Could weaknesses actually be strengths in disguise? Yes! Paul Fisher, Host and Podcast founder, discusses this idea with David Rendall, a keynote speaker and author of The Freak Factor, in this episode of the Career Adventurer Podcast.
We explore the dynamic career journey of David Rendall, a certified speaking professional who has delivered keynote speeches globally over the past 15 years. Initially working in non-profits in Wisconsin, David made his way into public speaking through community involvement and serendipitous opportunities.
Specializing in leveraging personal weaknesses as strengths, his Freak Factor concept has become a pivotal part of his speeches, advocating for the alignment of one's innate qualities, weaknesses to some, with career paths.
We discuss themes such as self-awareness, the intersection of life experiences and career development, and practical approaches to exploring new career opportunities without taking significant risks.
Listen to the full episode. You’re sure to pick up a nugget or three for your own career adventures. At a minimum, you’ll know what to look for if you need a coach.
Core Themes
David shared a number of thought provoking anecdotes, witty asides, and ideas during our conversation. Whether you’re looking to leap or just want to make your current path more enjoyable, there’s something you can take away.
Here are a few of the major themes we discussed during our short time together. Take note of these themes for your own career adventures.
Vault by Volunteering
Have you considered volunteering? We all want to be paid for our time and effort, but volunteering in a space that interests you can be a great path. Time is not cheap, but a small investment in something you love can offer a window into a new future. Plus, when you aren’t worried about getting paid, it can take the pressure off.
David found his way into professional speaking by volunteering. He figured he could offer something of value from his day job to the local community. He realized there are many organizations that routinely seek speakers. Then, someone asked him if he’d speak and they’d pay him.
“ That's how the whole business started: doing a talk just to help out. Volunteer, be in the community, do my job, and then it turns into something which then turns into something, which then turns into something. It really was just an exploration.”
When You Just Do, Opportunity Knocks
Small moments matter. Society has trained us to maximize our time investments, especially in sales. It’s easy to think that any investment of time should be of obvious high value. We only attend events with lots of people. Make sure it’s popular.
David found one of his top early clients by saying yes to an event that didn’t appear important, at first glance. Not many people would be in attendance. He did it anyway. One particular attendee loved his talk. They became a client.
“One of the professors flaked out on a promise she made to speak to a local training association. She sent out a frantic email, will anybody go do this? I said, sure. I went and did it and there were six people there, so it didn't look like a real high value opportunity. There's a lesson there. Don't just look at the opportunity, just go do stuff. You never know what's gonna happen.”
The 80% Rule
Give yourself runway. We’ve talked about this a number of times. Yet, it needs to be mentioned again. It’s easy to fall in love with the dramatic stories of people who are fed up with their job and just quit. They throw caution to the wind. They follow a passion. They struggle for a time. Then, they finally succeed and get FU money. This is RARE!!!
Follow David’s advice instead. He created a symbiotic world. While he worked in non-profits, he volunteered. While he was a professor, he spoke to organizations. His day job fueled his night job, figuratively. He didn’t leap into professional speaking until he was leaving money on the table.
“I never needed the speaking business to pay the bills until it was already paying the bills and it would've been stupid to keep my job. I wasn't burning the boats and, leap and build the parachute while you're in the air. The business was 80% of my income before I quit teaching.”
Amplify Your Weaknesses
You’ve heard about focusing on our strengths. You’ve been told to eliminate your weaknesses. Have you ever been told to amplify your weaknesses?
The Freak Factor is about playing into your supposed weaknesses. We’ve all been reminded of our weaknesses, sometimes way to frequently. For some, it’s “Your head is always in the clouds.” For others it might be, “You’re too organized.” According to David, this is career gold. It’s the yin to your yang. If your head is always in the clouds, then work in an environment that needs mind expanding ideas.
“When you find the right situation. Even though you still have the weakness, it disappears. Nobody sees it. It's irrelevant and invisible, and the spotlight is on the best qualities that you have. And so career success isn't changing who you are. It's matching who you are to the situation that puts you in the best possible light.”
The Real World?
Our world is experiencing rapid transition. According to the World Economic Forum, 170M new jobs will be created globally by 2030. Jobs embracing AI, Autonomous Mobility, Big Data, Environmental Engineering, and more will outpace the elimination of highly manual jobs. There’s ample opportunity to find your niche.
How many times have you heard the phrase “Get a real job.” Or, “In the real world…” Probably a lot. To David, the people championing some nostalgic “Real World” are wrong. “Real world” is synonymous with what’s expected, with following the crowd. In reality, the real world is filled with many bright colors, a rainbow filled with a thousand hues. Now, more than ever, there is opportunity for all of us to find unique opportunities. You just have to explore.
“I hadn't learned that all those people who are telling you about the quote unquote real world weren't right. About what the real world is like. I think the real world has millions of unique opportunities for millions of unique people. And especially in the world we live in now with the internet and artificial intelligence and globally connected.”
Hear More of David’s Thoughts
David is paving his way as a certified speaking pro. He wasn’t always delighting crowds with comedic wisdom. It took volunteering, trial and error, gradual income replacement, and more to become a successful keynote speaker and MC. He learned that the way to find your own path is to pay attention to your weaknesses. They are clues to your hidden strengths.
Go beyond the themes. Listen to the full episode. David provides more insight and tools that could help you forge a breakthrough journey.
Enjoy the episode! Thanks for you support!
Paul G. Fisher
PS - Like, share, comment, recommend to a friend! Inspiration leads to ideas. Ideas lead to action. Action leads to breakthrough journeys. You never know who might find this post helpful!
Helpful Resources from Episode -
David mentioned a few resources during our conversation, including his own podcast, The Imperfectionist.
Messy: The Power of Disorder to Transform our Lives
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