The Speaker Lab Podcast

"I've always, always had the mentality, that I'm going to out-prepare and outperform you. I just want the audience to leave, thinking "Yeah, we had that person who was an Olympic athlete or a pro athlete, but this guy over here who was like, working at a gas station selling t-shirts, that guy put on a show. And so I've always had the mentality to let the experience outweigh some of the credentials backing it up with statistics and data and things like that."This week, Grant sat down with Jake Thompson, a speaker, author, and one of our amazing facilitators here at TSL, to dig into how he’s scaled his business and his income. Jake’s been on a few other episodes, so check out episodes 205 and 412 and then tune back in here."Throw out the hundreds and throw out the zeros and look at the medium. What did the person who booked you say, and are they willing to put their reputation on the line and do a testimonial referral? Because if they are, then you delivered, but if you didn't, you're probably going to get crickets from them, even if the "audience" loved you."In this episode, Grant and Jake dig into: 00:00 Jake’s background and story to here. 06:19 How to find your mentors. 09:30 Building community for growth. 11:29 Focus areas to allow you to win as a speaker. 14:41 Why following up and following through will set you apart. 18:38 Finding the confidence to raise prices. 21:20 Jake’s mindset on pricing and fees. 24:19 Preparing to show up better than influencers in the space. 26:58 What questions should you ask to guide your business? 31:10 Jake’s next phase in business. 34:25 Why it’s important to sell and outcome, not a package.Episode Resources:Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“I think the potential disadvantage with the bureau is you might have this idea, like, if I'm on a bureau's website and they booked me once, that could really turn into something big. And that's really not the reality."Grant sat down with Brandon Edmondson, VP of Sales at Premiere Speaker Bureau, to dig into the current state of the speaking industry, things to think about as you price yourself, and if you need a speakers bureau to be successful. "We know we probably represent less than 10% of the billion dollar industry of the speaking pie, right? So that means Coca Cola, all these companies on the outside of that piece, they're just connecting directly with speakers. So the pie is huge."In this episode, they dig into:00:00 Brandon’s background and credibility 06:04 How COVID changed the speaking world.06:52 What’s shifted since then? 12:02 Let’s talk about the percentage of gigs agents are booking. 13:04 Is the world saturated with speakers?16:57 Advice for raising speaker fees for all.22:42 Why it’s important to track your own data.23:42 Sectors that are currently thriving. 28:55 What it means to be a non-exclusive speaker.32:16 How I think about pitching speakers and what your agent-speaker relationship could be. 33:28 Advice for aspiring professional speakers in demand.37:24 The number key for success as a speaker.Episode Resources: Check out Premiere SpeakersConnect with Brandon on LinkedInGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"The goal is to look at the science because there is a step by step metric to keep tabs on your career so that you know without a doubt, is this or is this not the right time to go full time?"This week, Maryalice Goldsmith is joined on the podcast by Jeremy Rochford to talk about when it’s time to go full-time with your speaking. Jeremy has a 7-step framework to make sure your transition from part-time to full-time speaker is seamless. If you’re on the fence or wondering when is the right time, this episode is for you! "There are two things that most people will say are the most valuable things in life. One, time, two, money."In this episode, Jeremy and Maryalice discuss. 01:00 Separating emotion from science in career decisions.04:37 Why timing matters.07:23 How to evaluate your readiness for a full-time speaking career. 10:16 What does this process of assessment look like in practice? 16:19 Where to grow and focus your efforts. 20:38 Reflect on the impact this will have on your routines.21:53 Discuss caregiving outcomes and implications for the people you leave behind. 25:50 Why do we recommend bouncing this off a coach? 31:00 Get serious about speaking, visit thespeakerlab.com.Episode Resources: Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"I did not see this being a full time gig at the time. I just thought I was going to be speaking, like, at churches or something, right? So I thought I was speaking at women events, women's conferences and things like that while doing my nine to five, maybe on the weekends."This week, Grant Baldwin sat down with former TSL Student, Amy Pechacek, to dig into her speaking journey, how she’s “planned to win”, what her business looks like today, and the advice she would give other speakers looking to get to the next level."I came into this process thinking I was going to be an inspirational speaker...But people were coming to me, asking me to speak to their teams, and I thought, well, if people trust me in the realm of corporate american leadership and business development and sales and things like that, then I am a firm believer of people seeing you sometimes what you don't see in yourself."In this episode, Amy and Grant get into:05:18 How Amy transitioned from part-time to full-time as a speaker07:20 Amy’s journey to exploring how to make speaking a business.10:13 How Amy transitioned from motivational speaking to corporate training.13:44 Leveraging both corporate training and inspirational speaking.19:27 Amy’s take on the desires that unite people and create passion and meaning in our lives.21:22 How Amy fosters connection with people in workshops.24:21 Amy’s next steps for growing her business.26:50 How Amy’s thought about narrowing direction in her business.31:12 Amy’s take on The Speaker Lab program.Episode Resources:Connect with Amy on LinkedInVisit Amy's websiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"And what better way than to expand your reach than to do workshops where you can really make an impact?"This week, TSL Facilator and full-time speaker, Erick Rheam is on the podcast talking about how he’s personal scaled his business through workshops. Erick has a 4 step system for