How should speakers and leaders select speaking opportunities when demand exceeds available time?

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Hi,

The truth is, I don't choose based on the company's category or their technology. I don't care if they're selling men's shorts or building robotic dishwashers.

When I fight past my childhood fear of public speaking to step onto a stage, my goal is simple: inspire people to stop dreaming and start doing. So I look for audiences where that message will actually land.

I’m pretty selective, mostly because time is the one thing I can’t make more of.

I look for three things: first, can I be genuinely useful to the audience? Founders, leaders, and teams wrestling with innovation are usually a good fit. Second, is the organization serious about change, or are they just looking for an entertaining hour before cocktails? Third, does it fit my life, calendar, and curiosity?

And yes, I’ll admit to a little “speakotourism”: if a talk takes me somewhere fascinating, that can tip the scales. But only after the audience fit is right.