By Sam Demma*, CSP |
In July of 2023, I sat in the back of the ballroom in Orlando, Florida, watching a parade of brilliant speakers walk across the stage to receive their CSP, CPAE, and respective awards. Moved to tears by the remarks from Dr. Willie Jolley, CSP, CPAE, Cavett Award Recipient, I scurried back to my room, pulled out my journal, and scribbled a late-night entry at 10:20 p.m. sharp.
“I will be the youngest CSP and CPAE in the history of the National Speakers Association. It has already happened. Time just hasn’t caught up yet.”
I didn’t know it then, but that journal entry would become the seed of a journey marked by perseverance, personal development, and gratitude.
The Seed of a Dream
I was 19 when I gave my first paid speech. It wasn’t glamorous—no stage lights or standing ovations. But there was a fire in my chest, a knowing that this work—speaking life into others—was what I was meant to do.
When I learned about the CSP® designation, it became a North Star. Not for the sake of the title. But for what it represented: excellence, consistency, and significance in the speaking profession. It was a signal to myself that I could build something real.
Something sustainable.
Something meaningful.
The Early Days: Cold Emails and Empty Chairs
My path to the CSP® didn’t start with bureaus or bestselling books. It started with cold emails and high school gymnasiums.
One day in rural Alberta, I stood behind the curtain at a college event where no one had shown up yet. I was told 200 would be there. At 5:00 p.m.—empty. By 5:20 p.m.—still empty. And by 5:25 p.m.—I was outside, holding back tears, rehearsing my apology to the organizer.
But at 5:40 p.m., twelve people walked in.
I delivered that presentation like I was on the TEDx stage. They left with full hearts—and full plates of untouched food. The organizer declined my refund offer and rebooked me on the spot.
That was a defining moment. I realized: You don’t earn your CSP® by speaking to full rooms. You earn it by pouring your heart into every room. Every performance matters.
Lessons From the Climb (so far…)
Achieving the CSP required 250+ paid presentations. That’s a lot of contracts, travel, invoices, setbacks, and soul. Here’s what I learned along the way:
1. Success Leaves Clues—And Clue-Givers
I wouldn’t be here today without my mentors and coaches’ support over the past six years. They were right—it was possible. One of the most valuable decisions you’ll make is hiring a coach who has already walked your desired path. They will speed up the process and help you avoid several minor errors. For three years, one coach and I talked over the phone every Tuesday, and those phone calls laid the foundation for the business I operate today. The encouragement became a bridge I could walk across when impostor syndrome told me to turn around.
2. Track Everything
Not only for your CSP® application but also because you can’t improve what you don’t measure or scale what you don’t understand. Numbers are nothing to be afraid of; in fact, spreadsheets will be your best friend. From revenue tracking to sales analytics to client feedback, clarity comes from documentation. Start monitoring what matters now. A simple way to begin this process is to create a spreadsheet with every month of the year, and each time you book a speech, input the date, investment amount, and client. Once this becomes second nature, start adding more key metrics. Here is a templated spreadsheet you can download.
3. Start Building a Team Just Before You’re Ready
Once you earn the right to hire help, hire help! Dan Martell provides a fantastic formula in his book, Buy Back Your Time, to calculate how much you can afford to pay your staff at any level of your business. He calls it your buy-back rate, and it’s a simple calculation. Effective delegation was a lever I had to pull to grow and ensure I continued operating in my zone of genius–speaking and sales.
4. Keep the Heart in the Hustle
In chasing numbers, I never wanted to lose the why. Every school, company, and conference I served reminded me: this isn’t just about any random career or another dollar sign on a spreadsheet. It’s about impact. It’s about planting seeds in the lives of others who may never forget what you helped them believe about themselves. Consistently reminding myself of why I started the work in the first place was central to maintaining my passion and energy. Always make sure you’re doing this work for the right reasons.
5. Practice!!
It blows my mind how many speakers do not spend time practicing and writing new material unless paid to do so. There are no other professionals on this planet who do not engage in their craft every day. Could you imagine a professional athlete who told you they only engage in their craft when it’s game day? It doesn’t exist! It took reading Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield to realize I was making this same error in judgment. Don’t wait until you’re paid to start writing and practicing; more importantly, do not stop once you start getting paid! Your product is your performance, and it deserves your attention daily.
Why CSP® Matters (and What Comes Next)
CSP® doesn’t make you a better speaker. But pursuing it will. It will sharpen your systems, stretch your courage, and deepen your resilience. It will force you to grow beyond talent. It will challenge you to become someone worth trusting. Again and again.
I hope earning this designation signals something to those who’ve followed my journey: no dream is too bold, no age too young, and no start too humble. I wrote in my journal that night in 2023:
“Demma stands for something. It stands for perseverance, determination, integrity, honesty, high standards, and hard work.”
Two years later, I am writing to you with a CSP® designation beside my name and a deeper belief in all those values.
A Note to Aspiring CSP®s
If you’re on the journey right now, I see you.
In the late nights, building slides.
In the early flights to small towns.
In the keynote that didn’t go as planned.
In the standing ovation that reminded you why you started.
Keep going.
Keep tracking.
Keep growing.
Keep serving with heart and humility.
And when you get that medal placed around your neck, look for me in the crowd.
I’ll be the one standing, clapping with tears in my eyes.
Because I know what it took to get there.
And I’ll know exactly what it means to you.
*At just 25 years old, Sam Demma, CSP, is the youngest speaker in NSA History to earn his CSP® designation. Sam has delivered close to 700 paid performances, authored the bestseller Empty Your Backpack, and shared his messages with audiences across the United States, Canada, and Kenya.