It's a brand-new season of Speakernomics with our brand-new host, Kenneth "Shark" Kinney! Shark is kicking off our new season with John Register, CSP, a paralympic silver medalist, US Army combat veteran, and Certified Professional Keynote speaker. John discusses being an expert in the professional speaking space, how to define one's expertise and the importance of being easy to work with as a speaker.    In this episode, John talks about:  Go Deep Before Going Wide: Define your expertise and go deep into it before trying to cover a wide range of topics. John suggests finding one word that encapsulates what you do and sticking with it to become known in that specific space.  Be Easy to Work With: As a speaker, it's crucial to be easy to work with, especially for meeting professionals and event planners. John shares practical tips such as providing PowerPoint slides promptly, maintaining open communication, and showing appreciation with small gestures like gift cards for the event team.  Active Role in Networking: Actively seek out opportunities to see other speakers and build relationships within the speaking community. Rather than evaluating other speakers, focus on understanding what they do and use that knowledge to make valuable referrals, fostering a supportive and uplifting environment within the industry.   Who is John Register, CSP?  John Register failed to clear a hurdle as he trained for the Olympic Games—a move that led to a tragic accident and altered his life forever.  He shifted his focus and embraced a “new normal mindset.”  The decorated Persian Gulf War combat U.S. Army veteran world champion became a two-time Paralympic Games Silver Medalist, professional speaker, and global influencer.     Register “amputated his fears” and founded the U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic Military Sports Program.  He authored 10 Stories to Impact Any Leader: Journal Your Way to Leadership Success in Spring 2020 and works with business leaders to hurdle adversity, amputate fear, and embrace a new normal mindset to win life's medals.    The artificial leg he used to win the silver medal is displayed in the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices