How to Become a Celebrity in Your Industry

Have you ever wanted to be a celebrity—without the hassle of being famous? Imagine the best of both worlds: people recognize and respect you in your industry, yet you can still grab a coffee without worrying about TMZ lurking in the bushes.

If that sounds appealing, you’re not alone. The truth is, there’s a version of fame that’s accessible to anyone, regardless of the industry they’re in. And the best part? You don’t need millions of followers or a Netflix special to make it happen.

Let me ask you a question: have you ever heard of Straw Hat Goofy, Angela Walters, Neil Morse, or Jack Danger? Odds are, unless you’re deep in their respective niches, you haven’t. But here’s the catch—they’re each hugely popular within their own worlds. Straw Hat Goofy is a movie review sensation on TikTok with over 3.5 million followers. Jack Danger? A pinball wizard. Neil Morse creates progressive rock albums, and Angela Walters? She’s the queen of quilting.

The fascinating thing is, while you might not recognize their names, they’ve cultivated dedicated followings in their corners of the world. They are celebrities without being famous to everyone—and that’s the key takeaway.

I’ve spent the last 10 years building my reputation in the orthodontic space. People in that world know me. I’ve been asked for pictures at conferences, and just this past weekend on the OP Summit Cruise, a handful of people stopped me for photos. I even shared an elevator with Grant Collins, aka “The Braces Guy” on TikTok and Instagram. A mother and daughter got on just to meet him and snap a picture. Turns out, they booked the entire cruise just for that moment.

Why do I bring this up? Because many people believe you need to be a global superstar speaker, jet-setting from stage to stage with a hefty speaking fee. But the reality is, you can thrive in a niche market. There’s a saying, “The riches are in the niches,” and I can’t think of a more fitting example.

Whether you’re in the quilting space, progressive rock, or pinball wizardry, if you can deliver quality content, make an impact, and engage your audience, you can build a remarkable career. You don’t need millions of followers or mainstream recognition to be successful. You just need to own your niche and go deep. Seth Godin touches on this in his book Tribes—how the internet has allowed us to form these small, deeply connected communities. You can be a “mile deep and an inch wide” in your field and still make a significant impact.

What’s even more exciting? Once you master your niche, you can expand into other areas if you want to. The skills and strategies you develop while building your niche audience are transferable. Whether you’re podcasting, blogging, or even pivoting to another industry entirely, the foundation you’ve built will serve you well.

So, what’s your niche? Where do you want to make a difference and create your own tribe? It could be in finance, like my friend Eric Gunderson, who’s built a following as a financial expert, or in gardening, like Lisa Ziegler, who’s amassed a cult following teaching organic gardening techniques. You don’t need to be Damon John from Shark Tank or Sara Blakely (yes, I finally remembered her name!) to be successful. You just need to focus on your area, deliver value, and become the go-to person in that space.

And if you’re thinking, “That sounds great, but how do I get started with speaking in my niche?” Well, that’s where I can help. My next Stand & Deliver Bootcamp is coming up, and it’s designed to help you master the art of speaking—no matter what your niche is. Whether you want to become a keynote speaker or simply improve your communication skills, this bootcamp will give you the tools to engage and captivate your audience.

Enroll today, and take the first step toward becoming a celebrity in your niche—without the fame (or the paparazzi).

Learn more and reserve your spot at the Stand and Deliver Bootcamp.

Proactive, Productive and Profitable,

Dino Watt, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional)