Hold on to your worth.

Recently, I was invited to propose a workshop for the annual conference of a local organization. I decided to pick a relevant topic from my portfolio. My proposal was accepted, and the folks started to request more information on the topic and about myself. It’s worth noting that over 9 years ago I decided to secede from that organization, yet I continued lending support where I felt needed. After spending several hours preparing an abstract and synopsis, and communicating back and forth with the contact person, I got a message that asked me to register for the event and pay the fees. I was immediately stunned, because I was about to send them my requirements, as a no-fee speaker. I just needed to be reimbursed for my travel expenses since the event was not in the Eastern coast of Saudi Arabia where I live, and I am no longer affiliated with that organization. Basically, a plane ticket, lodging, local transportation, and meals. All expenses would probably be in the neighborhood of SR 1,600-1,800. Fair? Maybe not! The contact person asked to go back to the committee for a verdict. And you know what committees are for—to decide either not to decide or say no! Surely, the response was negative. Stunned, as a sparrow that just hit a clean glass window, I just told them, “Thank you and good luck with your event.”? What I know is that this organization reimburses such expenses for their international speakers, and it is common to reimburse non-affiliated local guest speakers, as the situation dictates, such as coming from another province. When I told the story to some friends associated with the organization in question, they had their mouth open as wide as a horse’s yawn!

Come to think of it, I believe it’s all about leadership. If you do not have authentic leadership, the followers will tend to be the same. Unfortunately, this is my interpretation of what happened. As John C. Maxwell puts it, your potential for success in any endeavor is limited by your leadership ability. And it’s my belief that if you don’t grow your leadership ability, you will continue to be as mediocre in most aspects of life as a run-of-the-mill product. Your leadership ability will be the cap that limits from achieving higher results.

Why am I telling this story? I’ve been doing speaking, coaching, and conducting training for more than a decade, being aka a professional speaker. I have invested so much time and money to be able to add value to myself and others. I attach high value to what I do, and I try not to sell myself short. Because if I do, I will be cheap, and when you become cheap, people will try to manipulate you as a sealion in the circus. Here is the thing, I don’t worry about getting invited to speak any more. Yes, I do worry about getting paid when I do! Genuine people will treat you as genuine and will have a good appreciation of your worth. On the other hand, those who are cheap will manipulate you and think of you as cheap. They tend to climb on your shoulder. Was I disappointed to see an organization that I served for over two decades treat me the way they did? Absolutely, yes. However, my value remains secure and untarnished! Hence, my advice to all the genuine speakers in this part of the world: always walk tall and be proud of yourself, and never give the chance to anyone to undermine your worth! You are worth a million bucks!

Srirangam R. Sridhar. DTM Nazeer Gazaq Alqasem, DTM Mohamed Shukri Mohamed Isa

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