Brian Tracy (speaker) gives practical advice on how to become a paid international public speaker. He recounts his 30-year speaking career (over 80 countries), emphasizes starting locally and giving many free talks to build experience and reputation, choosing a specialized topic, asking organizations for speaking opportunities, establishing a foothold in one outside country (he used Germany) and learning the language, and leveraging recommendations and post‑talk networking to secure paid engagements.
Questions this video answers
More than 80 countries
In the last 30 years
About 50 different professional interpreters
You have to give 300 free talks (may take 100–500)
Five to 15 talks every year in Germany
Chapters
I've spoken in more than 80 countries around the world in the last 30 years. I've been translated by about 50 different professional interpreters. Because of all that, I have been entitled the most prolific speaker in the history of the world. When I started off the first 10 to 15 years, I was focused mostly in North America. The first thing you want to do is to start where you are. Pick a subject that you really care about and that you think is really important for people to know about. Become very knowledgeable in that subject. Then you begin to offer speeches or small workshops to people within your circle, and usually at no charge. In my early beginnings, I would often ask if I could speak for free or at minimum cost, to get experience and credibility. Sometimes, if they don't know you and you don't have a reputation, you have to kiss a lot of horny toads before you meet the handsome prince. There's a basic rule that says before you can be paid for speaking, you have to give 300 free talks. It may actually take you 100 or 500, but the point is to keep offering free talks until someone comes up and asks, how much would you charge to give that talk to my people or my company? Professional speakers have one central focus. They're always thinking in terms of how to get more speaking engagements. Once I established myself in North America, I made a bridge to Germany. It was the starting point to my international speaking. So what you want to do next is put your stake in the ground in one outside country to kick off your international speaking career. Again, the most powerful word in getting speaking engagements is to ask. The future belongs to people who confidently ask for what they want. Especially to speak to an international company or organization. You can call them up and explain that you specialize in a subject and that you love to speak to their organization. Ask them for the opportunity. Ask them for more information. Ask them if they use speakers and when they will use a speaker again. The more you ask, the more answers you get, and eventually the more you will get asked to speak for them. Next, you should learn the language. After my first few speaking trips in Germany, I immediately started taking German classes and tutoring because it was an opportunity to develop a tremendous business around my seminars, programs and books. And surprise. I ended up booking five to 15 talks every year in Germany. Today, I could speak almost fluent German. Also, make sure you pick a country that is a global epicenter. Germany is an epicenter in Europe, which means people from other countries would come to see my speaking engagements. So then I began speaking in Poland. And Switzerland and Austria and Romania and Czechoslovakia, then through all of Serbia and then Italy and people began to book me into the Middle east and Nordic countries. Now, 85% or more of all speakers are hired because someone else recommended them. Someone who heard them speak said, this is a great speaker. The more people who can say that you did a great job when you spoke somewhere else, the faster and easier it is for for them to hire you. Lastly, be sure to stay around after you've given a speech or a talk. Offer to speak again to others, maybe even on different subjects. It's amazing how much business comes when you stay around, have a drink and talk to people. You are more likely to have people ask you to come and speak to their organization and there's the start to your international speaking career. Before we wrap up, I'd like to leave you with a thought to share with your friends and followers. The reason why successful people are successful in speaking is because they have a burning message that they want to share that people can really benefit from. Now I'd love to hear from you. So my question today is how will you ask an organization if you can speak to them? Leave a comment below and I'll be sure to follow up with you. Thanks for watching. And remember, if you want to change your future, take action and take action now. If you enjoyed this video and you feel it was valuable in teaching you how to become a professional speaker around the world, share it with your friends or anyone else who might benefit from this information.