breaking into the workshop world to help unlock your income and your impact as a speaker. "And so that's what I did, is I started thinking, okay, this is my keynote. Now, if I were to actually go to an organization and spend 90 minutes or longer with them, what would that look like? What kind of value would I bring? What would be the call to actions? What would be the action items?"If you’re interested in learning more about how to use workshops to grow your business, this episode is for you! 01:07 What Erick’s been up to lately03:16 Erick’s business growth (with real numbers!) since he started speaking07:16 How workshops unlocked growth for Erick’s revenue 10:01 Leveraging workshops as a way to make a bigger impact with your story and skills14:36 When you keynote there’s a lot of opportunities, but they are 3-5 years a part as conferences and businesses often change keynote speakers. Workshops give you an opportunity to do work outside of classic events.16:11 What goes into creating a workshop? Well, here’s where you start. 23:24 When you capture contact info, be sure you deliver the value you promise and more! 25:50 Ideas to help with lead capture.29:54 How to outline your workshop. 32:10 Make an educated guess, but be open to iterating when you start getting data. 35:57 How Erick helps people supercharge their workshops.39:12 Why networking is worth it. 43:24 What kind of income can someone make from workshops?46:39 About the Speaker Lab’s new workshop mastery program.Episode Resources: Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"It's really about differentiating between the reality and the necessity. How much do I need to make? How much will the market bear? And can I find that in between space where it actually makes sense?"This week, Maryalice Goldsmith sat down with Angie Besignano to chat about how to charge your worth as a speaker just getting started. If you’re new to speaking and looking to break into the industry, this is how to think about initial pricing, when to give yourself a raise, and how to go about finding your value in the market. "There were definitely cues that I was receiving from the market that were kind of telling me, maybe it is time, right? Maybe it is time for me to go from $1,000 to $1,500 to $2,000 and make those incremental jumps."During this episode, Maryalice and Angie discuss: 05:59 Why you have to understand your money mindset and how to change your relationship with money. 08:44 How to set realistic expectations around your financial expectations. 11:13 What goes into developing a well rounded fee.14:34 How to assess your value based on expertise, not time.16:58 Developing your confidence as a speaker through your fees.23:09 Why you need to gut check when you’re quoting prices.26:46 Elevate your pricing through market testing. 29:44 Using boundaries and confidence to set fair fees. 31:06 Understand the market, your money mindset, and your goals for true success in the speaking industry.Episode Resources: Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“If you tell a story, it should evoke an emotion, and then that emotion can lead to a thought which shifts somebody's perspective."If you want to learn how to tell better stories, this week's podcast episode is a must-listen! Ravi Rajani joined Grant on the podcast this week to dig into all things storytelling. Ravi’s a TSL facilitator and also a professional speaker who teaches B2B sales teams to embrace storytelling and stories in their work so they can sell better. "What emotion am I trying to elicit? What perspective do they have right now that isn't serving them? And what perspective do I want to give them and how can I support them in creating change?"We all know that stories are important, but where do you begin? How do you source stories, what does it mean to workshop a story, how do you create compelling stories? Ravi and Grant share valuable expertise on sharing stories to connect with your audience. “They all have one thing in common when telling a story and showing up in whatever medium they are. One, unapologetically self expressed. Two, they own their values, and three, they own their imperfections. And I think there's nothing more charismatic and magnetic as to when somebody can do that.”In this episode they share: 00:57 Ravi’s speaking journey and background06:58 First person or third person stories? Which are better for you to use? 10:35 What’s the difference between a mediocre story and a great story?12:50 Storytelling experts that Ravi looks to for advice14:34 Story structure for maximize impact 20:16 How do humor and stories work together to create a great end product?23:04 What does it look like to tailor your stories to the audience?25:59 What is a storybank?28:42 How do you build a story bank?32:21 What is a “new two” and how can you leverage that to test stories?34:25 How do you script and practice stories so they don’t feel overly rehearsed?40:29 Where do you go from here? How do you put these things into practice?Episode Resources: Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"If you have diluted focus, you get diluted results."When it comes to building your brand, Rory Vaden is the expert you want in your corner. He’s committed to helping others identify the problem they solve and build a strategy for lasting success."You're most specifically equipped to help someone get through a problem that you have already walked past. That's the greatest shortcut."Rory has a unique story of how he came to be an entrepreneur, found his place on the stage, and embraced the wisdom and insight of others so he could keep growing. As a college student, he found his niche in door-to-door sales. With a knack for developing principles of personal success and development, he soon found himself on the speaking stage and rubbing shoulders with mentors who would change the trajectory of his future."There's so few people who have walked the exact path that you have walked that have overcome the problems that you have overcome. And so there is somebody out there right now who is looking for questions to answers that, you know off the top of your head, they're trying to find a path that you already walked 100 times.”His mindset, experience, and intentionality have set Rory apart in the industry. If you want to learn how to build a brand that will set you apart, this episode is for you!Here’s what