2024: Will Public Speaking End up Like Sourdough Baking?

More than one of my friends has recently announced their intention to take up the challenge of sourdough bread. I understand the attraction of crusty loaves straight from the oven but I also understand the challenges that await them.

In the earliest days of the pandemic, it seemed every third person was attempting to coax life (wild yeast) from the ether and churn out miraculous loaves. ("I am Earth Mother, feeding my children from the bounty of nature while others skulk around Market Baskets like horse thieves.")

I have walked this path. Many years ago I received sourdough starter from a friend. This "friend" seemed to effortlessly keep theirs alive, producing beautiful yummy loaves with a snap of their fingers. They had lovely homemade sandwiches daily. Meanwhile, I was doing panicky math daily, terrified I would kill the gift with too much or too little flour. I would be up late kneading dough. My weekends were consumed baking. I had dreams (nightmares) about it.

My boys tolerated the product but truthfully, were far happier with non-crusty loaves. Just when I was ready to collapse from the stress and throw in the flour caked towel, my friend would innocently check in. "How's the starter?" And I would be off on another round of guilt-baking.

The starter became our third child. I finally had to call a halt...at least to sourdough baking. Yes, I still bake but something less stress-laden.

Connecting speaking and sourdough?

Fast forward to 2024. I am running Innovation Women, a mission-driven platform designed to help more women get onstage at conferences and events. We have thousands of speakers and event managers on the platform. Like the sourdough baking, speaking isn't the only goal. The bigger, real goals (our loaves) include:

• Pay equity
• More funding for women founded companies
• More women on boards, and in the C-suite
• Helping women be seen as thought leaders and experts

Speaking, and the visibility that comes with speaking, drives all of these and more. Every time you set foot on stage, sharing your story, your knowledge and your mission, you have the potential to reap amazing business and career benefits.

There is a dark (burnt?) side to it as well

We tend to believe that everyone else is doing it more, better and it's easier for them. Pure myth but these myths may stop us from getting assistance or lead us to believe that we need to "go it alone" or, worse, not even try.

1. One post on LinkedIn about a speaking engagement from a friend and we imagine them out weekly, spreading the word far and wide.
2. We imagine each speaker (other than ourselves) presenting flawlessly. They spring up on stage and words flow like water.
3. It's easier for them. They apply to one event and are accepted.
4. And, they don't agonize over it.

False perceptions, every one. Our own insecurities drive these thoughts.

Don't give up

Relax. Speaking, even building a speaking business or career, doesn't happen overnight. It is absolutely something that can be done on the side, or part time. In fact, no matter what you do, it will not happen tomorrow. It takes time.

Look for allies. While you can "bake alone", it's more fun, and you tend to be more successful doing it in groups. Find groups of others, peers or near peers (like our Innovation Women Speaker Friend Fridays) to work and socialize with. Find those who will share the journey and you are less likely to go off the path. (No one really needs sourdough toad-in-the-hole.)

Know when to take a break. Keep your ears open. Keep learning. But when you are feeling panicked, give it a rest. It's OK.

Bobbie Carlton is the founder of Innovation Women, helping women learn more about public speaking and get access to speaking opportunities. She also connects event managers to awesome speakers who just happen to be women.