How to Become a Professional Speaker: Insights from Topher Morrison
Becoming a professional speaker boils down to three essential principles: always find a way to get paid for your talks, rehearse far more than you believe necessary, and cultivate a persona that audiences genuinely want to hear—not just someone who has something to say. Topher Morrison, a seasoned speaker who began his paid speaking career at 19 and has over 26 years of professional experience, distinguishes a professional speaker from a public speaker with one clear criterion: monetization. “If you’re not monetizing your talks, you have a hobby,” he says.
Topher is a best-selling author and trainer whose works include Stop Chasing Perfection and Settle for Excellence and Collaboration Economy. He lightheartedly admits that public speaking is his strongest skill: “You get me in front of a one-on-one, I’m worthless. Put me in front of a thousand, and I’m awesome.”
Rule One: Always Get Paid
Topher’s most emphatic advice to aspiring speakers is simple: “Always get paid.” He observes that many speakers are so eager to get in front of an audience they end up speaking for free, which undermines the professional nature of the craft.
Importantly, payment doesn’t always have to be a direct speaking fee. Monetization can come through selling products, attracting clients, or enrolling participants in programs. Without a clear revenue stream, you remain a hobbyist, not a professional.
There are two exceptions where speaking for free is acceptable: philanthropy and material testing. Topher himself volunteers at the University of Tampa, women’s groups, and abuse shelters out of goodwill. Also, unpaid speaking can be valuable when trying out new jokes, ideas, or concepts in a real-world setting.
He cautions against the common pitch of “exposure” as payment, explaining that while exposure might bring visibility, it rarely translates into business or income.
Why So Many Speakers Give Themselves Away
When asked why so many speakers undervalue themselves, Topher points to economic principles. Industries flooded with supply but lacking demand inevitably become commoditized, reducing value to price competition—often driving it down to free.
This commoditization is evident not only among speakers but across professions like attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, and dentists. When everyone offers services for free or cheap, offering your expertise without compensation becomes normalized, which diminishes your perceived worth.
Speaking for Free: When It Makes Sense
For beginners, Topher acknowledges that taking your first few unpaid speaking opportunities might be necessary. However, he advises selecting venues carefully—preferably stages that provide valuable feedback and exposure, such as TEDx events. Such platforms allow speakers to gauge how original and impactful their content truly is.
He stresses the importance of originality, noting that many new speakers recycle tired concepts like SMART goals without offering fresh perspectives. Audiences can sense when content is recycled, which undermines credibility.
This touches on a broader theme covered in how to spot a fake business guru, underscoring the necessity for authenticity and originality in any teaching or speaking endeavor.
Master the Craft, Even If You Don’t Go Pro
Public speaking is widely regarded as one of the top fears globally. Topher jokes that his greater fear is financial insecurity rather than speaking itself. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that whether or not you pursue professional speaking, mastering the craft is invaluable.
Being confident and effective on stage distinguishes you in any profession. He illustrates this with a hypothetical: in a field of tens of thousands, very few feel comfortable addressing an audience of a thousand. This rarity becomes a competitive advantage.
Toastmasters: A Starting Point, Not the Finish Line
To overcome speaking anxiety, repetition is key, according to Topher. He praises Toastmasters for helping people get comfortable speaking publicly and refining nervous habits.
However, he draws a clear boundary: Toastmasters is designed to help with short speeches and toasts, not to produce polished keynote speakers. Over-polishing can strip a speaker of personality and authenticity, making them sound mechanical.
The ideal delivery feels conversational. Topher shares that the highest compliment is when audiences say, “You just get up and talk,” indicating a natural, engaging presence rather than a rehearsed performance.
The Three Levels of Preparation
Preparation varies depending on your speaking goals. For instance, when preparing for a keynote at Mindvalley in Malaysia, one might practice extensively, create audio versions, and internalize key points without memorizing word-for-word to avoid sounding robotic.
Topher recognizes three preparation tiers:
- Speaking from vague memory or minimal notes (least effective).
- Speaking from bullet points with significant rehearsal.
- Precise scripting and timing down to the minute (necessary for high-paying professional gigs).
For top-tier keynotes, Topher meticulously scripts every word and movement, rehearsing approximately 20 hours for every 5 minutes on stage. This precision allows him to adjust the length of his talk on demand, a skill that commands premium fees—up to $10,000 for 45 minutes.
This method is inspired by Bill Gove, known as the king of professional speaking, whose mentorship lineage continues through Steve Siebold, Topher’s own mentor.
Speak in Pictures, Not Clichés
Engaging audiences requires stimulating their imaginations. People think largely in images, and speakers who paint vivid pictures hold attention far better than those who rely on vague, cliché phrases.
Topher illustrated this by contrasting two statements. The first—“I help speakers take their careers to the next level”—is abstract and unmemorable. The second paints a clear picture of financial security and personal fulfillment, resonating more deeply.
Effective storytelling and descriptive language are crucial tools. Great authors employ this technique to immerse readers, and speakers must do the same to keep audiences mentally engaged.
Give the Room a Pulse
Not every audience member processes information the same way. A well-crafted keynote has a rhythm—a “pulse”—that alternates between fast and slow, stories and facts, catering to different listener preferences.
Topher advises against superficial “happy-clappy” crowd-pleasing tactics often copied by inexperienced speakers. Instead, authentic engagement is key, exemplified by masters like Tony Robbins, who sustain energy naturally without gimmicks.
Nobody Hires Great Speakers Anymore. They Hire Influential People
In today’s information-rich world, knowledge alone isn’t enough because “there’s nothing I can tell you that you can’t Google.” Topher emphasizes the shift toward the collaboration age, where personal influence outweighs mere expertise.
Drawing from Daniel Priestley’s Key Person of Influence, he notes that business often goes to the most influential rather than the most skilled or knowledgeable. Aspiring speakers should therefore focus on cultivating their personal brand and influence.
His final advice in a nutshell: “Until you are a key person of influence, your full-time job is to become a key person of influence.”
How to Become a Professional Speaker: A Checklist
- Decide how every talk makes money, even when there’s no direct fee.
- Only speak for free when supporting causes you care about or testing new material.
- Choose free stages that provide honest feedback.
- Get comfortable through repeated practice, then move from polish to natural conversation.
- Time every section precisely to cut or extend your talk on demand.
- Replace vague phrases with vivid, specific pictures.
- Build a dynamic pulse into your talk: fast and slow, storytelling and facts.
- Grow your influence so people book you for who you are, not just what you say.
FAQ
How do you become a professional speaker?
Find ways to monetize every talk, rehearse extensively to adapt on the fly, speak in vivid images, and build your influence. According to Topher Morrison, unpaid speaking without a business purpose is a hobby, not a profession.
Should you speak for free when you’re starting out?
Sometimes it’s necessary. Topher recommends speaking for free only for meaningful causes, to test new material, or on stages like TEDx that offer genuine feedback on your ideas.
Is Toastmasters good for becoming a professional speaker?
Toastmasters is excellent for overcoming fear and reducing nervous habits. However, it isn’t designed to create paid keynote speakers. Use it as a stepping stone, then progress to more advanced preparation.
How long should you rehearse a keynote?
Far longer than most anticipate. Topher estimates about 20 hours of rehearsal for every 5 minutes on stage, enabling precise timing and flexibility.
What does speaking in pictures mean?
It means replacing vague phrases like “take your life to the next level” with concrete, vivid images that engage the audience’s imagination and help them visualize your message.
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