you’ll learn from this episode:02:00 How did your background play into your preparation for your career?04:56 Rory’s early mentor and how he got connected06:40 The difference between a good speaker and a great speaker08:51 How to get enough stage time to build your stage confidence and polish your talks14:00 The turning point for Rory’s career and his first business16:55 Helping people level up and teaching the art of speaking/branding to clients  20:47 How to break through the wall 25:38 What it means to develop a brand that people will always pay for34:03 How to go about finding your uniqueness 36:03 Overcoming the fear of your callingEpisode Resources:Rory’s WebsiteGet a Free CallGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Think about: Who is the person that I want to impact? Not so much how many people do I want to impact? Or what area of my area of expertise do I want to impact? But who is the exact person that I want to leave my message with and know that they're going to go and step out and make an impact with it?"This week, Maryalice Goldsmith and Eve Gilmore are on the podcast talking about how to find better leads! Sure, Rick’s episode from a couple of weeks ago was great, but you can’t work leads well if you aren’t even trying to get to know the right people! "When I am creating a lead list for a student, I can really tell the difference between a student who knows their audience and knows their voice versus a student that doesn't, because everyone wants to get booked by an event planner or a conference manager."We brought in our Lead Manager, Eve, to talk about how she helps students dig into their expert positioning statements to find the best leads possible. “In particular, we ask our students, hey, provide your expert positioning statement when they submit for leads, and the difference it makes when a student really has a clear vision and a really clarified voice in their expert positioning statement…It's the difference between someone saying, I cultivate leaders in the corporate world. That's a great expert positioning statement. But what a great expert positioning statement would look like to pull leads for is I cultivate leadership in HR directors at marketing firms in order to cultivate a greater work environment that gives you way more information because anyone can speak in leadership but what kind of leadership and who are you wanting to influence with that leadership? So I would say it makes such a huge difference. The more specific the better, especially when it comes to something as broad as leadership or confidence or resilience.”Eve and Maryalice dig into: 03:22 Why you have to understand the nuance in your target marketing and the importance of having specific audience examples before you start finding contacts and trying to book gigs. 07:40 Reframing your focus from how many people you want to impact to thinking about WHO the specific person is that your story/message will resonate with to solve a problem or create a transformation. 10:30 How to walk through the mindset exercise of understanding the clarity that comes with a defined audience verses using broad terms to describe your people. 13:05 People often want leads across all industries, but here’s why that doesn’t work.16:17 Expanding your ideas and options past event planners and yearly conferences can help you book steady gigs in other industries that have more money to spend on bringing in speakers. Let’s get creative! 20:07 Getting scrappy with Google to find unique titles for people booking speakers in unconventional places, ie, business retreats, schools, etc. 24:50 How to embrace the “no”s so you can find a yes. Tips and tricks for being approachable and sticking with the process when it’s discouraging. 28:25 Practical questions you can reflect on to find clarity in who your leads are and what kind of impact you’re making before you go out there and start spamming inboxes! 29:50 A pep talk for consistency and approaching your prospecting with tenacity.Episode Resources:Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“I spoke in a literal barn last year…So for all the speakers listening, you're never too big time. You're never on a big enough stage to go speak at a barn. It kind of humbles you a little.” In this week's episode, Brittany Richmond sits down with the CEO of Streamline Books, Alex Demczak, to chat about his speaking career and how Streamline Books is helping speakers level up their businesses. "When you make a jump of any kind in your career, imagine it like this. You're in one boat, right, and you're leaping to this other boat, and you need to make sure that your boats are aligned so that when you make that jump, there's not a huge splash in the water, right. You need to make sure you go from one boat to the other. And so my mentor, they told me, they said, look, your boats with corporate America and speaking are actually, they're so close that they're actually restricting each other. They're, like, causing friction."In this episode, Brittany and Alex dig into: When Alex realized he wanted to speak Alex's origins of working for free Going pro in your speaking The credibility a book brings to your speaking business Leaving corporate America to pursue speaking full-time Streamline books, what they do, and how they help people become authors How to leverage your book as a speaker Ideas to help you negotiate better speaking contracts with your book And more! "Hey, I'm going to make an impact on one person today. I'm here for one person. I don't know who you and I both know we're probably going to make an impact on a lot more than that. But I think if you have that mentality, it's what drives you."Episode Chapters:04:12 Alex’s first experience with professional speaking and pursuing Jon Gordon to do what he does. 05:37 The moment Alex realized speaking was going to be his calling and how he got started speaking in corporate America 09:16 Overcoming rejection and sticking with the hard seasons to make an impact in the world. 13:47 What do you do when only one person shows up?! How to redirect your focus on the greater impact. 