Ever since I’ve casually mentioned that I’d love to get back into public speaking, I have received a bit of flack from a group of people that don’t believe that you should speak strictly based on what you know. You need to speak about what people want you to say. In some ways, I agree, but in other ways, I highly disagree. Let me try and explain how I can both agree and disagree with a statement at the same time.
When I mentioned what topics I can discuss in a public setting, I wasn’t looking for people to rush right up and start booking me for speaking engagements. It was merely a casual conversation I was having with the readers of this blog. I was essentially saying, I can talk on a wide and diverse set of topics. That being said, I believe in the “speak what you know” mantra.
For example, I won’t ever become a public speaker on a topic like economics. I don’t know much about economics, so I wouldn’t be qualified, nor would I attempt to be qualified, to speak on this topic. While I’m sure there are groups of people who clamor for a great economic-based speaker, I am not one of them nor do I understand this audience. I can only speak on topics that I know about and those with which I have personal experience.
Within the broad list of topics I mentioned on my previous blog post, I understand that I would have to come up with specific discussion topics and a niche for each. I get I have to sell myself and what I am talking about, because I’ve been in the public speaking arena since I was 10 years old. I know that nobody is going to listen to you if they don’t find the topic worthwhile, engaging, and possibly even relatable. Nobody wants to hear a dry, boring speech that has no value or purpose. I get that. This is where the “Speak What they Want” part comes in.
If I’m speaking at a convention where the topic is child abuse, I’m not going to talk about being transgendered. It has no place in the speech unless it directly relates to being abused because I was transgendered. People don’t want to hear what you’re saying if it doesn’t relate to the topic that is to be discussed. Still, you can’t speak only what people want. If someone wanted me to talk about how I think child abuse is okay in some households because it really isn’t abuse, it’s corporal punishment, I would turn down the speaking engagement. I’m not so desperate to become a public speaker that I’m willing to talk about any old topic, especially those that I don’t believe are true or viable to my life or perspective.
(more…)
