How to Become a Professional Speaker – My Experience and Advice

This episode of Making Waves at C-Level is the audio of a video I made about how to become a professional speaker.

I often get asked, “How do I become a paid professional speaker?” The internet is full of programs promising shortcuts, insider secrets, and magical communities that will make you rich using the spoken word. Some deliver value, but many are designed to separate people with hopes and dreams from their money.

This episode is my opinion based on nearly two decades in the speaking business. If you ask 50 speakers how to make it in this career, you’ll probably get 50 different answers. This is simply my story—what has worked for me and what I’ve seen work for others.

Seventeen years ago, I joined the National Speakers Association (NSA). My career—over 1,000 paid speeches and a sustainable lifestyle business—would not have been possible without NSA. The sessions and keynotes are valuable, but the real gold has been the relationships—my “speaker friends” who work in the business every day. Real community isn’t built in one weekend. I’ve shown up year after year, invested in friendships, and learned directly from people actively speaking for a living. NSA offers new speakers, seasoned pros, and even Hall of Fame members who give back to the industry.

A friend once called for advice. I suggested she attend NSA’s annual conference—less than $3,000 for membership and the event. She chose a $15,000 for-profit group instead, believing it was a shortcut. A year later, the group had essentially dissolved, leaving her without the promised community or ROI. I’m not against for-profits or coaching—I do some coaching myself—but I believe in asking why an organization exists, where the money goes, and whether the people selling advice are actively making a living as speakers.

If you want to build a speaking career that lasts, join your trade association. Surround yourself with working speakers in the lane you want to be in. Learn the lanes of the speaking industry—corporate, association, education, training, Speak-to-Sell, and more—and choose where you’ll focus. Build your reputation over time. Invest in relationships with people who will genuinely help you succeed.

Being a professional speaker isn’t about fairy dust or viral fame. It’s about doing the work year after year, delivering value to your audiences, and being part of a real community. For me, that community has been the National Speakers Association. It might not be for everyone, but if you’re serious about this business, it’s worth exploring.

I’m not the richest or most famous speaker, but I’ve built a career I love, working with clients I respect, and enjoying the lifestyle I want. That’s a win in my book.

Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion and experience. Your path may look different. If you ask 50 speakers how to succeed, you’ll get 50 different answers. Take what resonates, test what works for you, and build your own version of success.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices