Professional

Public Speaking

 

Vocabulary

reveal	wonder	chief executive
annual	post (3)	pales in comparison
pale	chief (3)	circuit (2)
earn	abroad	lecture circuit
heap	seminar	top of the heap
salary	in case	executive
pick (2)	seminar	no charge
rule (3)	point (3)	charge (4)
offer	ground	workshop
step (2)	achieve	subject (3)

 
 
 
 

William Jefferson Clinton

Do you know Bill Clinton? Have you heard of him? Are you old enough to remember? Yes, in case you’re wondering, he is the husband of Hillary.

If you don’t, Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States, from 1993 to 2000. During this time, his annual salary as Chief Executive was $200,000.

As large as that many sound, it pales in comparison to his post-presidency.

$100 million

A Washington Post report revealed that since leaving office in January 2001, Clinton has earned more than $100 million by giving public speeches in the U.S. and abroad.

His busiest and most highest-paid year on the lecture circuit was 2012, when he earned $17 million for speaking 73 times.

Clinton once made $475,000 in a single day delivering numerous speeches.

$9,200 per hour

Since most of us are not former presidents, we are unlikely to make anywhere near that amount when we give speeches.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to make good money on the podium.

Business writer Bob Bly for example, has earned as much as $9,200 per hour as a speaker . . . and $50,000 for a weekend public seminar.

And he’s not nearly at the top of the heap: there are hundreds of people earning more, simply by opening their mouths — and talking about subjects in which they are experts.

You can do the same as well.

Getting Started

Now for those of you who would like to break into professional speaking, not just internationally, the rule is start where you are.

We say, “Fish where the fish are.”

What you do is pick a subject that you think is really important for people to know about. And you major in a single subject. And you become very knowledgeable in that subject.

And then what you do is you begin to offer speeches or small workshops to people within your circle. And usually at no charge.

300

There was a basic rule many years ago that said before you can be paid for speaking, you have to give 300 free talks.

And it may be a hundred; some people say they’ve given five hundred.

But what you do is you keep offering free talks, on a subject that you really care about . . . until somebody comes up and says, “How much would you charge to give that talk to my people in my company?”

And that is the starting point of your career, in professional speaking.

Here’s a question: what’s the one action step that you are going to take based on what you’ve just learned on this video to achieve your most important goal?

Questions

1. Who is Bill Clinton?

2. Many people know Clinton, but some have never heard of him. Why haven’t some people heard of Clinton?

3. Are US presidents rich? Can US presidents become rich?

4. After serving as US president, Clinton retired and moved to the country where he relaxes and walks in the woods and hills. Yes, no, both, maybe, sometimes.

5. Why would Clinton earn so much money simply by talking?

6. The main idea or theme of this text is a short biography of Bill Clinton. Is this right or wrong?

7. What example was given?

8. What are the steps or keys to becoming a professional speaker?
 

A. Listening to a speech or lecture is the same as reading the information from a book or manual or watching it on TV. What do you think?

B. I have given speeches (at school, university, work). Yes or no? What was it about? Did you enjoy it? How did you feel?

C. Do you or your friend or colleague have to give speeches, talks or presentations as part of his or her job? What does she or he talk about?

D. Who are some good speakers that you know? Who are your favorite speakers?

E. Do you think good speakers deserve to make lots of money? Why or why not?

F. Could you give professional speeches, talks or seminars on a topic you are an expert in? Could you do that someday (in the future)? Would it help your career?

G. What will happen in the future regarding speeches and speaking?