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What is Professional Speaking?
© Burt Dubin
Professional speaking is public speaking
Right out of the gate, professional speaking is public speaking. It is speaking for money. It is the presentation of programs by someone making a career out of being in the speaking business.
"If you would converse with me," said Voltaire, "First define your terms." So here are 3 classical definitions:
The Merriam Webster Unabridged Dictionary reports that a professional manifests fine artistry based on sound knowledge. And a speaker is one who is in the business of professional speaking.
According to the Random House Websters Dictionary, a professional is one who is in an occupation as a means of livelihood. And a speaker is a person who practices professional speaking as a career.
And the authoritative 2 volume Oxford English Dictionary, (Bring me my magnifying glass, James . . . ) says a professional is one who makes a profession out of any occupation often engaged in by amateurs. And a speaker is one who speaks formally before a number of persons.
In plain words, I say professional speaking is simply the business of speaking for money.
Of course, implied in those words is that you have something to say. Words of wisdom. Concepts a particular audience finds memorable and valuable.
And that you are at least a wee bit entertaining. A public speaker has to hold the attention of an audience. A touch of humor helps a lot. Good stories well told, stories that are fresh and point-laden. Stories that have not been heard before.
For me, this means stories you have lived yourself. Vignettes from your life. And not stories you read in an anthology. Or in the Readers Digest. These are for amateurs, not for you.
Being in the business of professional speaking is a rare privilege
We who make a career out of professional speaking live life at another dimension, a dimension lesser mortals can only dream of. Four and five star hotels are a daily experience for us.
Dining in the white tablecloth dining room becomes a delicious habit. especially when a client is picking up the check. (And paying us a handsome fee for doing our professional speaking, too.)
Naturally, when it is show time we are expected to deliver a sterling
performance. To serve the concurrent and often differing, desires of the decision maker who hires us, the client who forks over our fee, and the audience before which we have the privilege of standing.
Professional speaking is an honorable career
I am proud to be in this business for over 23 years, as this is written. It is not easy money, certainly not at the start. It takes resolute commitment to developing your talent.
And it requires strength of character, clear principles and values, too, if you are to be outstanding. It also does not hurt to be able to dash off a piece like this one as fast as your fingers can touch the keys.
Finally, speaking of keys, a career in professional speaking is a key to a wonderful life.
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