I was scrolling LinkedIn a few weeks ago and I noticed a good colleague of mine from my time in another Canadian province complained that opportunities for speaking are scarce.

I differ.

There are many opportunities.

The question worth asking is:

Are we getting ourselves out there in the most credible and exciting way for the buyers to find us?

Not any buyer, but the right buyer.

What's the right buyer for this friend of mine?

He needs to figure it out.

He needs to ask more people for referrals, endorsements, and recommendations.

People, 

You'll learn that you can't continue swimming in a small pond.

Sooner or later, you've got to get out of that or they eat you or you eat them alive!

There's this saying I heard recently.

"Sometimes you eat them and sometimes they eat you."

This eating-thing is because you're all in a small pond.

Trying to compete at each other for peanuts!

​Elevate your offers, your tools, and your strategies.

There's no elbowing in the summit.

There's a space for everyone.

The air is pure and the scenery is tranquil.

But first, you've got to dance with abundance.
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I told a leader yesterday that she shouldn't aspire for her organization to be a normal brick-and-mortal organization, a virtual one is not just acceptable but also innovative.

It's like saying to the fish: Why not be normal and walk on the ground like the rest of the animal with legs? 

If they end up being a normal organization, they lose their individuality, sense of value, and advantages of virtuality.

There are more cases of dysfunctional and mediocre outfits within a normal mold.

These outfits are embroiled with admin, nitty-gritty, how to look good publicly, and social washing.

Whereas being virtual means more focused on impact, getting things done, and being the best version of themselves, less frills.

But also not perfect, or put-together, or cleaner.

Did I forget the word 'stable' too?

Okay, I think what they need to learn is to be good risk takers.

They need to own their game.

They need to devise their playbook and stop comparing themselves with others.

And they need exemplars all around them.

In short, don a new suit for the times because times are changing. 

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I met a local historian a few months ago. 

He was carrying a stack of documents and proudly sharing his latest discovery.

No one in the conference wanted to hear of it.

Nobody shared his enthusiasm or interest in the topic.

It was sad.

Your message should benefit your audience, and your audience will switch on if this will help them. 

You've got to deliver what's in it for them. 

And the rest will follow. 

There's engagement, interest, maybe support or perhaps more connections.

But it is seldom first about you.

It's never about you or your discovery unless the messaging radically changes for the hearer.

Historians are not necessarily great communicators.

A lot of authors are not either. And some politicians don't know how to speak in ways that register.

No matter how great your talent, charisma, or knowledge is, if you can't communicate your product, idea, or service, it's game-over before you even start. 

Don't be that historian who didn't find an audience in 10,000 conference goers.