20:17 Let’s talk about the audience Alex serves every day with his message and his book22:41 Alex’s top piece of advice for growing his speaking business and how he thinks through scoping up gigs to maximize his impact 26:05 Why Alex focuses on being a value add to the people he serves and how that’s grown his business and his reputation30:57 Streamline Books deal for The Speaker Lab Podcast listeners “When you bring a team around your dream, it helps you actually get the book done.” Episode Resources: Learn more about Streamline BooksConnect with Alex on LinkedInAlex's Speaking WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Be the steakhouse, not the buffet.” “Have a take.” “View it as a business not a hobby.” We asked the TSL team to tell us their #1 piece of advice for speakers, and they delivered. This episode contains hot takes, practical advice, and key speaking tips from industry experts and leaders. If you want to go from casual speaker to pro in 2024, this episode will help you find a few focus areas, give you some inspiration, and help you take action to create your dreams.The team covers:Advice on niching downHow to go from hobbyist to a professional speakerDaily habits to create successBranding advice to help you level upWhy processes, systems, and execution matterand so much more.Episode ResourcesGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Look for inspiration, not comparison.” Brittany Richmond sat down with Dean Heffta today to talk about his speaking journey, the National Speaker Association, and how he built a business to get him booked and paid consistently. Get back to the basics. Keep it simple. And remember, you don't have to build somebody else's business; you have to build YOUR own business.In this episode, Brittany and Dean talk through:Dean’s experience getting starting as a speakerWhen to donate your time and other ways to get paid Embracing the mindset of the marathon not the sprintWhat it looks like to provide services people rave about Dean’s new book and what having a book signals What are the perks of being in the National Speaker Association Developing the craft of speaking "And to sustain innovation and to sustain the hard times and the uncertainties and the ups and the downs, I believe you need a community. Your friend group and your family group will smile and nod as you're sharing things they don't really understand or they can't offer maybe the insights that the people in the speaking community can."Episode Chapters:00:54 Dean’s background as a speaker 04:25 What does Dean currently speak on and what do his speaking engagements look like?10:05 When to think about donating your time.12:46 Dean’s take on a marathon not a sprint17:33 How to grow your business by developing referrals19:20 An overview of Dean’s book + the process of writing it24:17 What is the National Speakers Association?28:42 You get what you put into, here’s what that means for you as a speaker.31:19 Why communities matter and how to lean into the speaker community33:12 How to develop great relationships in this business38:32 How to build your personal brand while overcoming tech issues40:31 What it looks like to gracefully overcome adversity on the stage 43:19 Dean’s favorite thing about begin a speaker2024 Podcast Listener Survey:Will you take 3 minutes and tell us what you love and hate about The Speaker Lab Podcast? We want to make this podcast better as we work to serve speakers — but we can't do that without your feedback. Click here or go to thespeakerlab.com/survey — we'll send you a Starbucks gift card as a thank you for your time! Episode Resources:Connect with Dean on LinkedInExplore Dean's Website Take the 2024 Speaker Lab Listener SurveyGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Just because you get a speaking gig doesn't mean, oh, cool, I got the deposit check. Let's go spend it. You don't actually "realize" that entire piece of income until you walk off that stage and it's done. But if you're listening to how I'm talking about this, this is how a business owner thinks. This is not how a hobbyist thinks."We’re back with another edition of our Coaches Corner series! This week, Maryalice Goldsmith sat down with Rick Clemons to dig into Lead Management and how to think like a business owner in this relationship business.“The more you can sell the solution that you provide, not you. Yes, quote, I am the solution, so to speak. But the solution I'm going to offer to them to fix their problem, the sooner you're going to start getting the buy signals and the sooner you'll start moving that through the selling pipeline and filling your pipeline through the process."In this episode Rick and Maryalice cover: The difference between warm and cold leads What it means to think like a business owner vs a hobbyist How many touchpoints a prospect needs to become a lead Buyers mindsets around investment decisions How to research the heck out a prospect so they become a lead Practical examples of what consistently looks like in the lead generation process"You have to find where you can get in the door. And one of the things I learned when I was doing this is I could offer a college or university something. Sometimes there was some pushback, but the moment I said, and here's what else I'll do, as soon as I offered the what else I'll do, which was either a quick little webinar...or a recorded thing that I could do… I could get in the door."Episode Chapters:01:00 What are common pain points in lead generation?06:39 When do I consider it a lead?08:52 Should this be part of your daily routine?12:12 How can prospecting be done effectively?14:57 How can you leverage your warm network?19:46 What differentiates the mindset of a business owner?25:58 Do you understand the importance of relationships in this field?27:03 How does persistence benefit you as a speaker hoping to achieve business growth?33:12 Do you set clear goals for tasks?36:40 Could a webinar-driven low-end product work?37:35 How can you find opportunities to offer value? 