across and teach them a lesson that can be used in their own lives or businesses. I spoke at a conference last year when I was ranked the third best speaker out of 45 because I told stories that resonated with the audience and gave them practical tips just like I advised above. And the noise of today's social media and marketing being authentic and telling a story is gonna make you stand out.

If you're not using social media you are extremely behind the 8 ball and will soon be bypassed by those I do. It's also using it effectively and staying up to date on the latest platforms and systems that are arising. It's also how event organizers will find you and verify who you are and the audience that you bring. Some conferences or podcast won't even consider you if you're following is less than 10,000. That's because they are trying to fill up their events I know the bigger your following is the more seats you'll fill.