I find it very important as a speaker to disconnect from the fast paced world of being a global keynote speaker where the days are full of conferences, flights and hotels to just sit and do nothing on an island. (that is why I spend around two months per year on my island in Sweden where I am right now.)

But at the same time I find it very important to continue to be connected with the speaking world to not loose touch with the speaking world.

So even in the midst of vacation, while sitting on my island in Stockholm, I still connect with speakers.

Last week I had the privilege of being visited by James Taylor and Alison Burns from Scotland. Today Charlotte Signahl, Tommy Brotte, and Mia Liljeberg came and visited on the island.

The conversations at these meet ups are less about business and more about life, goals and the future. Relaxed conversations in the sun to give a different perspective to the speaking profession and to talk about ideas for the future.

If you see yourself passing by the archipelago of Stockholm in the next two weeks do pass by and let’s meet up to discuss the life of speaking, and to speak about life. Or if you are somewhere else in the world, take the time to meet up with another speaker and give yourself the luxury to have non-business-conversations about speaking to give yourselves an alternative view on what we do and fresh insights that your “vacation brain” can work with.

 

My last speech in Europe for the season had me speaking in Berlin and I had the opportunity to end my speech by sharing 4 photos taken 30 years ago as the wall fell.

3 from the West (where 1000’s of photos was taken) and then the one photo taken from the East which became “Picture of the Year” in 1990.

I show these pictures to illustrate the value of taking a different perspective.

And it is very true for speakers as well.

As keynote speakers we need to give a perspective to the audience that is giving the audience an opportunity to look at the world in a different way.

I became a keynote speaker at 27 because I had written a university thesis on “Internet and marketing” and I could give a new perspective on marketing.

I wrote about about creativity in developing countries and it gave me the opportunity to give a new perspective on creativity by looking at the advantages that people in developing countries had in regards to being creative.

I spoke about creativity coming from China in 2005 (When I moved there) at a time when people still had no clue that creativity could come from China (now 15 years later people understand it much better.)

And now I am writing a book about what we can learn about creativity by learning from different cultures around the world. A perspective that very few people know anything about.

If you are not getting enough keynote speeches ask yourself this question: Is your perspective different enough to stand out amongst other speakers and are you giving the audience a perspective on your topic that is different enough for clients to be interested in booking you?

If not, how can you tweak your topic/speech to become more outstanding?

In summary: An outstanding speech stands out.

(Picture of me standing next to a piece of the Berlin Wall that stands outside the hotel where I spoke.)