Feeling like your voice is lost in a sea of “meh” speeches? Are your “aha!” moments just “uh-ohs” compared to the other person’s TED Talk? Stop the self-pity, and let’s turn up the volume on your inner astonishing.

Here’s the truth: average leaders are impressed by average. They’ll pat your back for your “above average” slides and “pretty good” delivery. But guess what? Average won’t leave you breathless. It won’t make you want to climb mountains with your message or set the stage on fire with your words.

So, ditch the average applause and surround yourself with the elite. Seek out the speakers who make your jaw drop, the ones who leave you scribbling notes in the margins of your soul. These aren’t the shoulder patters. They’re the rocket boosters who’ll ignite your potential and send you soaring past your wildest “I can do, I-can-do-this” dreams.

While you compare yourself to average, you’ll be a big fish in a small pond. But compare yourself to the extraordinary, and you’ll discover a whole ocean of possibilities. You’ll see the ripples you can create, the waves you can ride, the tsunamis of impact you can unleash.

1. Excellence Standard: Elite speakers set high standards, not just for their audience but for themselves. They carefully analyze feedback, constantly improve their skills, and challenge the limits of what’s possible. Being around them exposes you to their standards, helping you fine-tune your own sense of excellence.
2. Creative Spark: Imagine brainstorming with minds that buzz with energy. Elite circles are like intellectual playgrounds where diverse perspectives collide, sparking creative ideas and unexpected breakthroughs. You’ll find yourself questioning assumptions, refining arguments, and discovering new dimensions to your own message.
3. Courage Boost: Fear can silence even the most powerful voice. But among peers who conquer stages and silence doubts, courage becomes contagious. Watching their vulnerability and resilience fuels your own, encouraging you to step up to the microphone and share your story with unfiltered conviction.
4. Constructive Criticism: Forget empty compliments. Elite feedback is precise, cutting away the unnecessary and sharpening your message to perfection. It might be uncomfortable, but it’s priceless fuel for growth. These are the critics who push you past “good enough” and guide you towards your personal greatness.
5. Ripple Effect: The magic doesn’t stop with you. By surrounding yourself with brilliance, you become a channel, amplifying the voices of others in your circle. Collaboration turns into innovation, ideas mix and match, and a collective symphony of exceptional voices rises above the noise.

Remember, comparing yourself to the average is like dimming your own light to make others feel comfortable. Don’t do it. Shine brighter, brighter, brighter! And let those who inspire you be the mirror reflecting your own unrealized potential.

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Walter Winchell.

True friends don’t just cheer on your successes; they hold the door open when you’re ready to conquer the impossible. So, surround yourself with speakers who are both friends and fuel. They’ll be the wind beneath your wings, the fire in your belly, the chorus that sings your potential into existence.

Now go forth, astonish the world, and let your voice echo through the ages!