Finding Supporters in Public Speaking

THOUGHT LEADER’S ASPIRATION

From rejection to resonance.

As a keynote speaker, it’s important to realize that not everyone will resonate with your message, simply because it’s you.

However, there are always those who will be inspired by you, precisely because it’s you.

A common mistake is expecting everyone to applaud your ideas.

You can’t control others’ reactions or perceptions.

Instead, focus on what you can control.

Believe in the power of your message.

Speak with authenticity and passion.

Consistently hone your craft.

Your true audience and supporters will find you.

And you’ll connect with them in meaningful ways.

As you stand on stage, remember that your purpose is to share your unique perspective.

Embrace the differences in your audience; they bring richness to your experience.

Stay true to your values and vision.

Your words have the power to ignite change, inspire action, and create a ripple effect.

Be patient and persistent; success doesn’t come overnight.

Celebrate the small victories and learn from the challenges.

Build relationships and network with those who uplift and motivate you.

Stay committed to growth, both personally and professionally.

Your journey as a keynote speaker is not just about reaching everyone, but about deeply connecting with those who are ready to hear your message.

Keep moving forward with confidence and courage, and watch how your influence grows and inspires others.


How about you?

Medium – The Key to Growing as a Writer

Starting My Writing Adventure

Photo by Chris Spiegl on Unsplash

When I began using Medium, it felt like stepping onto a big stage for the first time.

Nervous – no confidence.

English isn’t my first language, so it was tough at first.

Reading other writers and comparing to mine was like earth and heaven.

I wanted to share my thoughts and connect with others through writing, but my early attempts weren’t very good.

My writing lacked depth and didn’t get much attention.

For a long time – Confidence level is low.

Feeling Alone Among Many

At the beginning, my posts on Medium didn’t get much notice.

I felt like I was trying to speak out in a crowded room where no one could hear me.

There were no comments or applause for my work, which made me wonder if anyone would ever notice what I had to say.

Am I going to fail as a writer? I wondered…

Keeping Up the Effort

Despite these challenges, I didn’t give up.

I knew that getting better at writing would take time and effort.

As I kept writing and sharing my articles, I could see myself improving bit by bit.

People start to engage with claps, highlights and leave comments.

Such a welcoming community of writers.

I get excited.

Joining Medium’s Welcoming Community

One of the best things about Medium was becoming part of its community.

I met other writers who were kind and shared their knowledge with me.

Their advice and encouragement helped me improve my writing skills and gain more confidence.

Seeing Real Progress

As I kept writing, more people began to notice and appreciate my work.

I started to get followers and applause, which felt great.

It meant that my writing was getting better and people were enjoying what I had to say.

Learning Valuable Lessons on Medium

Now, I feel much more confident in my writing. Being on Medium has taught me several important things:

  1. Keep Trying: Even when it’s hard, it’s important to keep writing and improving.
  2. Support Matters: The encouragement I got from other Medium users really helped me grow.
  3. Always Learn: Writing is a journey where there’s always something new to learn.

Looking Back at My Journey

Medium has been more than just a place to post my writing.

It’s been a key part of my growth as a writer.

I’ve found my own space in the community and learned a lot from others.

Medium is where I’ve been able to share my thoughts, improve my skills, and connect with readers.

I’m grateful for the experience and excited to keep growing as a writer here.

How I Went from 1K to 30K Views Within One Month

It’s crazy to reach a 30X growth just within a month. Here’s how..

My monthly traffic has never reached 1K views for the past eight years.

But in December 2023, I reached the highest number of views at 1K and was excited to target for more growth.

December 2023 Traffic Stats

Then, I did some things differently in January 2024, which made my traffic stats shoot off the roof!

It suddenly reached 30K (as of January 28, 2024)!

Firstly — I moved my custom domain to be hosted at Medium. Previously, it was hosted on WordPress.

Secondly — I made IoT World Publication articles non-paywall, meaning everyone can read them.

The 30X growth in January 2024

View at Medium.com


Other than the above two things, I also used the five tips below, which you can also follow:

1 — Engage with Readers: Respond to comments and messages.

  • Example: You publish a blog post about the latest trends in IoT security. A reader comments, asking for more details about blockchain’s role in IoT. You respond with a brief explanation and provide a link to another article you’ve written on blockchain technology in IoT. This interaction answers the reader’s query, showcases your expertise, and encourages continued engagement.

2 — Promote on Social Media: Share your work on various platforms.

