“I’m afraid to take outside speaking gigs,” the bright young professor told me. “I’m afraid I will find out I don’t really know the information once I get up there.”

I knew her and I knew she knew her stuff. She was articulate and fun. Her students loved her.

“I understand the feeling,” I told her. “I felt the same way.”

Then, the day came when I just got up there and spoke. Someone in the audience raised their hand. They asked their question. I answered it. “Whoa,” I thought. “That was a good answer.” The more I spoke, the more confident I grew that I really did know something of value.

Are you willing to put yourself out there? What have you got to lose? What will your audience lose if you don’t say it? You may surprise yourself with your expertise.