Think about it. An affirmation, a bald, bold, audacious affirmation became reality. And within his sphere and his time in history, he made himself greatest. Is there an idea here for you? I think so. OK, how do you create conditions and circumstances, vivid, living, breathing, palpitating reality of you-and I do mean you-being personally great in your sphere, in your time in history-being personally great as an expert who speaks.

It's not so hard. Not if you have a plan.

1. Start with your essence. With your personal essence. What are you really about? What right do you have to stand before audiences sharing your wisdom? What have you to offer that is unique and special? What sets you apart from all other experts who speak? This is your core value. Identify and exploit your core value. Until you do you're not ready for big room, main stage, general sessions or keynote slots.

Much is written, most of it true, about importance of developing your product line. For BOR sales. For your catalog. For passive income. Let's take a look at another aspect of product development. Let's look at fundament. Let's probe foundation of your product development. Let's look at you. At your core. At your essence. At your state of being. At your perspective. At your sense of your accountabilities.

You know that for a structure -- whether of steel and concrete or of wood and stucco -- to withstand elements, a sturdy foundation is required. There must be a foundation that is solid, stable, rooted in earth as it reaches toward sky. Let's examine structure of your speaking business for a moment:

I've been studying my fellow speakers for close to 20 years. With eye of an anthropologist. With approach of a research specialist. With heart. With empathy. With love.

A few of us are brilliant marketers. Look at dazzling success of luminous figures who come to your mind. On other end of scale, some of us produce nothing more than a demo tape.

You are your product. Let's look at most important aspect of your product. Let's examine keys to your impact on productivity and profits. (That's what decision-makers want, right?) Let's look at how you affect hopes and dreams, and possibilities. (They are what audience members want you to illuminate, right?) Let's look at your authenticity:

How real are you as you address your audiences? From what depth of know-how and caring do you speak? How much timeless wisdom is involved in your phrasings, your stories and examples? How deeply do you look into industry conditions, competitive considerations, and, if applicable, market-share concerns?