|
Darn
Vilfredo! He did it to us.
Why?
This
famed Italian economist and sociologist, (1848-1923), just plain
knew too much. He messed us all up. Vilfredo Pareto did it on
purpose. He did it with his principle. You know the one.
It's
now known as the Pareto Principle, the 80-20 principle, universally
applicable. 80% of all the problems are caused by 20% of the
people. 80% of all the sales are closed by 20% of the sales force.
80% of X is caused by 20% of Y.
The
problem is he's right.
It's
safe to say that 80%, probably more, of any population stays
on the low road. For life. They stay firmly self-tethered in the mire
of mediocrity. They don't lignite hot interest in their services.
And 20%, probably fewer, of any population make it into the
pantheon of high achievers. We speakers are not immune to this reality.
Which
is it to be for you? Top billing in the Big Room or low billing
in a breakout room. The concierge level demi-suite and the white
tablecloth restaurant – or the no-frills sleeping room and the greasy
spoon around the corner?
Which
is it to be for you? The light you hold high, illuminating others
– or the feeble candle lighting only musty corners and those not too
well?
Which
is it to be for you? A life that is a shining example of what
a speaker's life can be, a glowing influence for all who see you,
a life modeling the possible human, a life of grace, charm, and
spiritual abundance – or a life of getting by, keeping the bills barely
paid, presenting the least-desired programs
in second-string conferences?
Did
you decide? Was your decision a wishy-washy, froth-laced,
half-hearted hope? Or was it rooted in incorrigible resolve, clear
commitment, and bulldog blood?
What
does it take to light your fire? What does it take to spark
your speaking career into overdrive? To get you booked faster
now? To rocket you into higher orbit? What does it take to fly in
the front of the plane at least some of the time? What does it take
to earn the recognition, the respect and the gratitude reserved for
the best, for those who think big, dream grand dreams of the
possible and then work earnestly to make that possible
a throbbing reality?
As I
see it, it takes 7 keys, 7 aspects of Self:
1.
It takes iron resolve, resolute persistence backed by passion,
energy, and endless effort.
2.
It takes street-smarts. It takes studying the speaking business
until you know it inside-out, upside down, backward and forward.
3.
It takes going the extra mile and then some. Thorough
preparation for each program. Never doing just enough. Lavishing
love and caring and commitment on making each event you create
your best, your very best ever up to that moment. It takes doing
more than is expected, more than is required, more than anyone in
their right mind would do.
4.
It takes staying on the leading edge of your specialty.
Make that being the leading edge! Not just keeping up. That's what
ordinary folk do. Endless research in obscure corners. (Brilliant AHAs
emerge out of forging disparate findings into new insights.) Then
publishing those insights and thereby building your name and your
marquee value. It takes reaching out.
5.
It takes integrity. Integrity that knows no degrees.
Integrity that is absolute. As absolute, predictable and dependable
as the phases of the sun and the moon.
6.
It takes loyalty to your 3 constituencies: The decision-maker
who hires you, the organization that pays your fee – and the
audience you address. It takes serving each wisely with due regard
for their respective interests.
7.
Finally it takes fidelity. Fidelity to your special trust.
The trust of audiences who look up to you. Audiences who look
up to you as one who knows. And fidelity to the trust of your Creator
whose omnipotent presence governs your every attitude, thought,
word and action.
|
