 Here are the top five lessons I've learned as a professional keynote speaker. 1. Be willing to invest in yourself and into your craft. If you won't invest in yourself, why should others invest in you? Invest time. Invest money. Invest energy. 2. Focus on being of service and adding value. Follow the golden rule of speaking, it ain't about you, it's about the audience. Don't try to be funny or smart. Be helpful and effective. 3. Go above in, beyond in your preparation, due diligence and rehearsal. So that when you step on stage, you can simply be present with the audience. Be there before you get there. 4. Know your target audience. Don't try to be everything to everyone. Attract those that resonate with your style and message and confidently turn away opportunities that aren't the right fit. 5. Learn to love the process, the work and the craft. If you want to be good on stage, you need to work on the fundamentals during the unseen hours.