How to Turn Your Platform into a Speaking Career

Queens that reign in systems that are service based will be required or encouraged to have a platform. A platform is an opportunity for public discussion. It can be a cause that is near and dear to your heart where you provide service and advocacy. Some platform examples can include cancer awareness, diabetes awareness, homelessness, literacy, foster care awareness, and the list goes on.

My platform is entitled CODE YELLOW: An Alert on Endometriosis. I chose an  endometriosis awareness platform because I have a personal connection to the disease because I was diagnosed with it in 2008. This platform in turn has allowed me to build my speaking career. Here are some tips on how you can turn a platform into a speaking career.

Share information about your platform on social media.

Social media is an easy and effective way to get information out to the public. When I was diagnosed with endometriosis, I researched everything there was to know about the disease. Once I was armed with information, I shared what I learned with my social media followers.  In turn, I would receive comments, feedback, and questions. Some followers took note of my posts and invited me to speak to their churches and community groups.

Volunteer with organizations that share your cause.

There are hundreds of organizations dedicated to various causes. Seek out one that is related to your platform. For example, I currently serve as a patient advocate with EUF Path. EUF PATH is a voluntary group of people who share their personal experiences living with endometriosis or uterine fibroids to educate and inspire others. EUF PATH is managed and staffed by Patient Health Perspectives on behalf of AbbVie. My affiliation with this group has garnered me the opportunity to travel to the Mettawa, Illinois, and Chicago, Illinois, to speak to manage care team meetings about my experience living with endometriosis.

Write a book.

My book publisher Tamika Hall always says that a writing a book positions you as an expert in that field. If you write a book about your platform and tell your story, it will put you in a great position to book speaking engagements.

Take note of these tips and put them into practice if you are serious about turning your platform into a speaking career. Take the crown on the road and share your story. You will never know who will be impacted by your words.