Confession: I speak at conferences because I benefit immensely: 1
Confession: I speak at conferences because I benefit immensely:
1. It forces me to learn
2. It improves my confidence
3. I make new friends
4. I get into the conf for free and often travel for free
5. I get free “consulting” from conference attendees
6. I get inspired
Speaking forces me to collect and justify my thoughts. It exposes holes in my knowledge. It vets my ideas. It exposes me to alternative viewpoints, patterns, and techniques. It makes me better at sales (sales isn’t a bad word - we’re all selling ideas).
Speaking is a great example of something wildly profitable, even though it doesn’t typically pay you money directly. The benefits are second order, but significant. Speaking is about the long game.
Some of lives’ best opportunities don’t pay directly.