February 5, 2015
Going Back On The Road!
Following my release from prison in 2009, I invested many hours honing my skill as a public speaker. Besides reading a Dale Carnegie book at Taft Federal Prison Camp, I had never studied public speaking before. Reading a book helped, I suppose. But to learn you just have to do it, and be prepared to really endure some growing pains.
Before I took the stage for the first time I said, “what’s the big deal? It is not like they can send me back to prison if I fail.”
Between 2009 and 2013, I traveled all over the country. Law firms, business schools, corporations, government, leadership summits and so on invited me in. The experience was life changing. To stand up and address more than 4,000 people without notes was liberating. It was not hard in the end—I was just telling my story after all. As I approached the end of 2013, however, I realized I had had enough.
Despite a lucrative speaking career I started turning down events. I stopped seeking events. No longer would my events be tied to my book—you may buy the book, I told them, but I will not be visiting to speak.
I placed more emphasis on consulting and preparing to settle down, marry and have children. More than anything, though, I was tired of telling the story. I also thought I could help more people through consulting than speaking. I still do.
Other than visiting Allstate in Chicago and Wells Fargo in Vegas last year, I did not speak too much. In 2015, however, I am taking a few more events. And after a long time away I am excited to speak.
This week I will travel to New York to lecture to more than 900 money managers for an IMCA event—I will also see many clients and some defense attorneys who endorse my work. Following my event on Tuesday, I will visit the NBC studio to sit for an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, author of Too Big To Fail. CNBC will also film portions of my event.
Upon my return to Los Angeles I will address nine classes at USC. I also just accepted an invitation to visit Omaha to speak for Mutual of Omaha—it will be my first visit to Omaha since I played in the College World Series for USC in 1995.
It feels good to be nervous, to have that anxious energy. I hope those in the audience will find value in my lecture.
Justin Paperny
