Description

Charlotte Kemp's "Finding Your Speaking Sweet Spot" offers professional speakers a comprehensive framework for building sustainable, fulfilling speaking careers. Drawing from her extensive experience as past president of both the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa and the Global Speakers Federation, Charlotte addresses the confusion many new speakers face when navigating this complex profession.

The Core Challenge

The book opens with essential wisdom: "Beware of all advice, even this." Charlotte acknowledges that no universal formula exists for speaking success. What works in one market, time period, or context may fail in another. Her solution isn't prescriptive rules but rather clarity through categorization and self-knowledge.

Key Distinctions

Charlotte methodically explores critical distinctions that shape speaking careers. She differentiates public speaking from professional speaking, clients from audiences and selling to speak vs speaking to sell.

The book examines speaker categories (motivational, inspirational, content, celebrity), audience types (local, international, global), and audience relationships (industry events, public events, company internal, company clients). Each distinction helps speakers understand their options and make intentional choices rather than defaulting to assumptions.

Becoming a Category of One

The ultimate goal isn't mastering specific categories but achieving clarity about your unique combination of strengths, preferences, values, and expertise. When you understand exactly what you offer, who you serve, how you deliver, and why it matters, you "become a category of one"—a speaker so distinctive that clients seek you specifically because nobody else does what you do.

Charlotte closes with the reminder that these categories and frameworks are thinking tools, not rigid rules. The real work is developing self-knowledge and intentionality. Your speaking career should reflect who you are, serve the people who need you, and sustain you across decades. That's your sweet spot.

About the Author: Charlotte Kemp is Chief Relationship Officer at Red Jacket Speaker Bureau, past president of the Global Speakers Federation, and past president of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa, with over 15 years of speaking and training experience.