Back in 2005, I did a book signing at a Barnes & Noble near my home -- but my publisher had forgotten to inform me of a crucial detail:

A C-SPAN camera crew was going to be there, and I was expected to deliver 45 minutes worth of remarks.

Needless to say, I had prepared nothing, because I thought I was just signing books.

I had about five minutes to gather my thoughts, and then the cameras would be rolling and I'd be giving a speech that would be broadcast to a national audience.

I'll admit, I was a little nervous. But it wasn't the sheer terror that I think most people would have felt in that situation. I improvised for 45 minutes, but I don't think anyone there realized I was improvising.

I was able to navigate that challenging situation because by that point I had ten solid years of public speaking experience under my belt.

Indeed, one of the handful of things I am able to do with ease is public speaking. That skill has propelled my career, and my income, in more ways than I can list.

The better you speak, the more doors open: keynote invitations, media appearances, podcast interviews, panel discussions, consulting, coaching, and partnerships. People remember the person who can hold a room.

Most people are at least a little awkward in public. Some are knowledgeable. Some are entertaining. Very few are both. A polished speaker is rare enough to be memorable. It benefits you to be memorable.

You know the impression a great speaker leaves on you; who wouldn't want to be able to leave that kind of impression on others?

There are ancillary benefits as well: if you can take command of a room from the stage, that confidence spills over into lesser situations. Ordinary conversations feel easier. Meetings, interviews, sales calls, family events, negotiations, and social situations suddenly seem far more manageable.

An impressive speaker tends to become a more effective leader. Whether you’re leading a company, a church group, a classroom, or a movement, polished speaking can lead people to trust you, follow you, and remember what you had to say.

And of course, being a skilled public speaker is one thing AI definitely cannot do.

Not to mention: nobody ever said on his deathbed, "I wish I hadn't become a skilled public speaker." This talent will help you wherever you go.

Up to now the problem has been: how do I do that?

Well, I strongly recommend the free workshop being put on by Jeremy Anderson, himself a highly sought-after speaker, who will talk about how to put together the kind of talk that will leave an audience spellbound, and how to speak confidently and with authority to groups of all sizes and kinds.

Register for the free workshop and let's get you that rarest but most lucrative of skills:

https://www.tomwoods.com/speaking

Tom Woods