Next level communicators don’t speak for change
Next level communicators don’t speak for change.
Well, we do, but I’m talking about a different type of “change”.
I want to chat about a subject which makes all of us cross and uncross our legs- money. I know, you subscribe to this weekly post to get tips on how to speak better, so what in the world does money have to do with your growth as a communicator? A lot more than you think. If I could distill my thoughts into one sentence I would simply say the freer you are from money, the more effective you will be as a communicator. Money, paper, cash, influences us more than we’d like to admit. The great boxer, Marvin Hagler, once said, “It’s tough to get out of bed to do roadwork at 5 a.m. when you’ve been sleeping in silk sheets.” Hagler’s words resonate with so many because we know prosperity can deter our drive to get better.
When I was twenty-two, a church in Nebraska invited me to preach, put me up in a nice hotel and surprised me by giving me a check when I was finished. I was stunned. Later that day I called my father to tell him about getting paid to preach. I told him the amount and asked if this was what I could expect going forward? I’ll never forget his response, “Never expect it, son. Don’t plan or budget what you think you will get. Keep yourself free from money.” His words stuck to my bones, and decades later I have not veered from them. That’s right, I’ve never charged to speak, and I’m so glad I don’t.
To be clear, I do accept honorariums, as I should (I Timothy 5:17-18). But accepting honorariums and charging a fee are two different things.
Before I go into why I don’t charge to speak, you need to know this is a personal conviction of mine, and not for one moment am I presenting this as a have to. On top of that, event speaking is not my full time job. This is important because I work at a church which is very kind in how they care for me and my family, so I more than understand the different dynamics for those of you who public speaking at various places is your primary or sole source of income. What I want to offer is some wisdom I have learned over the years when it comes to speaking and financial compensation. If you are a person of faith, please spend considerable time praying, thinking and processing this with trusted mentors and friends. As you mull this over, consider the following reasons why I don’t charge:
Free from money = Free in my speech. One of the benefits of not charging a fee is it liberates me to focus on the message. When money is involved, the temptation to speak for a return engagement, or to be entertaining and not hurt people’s feelings looms large.
Life happens. Because Korie (my wife) and I have always treated outside speaking compensation as “found money,” when the inevitable event cancellation happens, we are not thrown at all in our budget, because we never counted on the money. Low registrations, bad weather, sickness, travel delays and cancellations and so much more, are just a part of life, and if you depend on the money you will find yourself in bad shape.
The Bible. No comment here, other than to say you should read, Micah 3:9-11 and Matthew 10:8-10. Next point.
Today’s amenities become tomorrow’s necessities. Okay, so Bryan charges a fee. I build that into the budget. My standard of living increases. The temptation to get certain things expands. Now I find I have to preach for the car payment, mortgage and so on. And before you know it speaking becomes a have to, and not a get to. The satin sheets have become the expectation.
A sharpened witness. Many are shocked to hear I don’t charge a fee when they invite me to their event. And I kind of like that. You know one of my favorite things to do? It’s to tell the local pastor or event host not to pay me at all. In an era where Christian leaders are being criticized (and too many times rightly so) for their perceived greed, we need more communicators who will be so free from money they lay down their right to receive compensation from time to time.
Okay, these are just a few thoughts for how I’ve tried to keep my heart “free from the love of money.” Again, take these words as wise counsel, and in no way prescriptive in how all communicators should live. Wherever you land on this, I am convinced the freer we are from money, the more effective we will be as communicators.
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