Most people don’t fail at speaking.
They plateau.
Not because they lack talent.
Not because they lack opportunity.
But because they’re learning from someone who can’t take them where they want to go.
The Truth About Levels
Everything in life has levels.
Speaking is no different.
You don’t go from “I’m nervous on Zoom calls” to commanding a stage of 1,000 people overnight.
There are layers.
Stages.
Expansions of identity.
And each level requires a different version of you.
But here’s where most people get stuck:
They treat all advice as equal.
It’s not.
Level 1: Basic Communication
This is where most people begin.
You’re learning:
- How to structure your thoughts
- How to speak clearly
- How to not freeze when eyes are on you
At this level, almost any decent coach can help you.
You don’t need elite.
You need repetition.
Level 2: Confident Speaker
Now you’re no longer trying to survive.
You’re trying to impress.
You’re working on:
- Storytelling
- Presence
- Audience engagement
Again, many coaches can take you here.
But this is where the illusion begins…
Because being “good” feels like you’ve made it.
You haven’t.
Level 3: Professional Speaker
Now things change.
You don’t just want to speak.
You want to get booked.
You want:
- Paid stages
- Authority positioning
- A pipeline of opportunities
Here’s the shift:
A coach who is a great speaker is no longer enough.
You need someone who has:
- Done hundreds (or thousands) of live events
- Built relationships with event organizers
- Turned speaking into income
Because theory won’t get you booked.
Only proximity to experience will.
Level 4: Authority & Thought Leader
Now you’re thinking bigger.
Speaking is no longer the goal.
It’s the vehicle.
You want:
- A personal brand
- Books
- Media
- Influence
At this level, your question changes from
“How do I speak well?”
to
“How do I build a platform?”
And suddenly…
The coach you chose at Level 2 becomes irrelevant.
Level 5: Speaking as a Business
This is where very few people go.
You’re not chasing stages.
You’re using stages.
To build:
- 7-figure offers
- Scalable programs
- A real business behind your voice
- A real influence and impact
Now the only mentor that makes sense is someone who has already done that.
Not someone who talks about it.
Someone who has built it.
The Mistake Everyone Makes
They choose mentors based on:
- Who they like
- Who they see first
- Who is affordable
Instead of asking:
“Is this person living at the level I want to reach?”
Because a Level 2 coach can’t take you to Level 5.
No matter how good they are.
The Real Decision
Before you choose a mentor…
Pause.
Ask yourself:
- Where am I right now?
- Where do I actually want to go?
- What does someone at that level look like?
Then find the person who has already walked that path.
Not perfectly.
But proven.
A Simple Filter
If you want to:
- Speak on stages → learn from someone who has done thousands
- Write books → learn from someone who has published and sold them
- Build a speaking business → learn from someone who has scaled one
It sounds obvious.
But most people skip this step.
And that’s why they stay stuck.
Final Thought
The right mentor compresses time.
The wrong mentor extends confusion.
Both cost money.
Only one gets you results.
So choose wisely.
Because your next level…
Isn’t unlocked by more effort.
It’s unlocked by better guidance.
I help experts, leaders, and entrepreneurs turn their voice into income, influence, and scalable businesses.
How?
By using the stage to share your message and increase impact, influence and income…because your story alone is not enough to move masses!
Milan Milosevic – 8 Figure Business owner, 1 000+ Live events, 50 000+ students, #1 International Best-seller endorsed by Tony Robbins.
