A few weeks ago, during a fireside chat with a group of entrepreneurs, someone asked me, 

“Shridhar, what’s been the secret to your success as a professional speaker, coach, and trainer?” 

Without blinking, I said: “Passion, perseverance, and business acumen.”​It earned a round of applause. 

But as I drove back home that night, a deeper truth surfaced: those three words only scratched the surface. Nineteen years into this journey, I’ve stumbled, stood up, adapted, and grown—not just as a speaker, but as a business owner. So here’s the real list. These are the 12 principles that have helped me build a speaking business with over 2,500 gigs, 300+ clients, and 50,000+ audience members across 15 countries. 

In 2006, professional speaking in the Middle East was still a novelty. Clients leaned toward celebrity speakers from the West. I had no name, no presence. But I had a deep understanding of what I could offer—I focused on finance, my domain strength, then gradually added leadership and strategy. That niche focus became the foundation for everything that followed. 

 

Competition isn’t just the speaker next door. It’s any option your client might choose instead of you—another speaker, a free internal resource, even a magician at a corporate event. Once I redefined competition this way, I sharpened my value proposition and positioned myself clearly in a crowded space. 

Pricing your work isn’t about ego—it’s about value alignment. In the early days, our costs outpaced revenue. It was painful. I had to learn how to segment clients, align price with perceived value, and design offerings that delivered both transformation and profit. 

Speaking is a passion—but it's also a business. It’s cyclical. It’s seasonal. And in the Middle East, market fluctuations are real. I learned to diversifymarkets, spread risk across geographies, and smooth out cash flow. Today, our presence in 15 countries keeps the engine running, even during slow spells. 

Not every gig has been a roaring success. Some fell flat. Some clients felt let down. But I’ve always asked, “What can I learn from this?” When needed, we’ve gone back, re-delivered, and rebuilt trust. Growth has come from owning the misses, not just celebrating the wins. 

Clients don’t just buy content—they buy your confidence. They buy your conviction. If you don’t believe in your solution, they won’t either. My journey taught me that confidence isn’t arrogance; it’s clarity rooted in competence. 

 7. Plan Boldly. Execute Relentlessly

Every year, we build a business plan for the upcoming year and update our strategic blueprint for the next 3 years. In 2019, long before the word pandemic became part of daily life, we mapped a plan to shift 70% of our offerings online by 2023. When COVID hit, we were ready—not scrambling. 

 8. Act in Reality, Not Just Vision 

Dreaming is vital. But execution must dance with reality. A client once promised a large-scale project. We prepped early—only for it to be delayed by months. We had to let go of some resources and pivot quickly. It was tough. But we emerged wiser, leaner, and sharper. 

 9. Hire People Smarter Than You 

My first assistant, Jeena, transformed my productivity. Ryan, who followed, helped scale operations, sales, and more over seven years. Now, AI tools help streamline much of what used to be manual. But what mattered most was hiring people aligned to my values—integrity, performance, and learning and a spirit of partnership. 

 10. Hit Hard—Play All In 

This business wasn’t built on half-efforts. I started because I wanted to inspire, challenge and empower business leaders. The tag line – inspire, challenge, empower – has been the same over 15 years.  During tough seasons, we’ve doubled down—not backed off. We’ve always operated with two anchors:​

Integrity – Say what you’ll do, do what you’ve said.​

Performance – Always aim to exceed expectations. 

 11. Make Work Feel Like Play 

Is Roger Federer working when he plays? I doubt it. That’s how I see speaking. I love what I do. Every keynote, workshop, or coaching session is a chance to create impact—and have fun doing it. And yes, laughter is always part of the experience—as long as it uplifts and includes. 

Above all, it’s passion that keeps me going. It’s what pushed me to leap from a secure corporate finance career into the unknown. It’s what fuels me even today—19 years in. I still feel the same excitement before stepping on stage as I did at my very first keynote. 

This isn’t just a business—it’s my life’s work. It’s been shaped by countless lessons, moments of doubt, and exhilarating wins. And I know the best is yet to come.