45:35 Examples of how Rick approaches finding places to offer value47:26 Why is tapping into the community important?Episode Resources:Get Rick's Lead Mastery PDFGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"I want to get in the heads and the hearts of the people in the room. If I'm not in their heads and hearts, I don't know how I can connect."This week, Molly Fletcher joined Grant to discuss her experience transitioning from a sports agent into a speaker. For Molly, becoming a speaker was less about a dream to be on stage and more about a logistically practical way to share the knowledge she was giving out 1-on-1 to people she was mentoring. When Molly started speaking, she focused on industries that required the same kind of trust and relationship building that was normal to her as a sports agent. From there, she started branching out into women’s leadership and general empowerment to encourage people to get out there and change the world. "One of the number one reasons women are coming out of the workforce and hitting a jack is because they don't see other women doing what they want to do. So I think for strong women to be in the front of the room and tell their story, we need more of that, for sure."Grant and Molly dig into: How Molly got into speaking Her journey to authorship If you need a book to be a great speakerWhat it’s like being a female speaker in a male-dominated field Molly’s mindset and process to prepping for a gigHow Molly thinks about breaking the ice on stage and what it takes to connect with your audience "I self deprecate immediately with a story that I tell because I think you've got to get down so that they feel connected to you because you're literally physically, they've just heard all these things they've seen."Episode Chapters:01:20 Who is Molly and what's her speaking business look like?06:58 Molly's turning point for moving into speaking09:34 How to build early momentum as a speaker14:10 Molly's take on her pre-gig prep to deliver a great talk16:12 How do you think about the appropriate level of customization vs having a signature keynote19:12 Molly's #1 tip to connecting with the audience21:40 How to find the right balance of humor for your talk26:19 What plays into how you think about fees and the value you bring as a speaker28:40 How would you encourage other females who want to speak32:11 Why you need good mentorsEpisode Resources:Visit Molly’s websiteFollow Molly on LinkedInFollow Molly on InstagramGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"We're more willing to be our genuine organic selves, which is going to attract other like minded people, that we can find our group, find our people, and take over the world in a positive way."Today, Brittany Richmond sat down on the podcast with her speaker friends Matt Matkovich and Phil Januszewski to talk about what it’s like being a speaking duo! Matt and Phil have been speaking together for over a decade now, and they joined us to share more about what it’s like sharing the stage and what they have learned over the past 10 years. "We are two ordinary guys who turned out doing extraordinary things to audiences around the country. And we're living proof to people that if you stick with something, if you're natural, genuine, and organic about your message, the sky is the limit, and you could turn an ordinary idea into something truly extraordinary."In this episode, Matt, Phil, and Brittany cover: What it’s like being a speaking duo The importance of honoring your niche How to get over failure as a speaker The balancing act of having full-time jobs and speaking 20-30 gigs a year What they think are the most important traits for speakers to embody Funny speaking stories and memories How to partner with AV to overcome tech issues "We didn't want to leave the education profession. We appreciated and enjoyed it too much, so we knew that as part of our speaking plan, that. All right, well, that's it then. We just have to accept the fact that we'll be limited to the amount of gigs we can take."Episode Chapters:05:19 Who are you guys and what do you speak on?08:57 How did we get connected and start speaking together?12:46 Why does your message resonate with you guys?15:50 We focus on chasing our why nots in life and that’s what we push from the stage. 20:24 With limited time, how does your schedule work?22:08 What’s your process when people want to book you?26:30 How do you make it easier on the decision maker to work with you?28:42 Why we priortize being easy to work with.32:18 Tell us about a time when you guys had a gig go wrong37:13 How do you react when tech issues come up?39:03 Tech ideas to help you recover from issues and adlib if you have to! 42:23 Why it’s important to stay audience focused Episode Resources:Visit the M&P Presentations WebsiteFollow Matt & Phil on InstagramFollow Matt & Phil on LinkedInGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Just because you land a gig, it doesn't stop there. How can you parlay that into more gigs?"Erick Rheam is back on the podcast today to educate us on the power of geographical prospecting. If you’ve listened to the podcast for any time, you’ve heard us talk about daily prospecting and the growth that goes into building momentum for your speaking business. Today, we will dig into what it looks like to take that effort and work smarter, not harder. "You got to look at this as opportunities to create more business. So we don't want to be so focused that when you go do a gig, Grant, that you're going there. You're there to do the gig, you're going to knock it out of the park, you're going to collect your paycheck, you're going to move on. You got to think bigger than that, and you got to start thinking about, well, maybe this is an area where I can expand my message and do it with folks that are in the proximity of where I'm going to be."In this episode, Grant and Erick cover: What is geographical prospecting?The 4 pillars of geographical prospecting What you need to know about putting this into practice in your business Case studies of this actually working (From Grant & Erick!) Practical tips to help you get startedBest practices on investing in these relationships "Once you land a gig, look for prospects within a 50 miles radius. The key is just get the process started, and then once you get them on the phone, just explore opportunities with them."Episode Chapters:04:47 What is geographical prospecting?07:10 Why should you focus on building great relationships?10:18 Who do you reach out to?15:12 What does it mean to be easy to work with?18:40 How did Grant use Geographical Prospecting?22:09 What does it look like to turn an event into a networking event?23:07 How do you mitigate risk for the event planners? 