Episode #106: How To Get Speaking Gigs To Promote Your Personal Brand

Why Do So Many Experts in Japan Remain Invisible in Their Industries?

Many talented professionals in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies) struggle with the same issue:
They are good at what they do, but almost no one knows.

This lack of visibility means:

• Potential clients don’t proactively seek you out

• Competitors dominate your niche

• You spend more time chasing business than receiving inbound opportunities

Executives in Tokyo often ask:
“How do I get my phone to ring? How do I become the person companies look for?”

Answer: By strategically building a personal brand that positions you as an expert authority — and by using speaking, writing, video, and digital platforms to let buyers find you.

Mini-summary: The biggest risk professionals face in Japan is remaining invisible. Visibility drives trust, inbound inquiries, and long-term business growth.

In today’s AI-driven, content-saturated landscape, every professional is effectively a publisher. Producing useful insights is no longer optional — it is a requirement for expert positioning.

Executives often ask:
“But what should I talk or write about?”

The answer is simple:

• Think about the problems your clients discuss with you

• List the key industry challenges

• Turn each challenge into a blog, article, or video

• Publish across multiple channels (website, Chamber of Commerce magazines, LinkedIn, etc.)

When you consistently share your Intellectual Property (IP):

• Buyers associate your name with solutions

• Event organizers discover you more easily

• Search engines begin attaching your expertise to your name

Mini-summary: Your everyday client problems are the source of your thought leadership. Turn them into content and let the market come to you.

Executives often ask:
“If I want speaking opportunities, how do I get chosen?”

A proven path:

1. Write a longer article by combining your key industry topics

2. Submit it to Chambers of Commerce (e.g., ACCJ, BCCJ, European Chamber)

3. After publication, repurpose it into multiple blog posts

4. Send your published article to conference organizers and propose yourself as a speaker

Because event organizers are always searching for credible experts, having published, searchable content instantly elevates your authority.

Mini-summary: Publish, repurpose, and proactively pitch event organizers. A single authoritative article can open many doors.

Many leaders in Tokyo ask:
“Is it worth doing podcasts or videos?”

Absolutely — because:

• Podcasts showcase your thinking in a conversational, relatable way

• Videos (even simple iPhone videos) demonstrate confidence, presence, and clarity

• Both formats create searchable, reusable content across platforms

You can:

• Appear as a podcast guest

• Launch your own show

• Use Facebook Live or YouTube for simple videos

• Convert video transcripts into blogs or social posts

• Extract audio for podcasts

This multi-purpose content strategy dramatically increases your digital footprint — essential for visibility in Japan’s competitive business environment.

Mini-summary: Podcasts and videos multiply your reach. One idea becomes dozens of assets across channels.

Executives often ask:
“Does all this content really make a difference?”

Yes — because when someone searches your name:

• They find multiple articles

• They see your videos

• They discover your podcast episodes

• They perceive depth, consistency, and authority

This gives you:

• Instant credibility

• Higher chances of being selected as a speaker

• More inbound inquiries

• Stronger trust from prospects

Mini-summary: Visibility equals opportunity. Multiple content pieces amplify your authority and help clients choose you faster.

What Does It Take to Build a Recognized Personal Brand?

It does not require:

• A big budget

• Professional studios

• Special equipment

But it does require:

• Time

• Discipline

• Consistency

• A mindset shift to “publish like a media company”

The best time to start was yesterday.
The second-best time is now.

Mini-summary: The barrier is not money — it is consistency. Start small, then scale.

• Visibility determines influence and opportunity in the Japanese market.

• Thought leadership content positions you as an expert in your niche.

• Speaking, podcasts, and videos dramatically increase your credibility.

• Repurposing content multiplies your reach and drives inbound inquiries.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, continues to empower 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational firms) with world-class リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training), 営業研修 (sales training), プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), and エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching).