Plenty of people have entertained the idea of becoming a keynote speaker. Some have unique stories to share, while others may be interested in breaking into what can be a very lucrative industry, but most people stall at an early stage, getting stuck speaking at small local events or not making it out there at all.

So how do professional speakers end up a cut above, and present to Fortune 500 executives and UN representatives? BigSpeak EVP Ken Sterling says that after partnering with professional speakers for over a decade, what ultimately separates the wheat from the chaff is the amount of effort and time these speakers have invested into their craft.

Sterling states that successful speakers invest in their presentation skills and content, treating their speaking career as a full-time job. Folks looking for a side-gig or quick cash simply won’t make the cut when compared to those who practice daily and actively solicit coaching and feedback from peers and clients. He also notes that many of the most prominent speakers on the circuit today spent plenty of time honing their craft in the little leagues, often giving speeches for local groups, YPO chapters or self-produced webinars for several years before having a polished enough product to make it to corporate clients and global audiences.

For those seeking more advice, see the full article hosted by Forbes.