26:51 What creative ways can you leverage geographical prospecting?Episode Resources:Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"The two most important qualities to come across as a speaker probably, and it's on podcast as well, is to get across a sense of warmth and competence and if you can be in that energy, you can be more trusted as a voice."We're back with another edition of our Coaches Corner series. This week, Maryalice is joined by John Ball, TSL coach and a veteran Podcaster, to investigate whether podcasting is a channel worth pursuing as you build your speaking business. "If you're in your earlier stages of building a speaking career, then Guesting is much more a place to start because otherwise having your own show, the amount of work that does really need to go into that is going to be one more thing that may slow down your progress in building up your speaking business and your speaker pipeline."In this episode, John and Maryalice cover: The pros and cons of podcasting How to use podcasting to grow your audience and share your messageWhat makes a good podcast Practical advice for you to get started Tips on podcast pitching and getting onto guest shows Why podcast may not be a great fit for you "Like consistency is king, right? So if you're promising a podcast drop every Thursday, and for three months you do it and then all of a sudden, third month you go away and then six weeks later you're like, oh, I'm back, I'm so sorry, we've all experienced that. On the other side, don't be that person. So if you can't be consistent, I would say don't start it."Episode Chapters: 05:10 Start with guesting before launching your show.09:42 Podcasting helps you improve speaking skills that are applicable on stage.12:12 What to consider when thinking about starting a podcast.15:13 Examples of what being a great guest looks like.22:02 The importance of consistency.25:34 What you need to launch a great podcast.31:33 How to plan for longterm success.32:38 Ways to monetize your podcast.38:08 Get to know John.Episode Resources:Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"If we can remind ourselves that we're in service of our audience, we have value to bring as a professional speaker, somebody determined that you have something of value to say to this audience, and if you remind yourself of that, it will turn down all of that negative self talk and really help you focus in the moment."Matt Abrahams has made a life teaching people how to become great communicators, and today, he's sharing his expertise with us. Grant and Matt sit down to dig into what Matt teaches daily to coach speakers, sales teams, entrepreneurs, and more. If you want to become a better speaker with strategic growth efforts, Matt's advice will help you craft a killer keynote to build your confidence and deeply reach the audiences you're engaging with; this episode is for you. "So if you can remind yourself of the things that get you excited about what you're speaking on, and if you can remind yourself of the potential value that the audience has to take from what you're saying, those are things that can get you excited."In this episode, Matt and Grant cover: How to read the audience for patterns to inform your content The levels of engagement to create buy-in from your audience How to bio-hack your speaking confidence What it looks like to get comfortable handling hecklersHow to facilitate an engaging and beneficial QA session Pro tips to focus on connection vs perfection to better reach your audience "And minimally viable product design says that when you want to create a new product or service, the very first thing you do is you go out and you talk to your users and understand what are their pain points, what are their issues, what are their challenges, and then you build frameworks to test it. So you get out and you're rapidly prototyping ideas. You're taking feedback, you're iterating."Episode Chapters: 05:58 Can you get the same results testing on social media as you get live?10:15 What is the right balance to enngaging an audience?13:41 Let’s talk about preparing to be on stage…what does that look like?16:05 How to create talks that engage with the audience on 3 levels.19:54 Tips to combat anxiety.27:58 How to run a great QA session.30:43 What you can do to mitigate and handle tricky situations in a QA session.35:03 Tips for interacting with the audience after your talk.Episode Resources: Connect with MattGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"You need to believe in yourself and you need to understand that you are validated in what you're wanting to charge."In this edition of our Student Highlight series, Brittany Richmond sat down with TedX speaker and education thought leader Dr. India White to talk about what it takes to build a speaking business and the tangible, practical things Dr. White did to take hers to the next level. "Work with them through that process until they say, okay, now let's get the contract going. Are you going to send it? Do you want mine? What do you want? Right. And then you go from there."This episode is filled with: Hard truths about building a speaking business Practical knowledge and problem-solving to help you work through the hard things Implementable changes to help you level up Expert advice from people a few steps ahead of you to achieve your dreams Tips on negotiating contractsGuidance on building solid relationships both with the audience and the event decision-makers "At the end of my conferences, I always have a QR code where I gather the people's name information and I ask, how did you like this? What did you want to learn from this? Is there anything you can add to this?"Episode Chapters: 05:16 How to align with your purpose and do work that changes lives09:16 Why TSL and what was your hope when you made this investment?14:25 What was your purpose in stepping into this space?17:33 The best part about being a speaker18:59 Underrated speaking advice to help you grow faster25:25 Negotiating tips to help you get better contracts28:17 How to capture post event feedback from attendees and build a relationship with event planners 31:32 Why brand building matters and how it shows up in other places off the stage 35:26 Tweaking your talk when the event timeline is thrown offEpisode Resources:Dr. India's WebsiteConnect with Dr. India on LinkedInWatch her TedX Talk on GritGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“If something scares you, you should probably do it."Grant sits down with Dave Allred to talk about how speaking can help you expand your comfort zone, create opportunities, and unlock potential in your life to