  • Example: After writing an article on smart home automation using IoT, you share a video on Instagram demonstrating a smart home device in action. You tweet a statistic from your article about the growth of smart home devices, and on your LinkedIn, you post a link to the full article. This varied approach helps you connect with a diverse audience interested in IoT applications.

3 — Analyze Your Performance: Use analytics to understand your audience.

  • Example: By analyzing your blog analytics, your posts on IoT in agriculture are getting more engagement than others. Recognizing this interest, you focus more on this topic, creating content that aligns with your audience’s preferences.

4 — Personal Branding: Build a recognizable personal brand.

  • Example: You consistently write about IoT innovations in urban planning. You brand your blog and social media with urban-themed visuals and maintain a consistent, informative writing style. Gradually, your name becomes synonymous with IoT in urban development, establishing you as an authority in this niche.

5 — In-Depth Articles: Provide comprehensive information.

  • Example: Instead of a general overview of IoT, you write a detailed guide on “Implementing IoT Solutions in Manufacturing.” This guide covers everything from selecting sensors to integrating IoT data into existing manufacturing systems. Such comprehensive content solidifies your position as a knowledgeable source in the IoT community.

View at Medium.com


Follow My Startup Journey (eBook)

View at Medium.com

The Day My Daily Views Jumped From 60 to 3,400 (Here’s What Happened)

Image created using Canva by Author.

I started the month of January with only 30 to 60 views daily.

Of course, I envy other writers getting 100s or 1000s of views daily.

I don’t know what their secret is. But most probably, they are top writers on Medium and have many followers, or simply that their articles get boosted from Medium.

But I never gave up. On January 11, 2024, I did two things differently.

Suddenly, it jumped to 2.1K views on January 11 and peaked on January 16, 2024, with 3.4K views.

Stats in January 2024

Here’s what I did differently:

Firstly, I migrated my domain ( http://mazlanabbas.com ) to Medium.

View at Medium.com

The main reasons for moving to Medium are because (1) I don’t have enough time and resources to manage Medium and my other blogs. Furthermore, it is comprised of almost the same contents. (2) I love the simple interface of Medium. It’s easier to write here. (3) Best community as compared to WordPress. I have better engagement with the Medium community. They are very friendly and always give good comments and advice.

Secondly, I shared and published a non-paywall to my mailing list. More than 9,000 people have followed me from various social media channels and blogs. It’s now easier to use this platform to share my articles. I have created multiple Medium publications, but I have the one on IoT World Publication open for all readers (non-paywall, Medium Partner, or Non-Medium Partner can read this).

View at Medium.com

I don’t know much about Medium’s algorithm, but maybe the readers can help me to solve this “mystery.”

The second reason is the one that changed the number of the game — that’s my feeling. But if you have other thoughts, kindly leave some comments below.

What do you think?


However, if you asked me whether my earnings will jump multiple times — the answer is … no … unfortunately. It remained the same as before.

On the other hand, I can satisfy my followers, especially with the articles I previously made behind the paywall, and now it’s open.

Thanks all!


Publications That I Created (Behind the Paywall) — Follow This

View at Medium.comView at Medium.comView at Medium.com

How I Managed to Get 6,000% Audience Growth in 2 Months

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash

It looks like a very big jump.

It looks an impressive feat. But we still need to look at the real numbers.

For a couple of years, my Medium followers did not grow at all.

Most probably, I did not fully engage with others.

But things have changed since September.

Well… in reality is the jump from 1 to 68 new followers, which translates to more than 6,000%!

Although the number is not big the “movement” in the increased number gives an encouragement to me.

No one wants to write an article with no one reading it unless you are writing a personal diary.

View at Medium.com

What Changes?

I did two main things differently:

(1) Posting Regularly:

This time, I tried to post almost daily. At times, it can reach twice daily.

Although I have to admit some of the articles are rewritten from previous articles from my other blogs.

But these re-posts are considered to fill in the gaps when I can’t write something new that day.

(2) Engagement

Engaging with other writer’s posts and commenting will help get yourself to be noticed.

Giving “claps” to the articles and comments will increase your chances of being known by others, too.

I felt very appreciative when I received many “claps” and “comments” notifications on my Medium.

The curiosity will make me know more about the person who gave that clap and comments.

This will increase your chances of being followed.

View at Medium.com

Do You Have a Target?

How many people do you wish to follow you? Do you have a target for this?

I wish to have ten people daily, but it’s almost five people daily.

It’s still a long way to go, but it’s a relief to see the efforts are worthwhile.

How about you?

View at Medium.com

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

If you want to learn more about startups, please check out my latest eBook, Startup Survival.

View at Medium.com