Even experienced conference speakers in Johannesburg may experience the nervous rush of fear that others feel when they step in front of a full room of expectant faces. The trick is to not let that fear slow you down. You must overcome that fear and turn it into another emotion that will help, not hinder, you. Like one of Ronald Reagan's speechwriters once said: "You are either a chronic sufferer or a recovering suffer."

Being Too Proud

Someone who is too proud to speak for free for exposure is making a big mistake as a new person in the business. They may say that if they give their services away for free, none of their potential clients will respect them, but this is definitely not the case. Volunteer work is a great thing and should be respected by everybody. Don't think of speaking as a volunteer as speaking for free in the first place. Instead, think of it as the chance to gain exposure in front of potential clients. Knowing some of the common mistakes among international conference speakers first starting out in the business can be helpful to anyone hoping to break into it full-time. As long as you are not afraid to speak, put aside your pride on occasion, and have confidence in your own abilities, you will do just fine. Everyone makes mistakes and be careful of people who supposedly don't - or rather don't want to admit it. Who would have thought - even conference speaker in Johannesburg can suffer from a slight panic attack before a presentation.