achieve your goals. If you have thought about using speaking as a means to magnify and expand the impact of your legacy, this episode is for you. “My primary goal, Grant, when I get on stage, I always try to ask myself this question over and over as I'm preparing as well as when I walk on the stage, is just how can I create maximum value for the audience? That's where I found the best success, man, because you're really focusing on how you can create and serve the audience, and it's always going to come back full circle to you."In this episode Grant and Dave cover: Dave’s story and how he got into speaking How to stay top of mind and build a reputation as a speaker Practical tips for bridging the gap between relationship building and pitching What it looks like to bet on yourself and achieve big goals How to get started when something is new and/or intimidatingAnd more! “My advice would be, is to just dive in headfirst and again, take every single speaking opportunity that you can, even if it's for free, even if you have to pay for the flight or the hotel and whatnot, just go and do it.”Episode Chapters: 02:20 Tell us about who you are and what you want in life06:26 What’s your backstory look like and how did you find speaking11:05 Speaking was a tool that allowed you to attract capital. What did that look like?14:51 What kind of results do you expect from speaking gigs?18:15 Being active on social media is an important part of brand building and creating opportunities21:30 The criteria Dave uses to asses if gigs are worth it24:45 Using speaking to build strong relationships and create value for people who matter as a way to measure impact 27:24 What do you do it capture the leads in a room to keep a conversation going?31:24 How should someone get into speaking?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"I think it's important for speakers to be aware of it, to understand it, not be the type of speaker who's yelling at clouds like, no, I'm going to avoid this. When used in appropriate context, it can make so many things so much easier. But the challenge, like with any new technology, is really understanding what appropriate means and really understanding the boundaries of how it can help you, but then also being self aware enough to go, maybe this is where it doesn't help me."In this edition of Coaches Corner, we're digging into AI with Maryalice Goldsmith and Jeremy Rochford. This episode is a great addition to the show because they dig into leveraging AI to help you create great content. "ChatGPT can start the conversation, but we, as the creators, need to end the conversation. We need to take, if we're using ChatGPT, whatever it gives us, and then go, how would I say this to my tribe? How would I say this to my people?"In this episode, Jeremy and Maryalice cover: How to think about using AI to develop your content as a speakerPractical tips for using AI to create great content Patterns we see in our students who have heavily relied on AI to write their talks The pros and cons of using AI tools as a speakerThings to watch out for using ChatGPT and other AI toolsBest practices for using AI as a piece of the creative process "I feel like this AI is the industrial revolution for entrepreneurs. I feel like we'll look back 25 years from now and we'll go, this is where so much of this was made possible."Episode Chapters: 02:20 What is ChatGPT?09:15 Why are we talking about ChatGPT on the podcast?12:40 Why Chat GPT can start the conversation and help you develop it, but can’t do everything22:23 Why you should choose your language carefully so it deeply resonates with your audience.28:22 Other uses for Chat GPT29:18 Final thoughts on how to leverage it as a tool, not a done for you service.33:38 Why you have to build your talk on your own terms for it to work for youEpisode Resources:Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifyEditor's Note: This episode was recorded several weeks ago before recent events involving OpenAI had taken place.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Speaking is a platform to share a message and a story that could transform somebody's life."This week, Grant is joined by Dan Martell to talk about how to create a nontraditional speaking career. For Dan, speaking isn’t about the money. It’s a way to spread his message and impact lives. Want to leverage your speaking to create long-term value and develop strong relationships? This is the episode for you."If you ever have the opportunity to get on a stage to communicate to other people, you better bring your A game. Because he said that is the highest honor ever."In this episode, Grant and Dan cover how to: Leverage platforms to share your message Create a speaking career that isn’t your sole income Use speaking for brand building Find your niche and speak for impact to the audiences you resonate with the most Get better at speaking with repetitionPlay to your strengths as a speaker Assess the intangible benefits of a speaking career "I you have the honor and the privilege of getting on a stage, you should decide to be world class at that craft, and doing the reps is part of it."Episode Chapters:[00:03:59] When did Dan start coding and why?[00:05:22] What mindset do you bring to the speaking events you take?[00:07:45] How to build your confidence as a speaker.[00:13:57] Dan’s thoughts on structuring a talk. [00:19:38] Using speaking to build a brand vs it being the “product” you sell. [00:21:47] Creating content for the brand through your daily actions. [00:24:02] What it looks like to use your empire to change lives.[00:30:16] The importance of testing content and staying agile.[00:31:05] How to play bigger in the marketing/branding space [00:35:11] Balancing Dan’s schedule and buying back his time. Episode Resources:Connect with Dan on his website Follow Dan on Instagram Watch Dan’s Youtube channel Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“So I just cracked six figures in seven months? In seven months.”Grant is joined on the podcast this week by Dr Reggie Wright to talk about how he scaled his speaking business in 7 months. Reggie shares his background and his story, but more important digs into what really allowed him to step into this calling as a speaker with confidence.