Public speaking tends to be a love-or-hate pursuit. Some professionals loathe the prospect, wishing it weren’t required of them. Others — and I hear from many – dream of developing a paid speaking career on the side.
Indeed, the economics can be enticing. Top speakers in the corporate world often command $20,000-$35,000 for one-hour keynotes, and I’ve developed a healthy six-figure side business doing so. Business celebrities like Malcolm Gladwell bring in far more (back in 2008, it was widely reported that he received $80,000 for one engagement, and he’s now listed as booking talks in the $100,000 to $1,000,000 range). But even relative beginners can earn $5,000 for an engagement – if, that is, they can get booked.
