The more you do anything, the more you learn; good or bad.  If you’re occupation is not speaking yet, find opportunities to hone your craft through organizations like Toastmasters (free and available in most major communities) or the company I worked for, Make It Count (http://speaker.makingitcount.com/).  The more effective you are at speaking, the more compelling your story becomes.

I’d say this is three fold.  First, in this day and age, speakers are everywhere.  Most of these voices, I believe, are doing it for the wrong reasons: attention, hero complexes, ego, or control.  Even areas of faith and social sectors have infiltration of misdirected motives.  Second, find a niche you can speak to that makes a difference.  Your story, your expertise is not something you necessarily have to go to school for, but rather a direction you’ve committed to learn more than anyone else about - something of substance, practicality or guidance.  Lastly, don’t be an expert that has ALL the answers, that’s arrogance.  Instead, consider yourself a fellow journeyman in the pursuit of your area.

There is something very appealing to the spotlight that must be tempered with great humility.  For me, I place my attention on the people I’m serving with whatever I’m going to say.  My life is to inspire or encourage for their sake, not mine.  But even deeper, that opportunity to speak is an opportunity to yield to the gift of God within me as His workmanship: His character and nature revealed through me.  I don’t need the audience’s approval, only His.