Mark Blackin credible. I’ve been blessed to run some marathons, something that I
could contemplate a stair before the surgery and traveled all across
North American speaking to thousands of people.
WRIGH
T
So what do you do now?
BLACK
In 2003, I was i nvited to speak at a high school graduation. I agreed,
not knowing what I would say or that the fifteen-minute address I
would deliver would change the course of my life from that day
fo rward.
After the graduation ceremony, the father of a graduate approached
me afterward and said, “My company hires people to do what you just
did, all of the time.” Those words opened up new r ealities for me. I ’d
never really considered speaking professionally as a viable career until
th at moment.
When I learned that is was indeed not only possible, but that you
could make quite a good living in this line of work, I set out to become a
professional speaker. I started very small. The first year, I did one
presentation for a few hundred dollars at a local middle s chool. Not a
big a ccomplishment really, but for me, at that time, it was everything. I
was a paid speaker!
Each year I built the number of clients and engagements I did until
recently I was able to leave my other job and work full-time as a
sp eaker. I’ve had the privilege in the eight years I’ve been in this
business to meet thousands of people from a ll around the world, and
hopefully, been able to serve them with a story and lessons that
empower them to live life more fully.
I’ve been able to visit some interesting places fr om big cities, to tiny
towns, from one coast to the other. I’ve spoken in high school
gymnasiums with fifty students where a local farmer presented me
with my check because he sponsored the presentation. I’ve also spoken
in big arenas on the same stage with Sir Richard Branson, Stephen
Lewis, and Craig Keilburger.