1) Early Lessons on the Stage

My first defining role as Pharaoh in 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' was more than just a childhood acting gig—it was my initiation into the world of performance and presence. Our little primary school musical sold out for a week and we all then performed in Troon (Ayrshire, Scotland) town hall to 2,000 people.

What made us so successful? It doesn't matter. It just worked well and people couldn't get enough of it.

I went on to come second in a national talent competition 'Search For A Star' after that at the tender age of 11.

Key Insight: For business owners, this underscores the importance of presence. It's crucial to be fully engaged and visible in all your business activities. How you present yourself and your solutions can make all the difference in capturing and retaining customer interest. Always be ready to accommodate that big break or top flagship customer.

If they can see and feel it, they'll buy it.

2) Mastering Audience Engagement

During my days as a DJ in both local and international venues, I honed the skill of reading and leading diverse crowds. What was an obsessive childhood interest in music turned into a martial art in what people want and why they buy it. 

As a motivational speaker, I'm actually just DJing business stories.

I bet you didn't know that.

Key Insight: In business, understanding your audience is vital. You must anticipate and meet the needs of your customers, clients, or partners. Think of yourself as a DJ for your business—adjust your offerings to ensure they resonate well with your audience, keeping their attention and fostering loyalty.

My martial art is audience engagement and the ability to easily recognize someone's WIFI code.

3) A Strategic Shift to Dubai

30 years ago, when I left the UK, I also left my friends, family and career behind. I had to. I couldn't grow. I'd been for about 50 media job interviews over 2 years (including ones ONLY for people of colour) AND STILL DIDN'T GET SELECTED.

I was a BBC freelance journalist, ran an events business, published a magazine, interviewed celebrities, worked for The Prince's Trust (a charity that empowers young people) AND WON UK TV's BLIND DATE.

Still, nothing converted into a tangible opportunity.

So I decided to travel.

Choosing to move to Dubai marked a significant turn in my career, allowing me to access a vibrant and diverse market where my unique background was highly valued. 

Dubai offered me the chance to showcase my talents and I was the station manager of a radio station within 2 years

I never looked (or went) back.

Key Insight: This teaches the importance of market exploration and adaptation. Blue ocean strategy etc.

As a business owner, identify where your unique services or products fit best and courageously pursue those opportunities. Sometimes, a location change can be the catalyst for unprecedented growth.

Worried? Just do it.

Jump and grow wings on the way down.

4) Expanding into Hypnotherapy and Coaching

Integrating hypnotherapy and life coaching into my professional life allowed me to deepen my connection with my audience, addressing their holistic needs. How did I end up there?

I wanted an entertainment show, that took me away from DJing, into a cabaret circuit. 

Ideally, getting paid for a fraction of the time spent.

I settled on 'stage hypnotist' and studied in Las Vegas as well as getting certified in therapy. NLP and lifecoaching.

I still utilize these mindset skills for prompt engineering in A.I. today.

Key Insight: Diversification is key in business. Look beyond traditional products or services and consider how you can serve your customers in more comprehensive ways. This approach not only sets you apart from the competition but also builds a loyal customer base. If you constantly upskill, you never know when bringing all these abilities together will raise your game and position you above your competitors.

The formula for being paid:

1) The effect of the solution you provide.

2) How cheaply they can replace you with somebody else.

5) Elevating Global Events

A combination of being in the UAE and pushing my skills and brand has given me an amazing opportunity to shine onstage at premium global events. 

I also use this to travel overseas.

Hosting major international events taught me the importance of managing large-scale projects and captivating massive audiences. 

That's my superpower and I use it to get the best results for my clients.

These events include working with:

Global & regional entities like United Nations, US/Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Google, P&G, Grant Thornton, IBM, BP, SASREF, ITP, ADFD, PwC and STC. Headlining & hosting events that reached 2 billion people & entertained over 100,000 over the course of 20 years at Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, SIGMA, World Economic Forum, LEAP, Cityscape, CABSAT, MISK, World Metaverse Conference, CIO Global Summit, GISEC, GITEX, T20 World Cup Cricket, World’s Ultimate Strongman, FIFA International Beach Soccer, Special Olympics & World Club Tens Rugby (and more).

Key Insight: As your business grows, your approach should evolve to handle larger platforms and audiences effectively. Scalability is essential—ensure that your business strategies adapt to maintain engagement, no matter the size of the audience or market.

What's the worse thing that could happen?

Conclusion: Building a Legacy of Leadership

Always fight the battles you know you CAN win.

My career is a testament to the power of embracing one's background to influence and lead globally. I know I don't look like the ideal host for some event organizers or sponsors.

I don't look like Brad Pitt.

I don't speak like Hugh Grant.

I'm not the boy next door like Ryan Seacrest.

But I always turn up, deliver and make their event the best one ever.

I hope, for entrepreneurs, these stories provide a blueprint for your success built on authenticity, adaptability, and innovation. Maybe you can use these insights to empower your business ventures, tackle new markets, and create a lasting impact.

Or at least have more fun.

This is your roadmap...

Let my journey inspire you to use your unique strengths to forge paths not just to success, but to setting new standards in your industry. 

Here’s to transforming challenges into opportunities and diversity into your greatest asset.

Life's a game, and here's where you should begin...

I believe in you.

Best Regards,

Hi, I’m Dave Crane, CEO of https://www.speakonstage.com/ I mentor decision makers, business owners, CIOs and CEOs to go from invisible, unknown and scared to speak in public to highly respected and branded industry experts who make great content that drives sales. I’ve lived in Dubai for 30 years.

I call it The Industry Icon Program...