- December 30, 2013
- Posted by: Topher Morrison
- Category: Blog, Life as a Professional Speaker, Speaker Tips
I can’t tell you how many people each month contact me asking for advice on getting into the speaking business. While the names are different, the scenario is almost always the same.
“I want to inspire people to take their lives to the next level!”
“I want to help people live their life with passion.”
“I want to help people tap into their full potential and start living the life of their dreams.”
“I want to show people how to turn their dreams into reality”
The list goes on, and I can predict within frightening accuracy who they are emulating. By the words they use I can tell if they want to be like Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, the cast from the Secret, or any of the other life-changing amazing speakers and products in the market.
Usually within 30 minutes of the conversation I make a reference to them wanting to be the next Zig Ziglar, or Tony Robbins. Half puff their chest with pride and exclaim,”Yes! That’s exactly what I want!” Others will respond, “Oh, I’m not trying to be the next Tony Robbins.” Even though not one single thought or statement has been original.
Here’s the shocking truth. If you want to be the next Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Gandhi, or Nelson Mandela, you will never become the next great one if all you do is reiterate the same lines from the people who inspire you.
If you want to be “the next great speaker” then (and I mean this with absolute respect and admiration for the people I’ve mentioned above, and even those that I’ve left out) stop setting your sites so low. Think bigger. Think better. Be willing to say something people haven’t heard before. Stop trying to be the NEXT anyone and instead, focus on being the FIRST of your own thoughts. That’s how those people I’ve mentioned above claimed their legacy. They delivered their knowledge in a fresh new way that nobody had ever heard before.