The Pursuit of Fame: Part 1

By Michael Scott Karpovich, Certified Speaking Professional, 2000-2001 Chair, Motivational/Keynote Professional Experts Group

831 Word Count

When I first suggested that I was going to “ruffle a few feathers and break some rules” with this year’s theme, several thought my theme should be… “RUFFLE A FEW FEATHERS AND BREAK SOME RULES.”  Although I laughed, I consistently see value in testing our limits and expanding our perspective.  Therefore, I humbly intend to encourage you to pursue fame!

First, I feel we need to address the issues that many of our colleagues have about “FAME.” You see, some are embarrassed by self-promotion and fame. Some feel that becoming famous is, by itself, inappropriate and self-serving. Some will actually say, “I never want fame. I am doing this for my audiences, not for me!” Unfortunately, these fine folks do not understand the reason for fame or perhaps they don’t understand the meaning of fame.

Fame is always (directly or indirectly) the result of the value that you give your audiences. When we are effective as motivational / keynote speakers, people remember us longer, more people start to quote us, and we start to achieve some level of fame.

If fame were the result of our effectiveness, why would you want to “pursue” fame? If you do a good job, won’t fame just occur naturally? Certainly, but if you structure your fame, you will quickly discover that it will better serve your audience and your message rather than just serve you individually.  You see, if you are famous, the audience is more likely to hear your message. 

For example… if I told an audience (as I often do) that “Yuk Makes You Stronger,” they may agree, they may smile, or they may say, “Isn’t that cute!” On the other hand, if General Colin Powell, CPAE, says “Yuk Makes You Stronger,” it would be on the evening news, CNN, in the Wall Street Journal and on the front page of USA Today. It would go from an interesting statement to a line in the history books!

I am convinced that the reason you are a “Motivational Keynote Professional Expert” is because you have a message that only you can share! If you are just a speaker, your message will be forgotten and ignored. However, if you develop name recognition, your words will be quoted and your message will last beyond your speech and hopefully beyond you!

Isn’t it amazing that some of the lesser known orators may be more brilliant on the platform while less effective “big name” speakers get all the attention and notoriety? After we start to perfect our skills on the platform, we must begin to position ourselves so that our message can be heard.

The first NSA member to ever address “fame,” Certified Speaking Professional, Past National President, Tom Winninger, CPAE, suggested that we all develop an industry-specific fame.  If you work primarily within a particular industry or association, that positioning would be appropriate. However, you and I have chosen a unique path.  As “motivational keynote speakers,” most of us must work hard to establish some aspect of notoriety beyond any one specific industry or group. We need to develop name recognition.  Name recognition will allow clients to hire us as “a draw” for their event. When we are “a draw,” we will have a more prestigious position on the program, the audience will be more apt to note our message and (fair or not), the audience will be more likely to enjoy our message!

As we enter the true new millennium, I will approach our Professional Experts Group suggesting that we must pursue fame for the good of our priceless message and for the good of our audiences!

Over the next four issues of Keymotes, I will do my best to discuss perspectives of fame and the motivational keynote speaker. This four-part article is designed to promote discussion and even some discomfort with regards to our fame. Certainly the “discussion” can happen at our Professional Experts Group meeting during the workshops and the convention, or in the “halls of NSA.”  However, to make it more valuable, I hope that we may discuss this and other issues on SPEAKERLINK and Collective Voices. Please go to www.nsaspeaker.org and click on the “Members Only” section. Once you are in SPEAKERLINK, click on Collective Voices. Here you will find several ongoing discussions including our PEG discussion. There are already some discussions there… perhaps you can add to them or start your own! 

I hope that some of you will agree with my perspective – but just as much, I hope that some will think me naive or mistaken.  If you listened to Voices of Experience two years ago, you may recall Geoffrey Bryan, JD, and my debates in “Point/ Counterpoint.” Geoff and I discovered there are two sides to every coin and two sides to every opinion. I will be genuinely pleased if you disagree with me and take the time to write a letter to the editor. This year we may make this newsletter a hotbed of healthy discussion and debate!