My Biggest Mistake As A Public Speaker

There's a big mistake I make as a public speaker.

It's a mistake I think many amateurs make that the pros usually don't.

The mistake is that I'm hesitant to reuse and refine content/messages I've used in prior talks. I feel like I need to create fresh, never-before-shared content for every speaking gig.

But, that's not the right way to go about it.

If you're solving for the audience (which you should be), then ask yourself what would be most useful/impactful. Trying a new set of messages/content for each audience, or refining and iterating on the most important messages you have and making those better?

I think there's power in repetition and refinement. Keep polishing the message and the idea so it's easier to absorb, easier to apply, easier for others to share.

That's a much better use of time than trying to just conjure up new material every single time.

Also, the audience is never the same, even if it's exactly the same people a few months later. Even if your material hasn't changed they have likely changed and it's not a waste of their time to hear some parts again. They may see things from a different perspective.

Professional speakers and standup comedians make their material better and better with each iteration.

Impact is not always about novelty and newness. It's sometimes about weaving in the right nuance.