What made you become an entrepreneur? What drove you to take that risk, step out of your comfort zone and leap into the world of business ownership? If you are like me, you became an entrepreneur because you believed you had something worth sharing. You knew you had knowledge, talents and skills that people needed, and you knew you could make a difference in their lives by sharing that with them.

You’ve heard me say it before and you’ll hear me say it again and again, because I believe it with my whole heart – everyone has a message that can help others, and everyone can use that message to make a difference in someone’s life while developing and growing their own business.

It may seem that I am belaboring this point, but I emphasize it because understanding this is the first and most critical step in adding this key component to your business toolbox.

No matter what business or profession you’re in, you can and should incorporate speaking into your marketing plan. How can it work for you? Here are a few examples, just to get you thinking outside the box.

You’re a nutritionist. You are passionate about the benefits of a healthy diet in slowing or reversing the effects of diabetes, heart disease or other medical conditions. You want to expand your business and help more people get fit and healthy. Speaking to groups at health fairs, medical conferences, women’s groups, and even schools can help to establish you as an expert in your field, expand your reach and grow your client base.

You’re a home builder. You’ve always loved watching a vision on paper become someone’s dream home. With environmental concerns being so prevalent today, you have a passion for spreading the word about the dangers of toxins in building materials and the need to reduce our environmental footprint by using recycled materials. You begin speaking to environmental groups, at home builders’ expos and conferences, and to municipal government agencies. Your message is shared and your business grows.

You’re a veterinarian. Animals are your passion. Knowing that animals can suffer from many of the same health conditions that humans can, you have worked diligently to develop methods for treating our beloved pets with natural, alternative medicines such as homeopathic oils, acupuncture and even massage therapy. You are ready to share your important message with others, so you begin speaking at veterinary conferences, pet shows, and breeder’s groups. The result? You expand your audience, you share your message and make a difference in the lives of family pets, and you grow your business.

My challenge to you this week is to step outside your comfort zone. Think about your business, your passion and your message. You are an expert at what you do or else your business would not be successful. That is your passion, and from that, your message is born. I’d love for you to comment below and share your business and how you will be stepping out of your comfort zone.