Should I Invest in Professional Development As a Speaker?

Swimmers have coaches.
Actors have coaches.
Speakers rarely have coaches. Why?

Because most people who want to speak don't want to do it full-time. They have competing interests and a limited budget.

This is why full-time speakers get booked more than part-time speakers.

Full-time speakers invest in professional development. They have a budget allocated for it.

They join professional speaking associations.

They turn up to multiple online training sessions every month.

They contribute to the discussions in these training events.

This way other speakers know who you are and what you speak about. If they have a speaking offer they cannot fulfil now they can easily recommend other speakers.

Investing in professional development pays.