Let’s get the facts first. Speaking for pay is one of the most financially rewarding careers today. The National Speakers Association (NSA) conducted a membership survey in mid 2007 in which 960 members participated. The process, administered by an independent market research entity was a web-based anonymous survey that used 2006 data. The results are not only reliable but also solid and great source of inspiration for any one who wants to enjoy a lifestyle that makes a difference while providing income in levels millions can’t fathom.

Here are a few key results:

The average full fee for a keynote speech, (can last 15-90 minutes) that NSA members received was a whopping $5,000 when speaking away from home and $3,800 when speaking in their home community.

The average gross income for an NSA member from product sales (books, CDs and videos among others), service sales (coaching, consulting or mentoring) and speaking (keynote, breakout session, full or half day speaking) was $177,000. That for doing something they love. They don’t even call it a job or career. They feel it’s a mission. So they are missionaries who are rewarded greatly.

Over 80% of independent speakers (not hired and not part of regional and/or national corporations) work from home.

What, however, the results don’t indicate is that the incomes shown above could be generated by someone working (actual time spent in-front of individual (coaching or consulting) or individuals (speaking, training and/or selling)) in no more than 100 days of a 365 year. And for sure rarely in an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. situation since billable full day work is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. That’s the truth.

What this means is that those in the speaking business who have families, can, if they choose to, create a lifestyle that allows them to be with their families in the morning before children go to school and be home as the children return home. This also gives them the opportunity to be involved in their children’s after-school activities.

A unimaginable sense of fulfillment comes from positively affecting the lives of other people, especially on a continuous basis. Intangible rewards come from helping others. Maybe it’s helping organizations improve their performance in customer service and their bottom-line. Or helping couples overcome their marriage buffaloes (unpredictable challenges similar to occasions when invading water buffaloes disrupted the harmony of African villages without warning, leaving villagers fearful and anxious). Or steering young people away from destructive choices and habits. The reward you gain is far greater than any monetary payment.

Speakers enjoy accelerated professional and personal growth generally unknown to the rest of the world. Research-based speakers, the ones who spend time learning the challenges and expectations of the groups they speak to or train or the individuals they coach, consult or mentor, learn lessons never covered in colleges or in books. In the eleven years I have been a full time speaker, I have been blessed to learn about and work with organizations I had never heard of.

I never knew about American football. I have not only worked with numerous teams, but also enjoyed being selected the Homecoming Grand Marshal of the successful Boise State University Broncos Football for working with the team from 1998 to the present. Like many speakers/writers, I can update my resume every three months.

The question is, would you like a career (sorry, a calling) that provides substantial income without constant sacrifice of the time you need for your family? Would you like to do something that you know is helping improve other’s lives? Would you like to be involved in a lifelong journey that introduces you to new places and opens opportunities to learn of people and their challenges and be inspired by unbelievable human stories of triumph over adversity?

Now you have some inside information of a profession that can be rewarding. Any time you get an opportunity to improve your public speaking skills, take it. That might be the beginning of your life’s fulfilling mission.