There is hardly any self-aware adult that does not desire success. But many of us struggle to understand what we need to do to achieve it. In this article, I discuss seven (7) attributes a true master of the speaking business (as attested to by many world class speaking professionals who call him their mentor) says you must develop, if you wish to succeed.

An Important Truth About Success

True success does not happen overnight, even if it might seem so at times. Quite often it happens progressively…in stages. Today, you could be at ground level, then one year later – with consistent effort – you emerge at level 1, then move up to 2, and so on.

People who have not seen you for a year may express pleasant surprise that “only just yesterday”, you were at level 0, and commend you for moving up so quickly. Others who have been seeing you daily for the past year, could criticize you for taking too long to succeed.

It’s all about perspective. But where your pursuit of personal success is concerned, it’s YOUR perspective that matters. Not anybody else’s. Keep that in mind as you read the rest of this newsletter issue.

A Speaking Success Guru’s Recommendation

What follows below are my interpretations of 7 key attributes, that an internationally acclaimed mentor of professional speakers says you NEED, in order to succeed in the business of speaking.

He actually labeled these attributes The Seven Pillars of Success As A Speaker.

When someone like that speaks, people listen. If I were you, I’d look through these 7 attributes he recommends, and see what I can do to develop them ASAP.

1.  Your Personal Character

As earlier noted, success tends not to come quickly or easily. But human beings generally find it tough dealing with the delays, disappointments, setbacks and suffering that accompanies the search for success. And that’s why your character is important. People who lack strength of character readily seek undignified outlets. Especially when they feel it’s taking too long or getting too hard to keep going, in pursuit of their valued goals.

That’s why we hear of some “experts” getting caught passing off other people’s work as theirs, for instance (They basically settle for “crooked” ways to get what they want, even though they know it’s wrong).

You cannot afford to do that, because it would destroy your credibility. You become a phony. A fraud. And even when nobody else knows, that knowledge of your infidelity will eat you alive from the inside. Except of course you manage to lose your conscience, like those who choose to become crooked…

The following quotes capture the essence of the message being passed in this first recommendation:

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – John Wooden

To succeed, your personal character must be nurtured to a point where it becomes practically impossible for you to become crooked or dishonest. You just will not be able to do it, because that’s not who you are. Period.

2.  Your bulldog blood

This has to do with your ability to persist regardless of the obstacles that you may come up against. This guru however advocates intelligent, and not blind persistence. For instance, he points out that you may encounter “insurmountable obstacles”. Your bulldog blood will keep you from giving up, so that you can find a way around the obstacle, rather than smashing your head against the wall – figuratively speaking.

3.  Your unstoppable work ethic

You must be willing to work hard and deliver tangible value to those you serve at all times. No matter what. It has to become an obsession of sorts. Something that you feel a compelling need to do, in order to be fulfilled. This attribute will make a lasting impression on others. And they will talk about you to those they know. Which can only be good for your speaking business.

4. Your authenticity

This is your originality or “trueness to type” as they say in the beer industry I once worked in as a brewer. To continually succeed as a speaker, at any level, you must strive to be original. As much as it helps to study and learn from others, the purpose is never to copy or try to imitate others.

Instead, let those you serve see that you bring something new to the table. Something that anyone can see is unique to you. By so doing, you become authentic. One-of-a-kind. And you’ll gain real share of mind.

Here’s a saying I love: You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.

5. Your transparency as you speak

A fitting phrase used by our visiting guru is that you need to “stand psychologically naked” before your audience. Let them see and feel your emotions when you speak. In other words, “speak with feeling“. That way, they know you’re not some infallible “expert being” that never puts a foot wrong.

When people see that you are just like them, your message makes more meaning to them. They become more willing to believe they can achieve the things you tell them they can. In other words, you gain their trust.

6.  Your diligence

Consider these two possible ways to serve:

a. You can choose to routinely deliver your speaking programs in line with what’s agreed, using the same generic material for all your clients. And it would be okay.

b. Alternatively, you could make a habit of doing custom research/preparation for each audience you have to address. So that each time you go on the platform, your audience gets treated to a never-before-seen-or-heard performance from you.

This second approach naturally requires a lot more work. And you need to be diligent to do it successfully. One thing is however certain to happen if you do: Your audience will rave about you.

Since we’re talking speaking success here, the choice to make is obvious, isn’t it?

7.  Your sensitivity to the human condition

My interpretation of this last point, is that you need to have empathy for your audience, if you want to succeed as a speaker. Nurture your emotional intelligence. Be interested in the circumstances of those you aim to serve. Find out where they are, and where they want to go, or be. Then in delivering your program, tell them what to do, and how.

That’s after all why they want to hear you speak!

These Attributes Are Useful In Life – Not Just Public Speaking

Personally, I have found these attributes outlined by this guru, to be useful for pursuing success in any area of endeavor. Not just the speaking business. It does not matter what vocation you are engaged in. If you diligently develop and demonstrate the above attributes, your success in that vocation, and life in general will be inevitable.

Good luck.

PS: The name of the 25 year veteran public speaking mentor whose recommendations I just discussed is Burt Dubin – President of the Personal Achievement Institute, USA. And there’s a lot more you can learn from him on the subject of success at www.burtdubin.com.

NB: This article was first published online in August 2012 via my Speaking Ideas newsletter on spontaneousdevelopment (now defunct).