A few years ago I was speaking at Stanford University event and one of the attendees who had heard me speak before approached me to ask if I would take over a speaking gig he had been scheduled to do the very next day, but now had a conflict and needed someone to step in!
Now that's a great way to get speaking gigs! The only problem was, his talk was billed as "How to Create Affiliates and Joint Ventures!" Well, okay, there were two problems. I didn't find out until ten at night the day before and had a full day of meetings the next day!
Oh yea, of course, I had no experience in either at the time, but the topics intrigued me. I had learned from my mentor to never ever turn down a speaking gig! So what was I to do but go home, Google Affiliates and Joint Ventures until I had enough information to bullet point an educationally packed Power Point Presentation!