“Preparation breeds confidence. I just want to be prepared. And I just thought about it, like, as an athlete, right. I just want to go into the game being prepared for the game. Let the chips fall where they may. So that's what I did.”In this episode, Grant and Reggie dig into: How to leverage your story to connect with audiences What it looks like to put in the work to chase your dreams A detailed look at Reggie’s schedule while he launched his business What it looks like to commit to making an impact on the world around you How to use your message to drive your focus when the path is unclear Why it’s important to be prepared even if you’re not in the game yet “I was confident in my ability to speak in terms of being on a stage. I knew that I still had a lot of work to do in terms of crafting my speech, in terms of the intro and the transitioning and all that kind of stuff. But in terms of the business side of it, combining both of them together, I just looked at it like going to school. I need to start playing a sport. I need to start up the basics. Let me learn how to dribble with my right hand. Let me learn how to drill my left hand.”Episode Chapters: [00:00:44] What do you speak on?[00:03:57] What’s your background?[00:08:07] You happened upon a keynote opportunity, tell us how that happened. [00:10:40] How did that keynote go and what were you feeling after it? [00:15:58] What was on your mind when it came to building a speaking business? [00:17:44] You started this journey with self education, what did you learn in this phase? [00:19:45] What was the learning curve like for you to step into this world? [00:24:30] What kind of impact are you hoping to leave on the world? [00:29:00] What are your biggest lessons learned in pursuing this journey? [00:31:51] How did you set your expectations to create a success story in your life? [00:34:26] Our biggest pet peeve when it comes to new speakers.Episode Resources: Connect with Reggie on LinkedInVisit Reggie’s Website Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"History doesn't repeat itself. It's just that humans tend to do the same thing in patterns even if 20 or 40 or 50 years ago they did the exact same thing when faced with the same inputs."This week on the podcast, Grant sat down with Dominique Luster, a TSL alum and a professional speaker in the DEI space. Dominique’s speaking career started somewhat naturally as she was on a mission to share the history of minorities through working in the museum/education space for years before she was asked to do a TED talk. “Any project or organization that comes to the table with the same feelings and beliefs that history is not passive and that African American history matters and should be uplifted and shared and preserved and told just like anything else."In this episode, Dominique and Grant dig into: How Dominique got into speaking Figuring out what makes you unique and what your niche can be in the speaking world How to find DEI gigs and leverage your network What it looks like to get creative and find places to share your message Learning how to leverage her impact when it comes to seeking out gigs The ongoing symbiotic relationship of her speaking and consulting businesses growing together What Dominique thinks the future of the DEI space holds for speakers and thought leaders "I think the future of DEI is just becoming a part of what we do, a part of being a better world, about being a more mindful and care giving world, is just expanding it out so that it isn't so separate all the time."Episode Chapters:[00:03:07] Dominique’s background from Theather to Archival work and beyond[00:06:37] Speaking for work all the time and being asked to present a TEDx Talk[00:10:47] Are the opportunities in the DEI field limited?[00:13:32] How Dominique got into speaking in the university space[00:17:15] Who to approach when trying to get booked as a DEI speaker [00:21:54] How the DEI space is continuously growing and changing[00:27:27] What does the future of the DEI space hold?[00:29:46] Where can you find new opportunities and connections[00:32:31] Places to connect with Dominique onlineEpisode Resources:Connect with Dominique on LinkedInLearn more about Dominique’s workGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"And it's interesting because our self talk starts at the very beginning of our day. So the minute you become conscious before, sometimes you even open your eyes, what's your first thought? Right? Is it something positive? Or is it like, oh, my back is killing me. Well, guess what? That is the underlying tone and theme for the rest of your day."Maryalice is back on the podcast with another one of our awesome coaches. This week, we’re welcoming Angie Besignano for her first time on the podcast. Maryalice and Angie run through her background and then dig into one of Angie’s areas of expertise, energy management. "We need to treat our energy and our energetic goals as intentionally as we do our business goals."If you’re unsure what energy management is or how to regulate and audit the amount of energy you need to create success. In this episode, Maryalice and Angie talk about:The 4 types of energy How the energy types are connected and they work together to impact your lifeRegulating and auditing your energy What goes into protecting your energy and your priorities How to develop better habits regarding your energy Why protecting your energy leads to more success Maintain a steady energy level when good and bad things happen "Do it, do it for 14 days and then tell me how do you feel then and now? And hands down, it's like, I can't believe this being big miracle happened. Like, I can't believe I feel so much better."Episode Chapters: [00:03:48] Why is energy is fundamental to a balanced life.[00:09:41] How the 4 energies are connected. [00:12:52] How to approach balancing your energy. [00:14:14] What to look for and prioritize when you get busy. [00:19:40] How to begin regulating your energy.[00:23:51] What it looks like to create compounding habits for energy success.[00:26:09] Developing awareness to the interconnectedness of the 4 energies. [00:29:31] Use the tools you have to leverage your power.[00:34:42] Delegate energy-draining tasks to protect growth.[00:38:22] Learn how to prioritze selfcare.[00:40:03] Your energy compounds, positively or negatively, you get to decide.Episode Resources:Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"The key to a great demo video is showcasing your best work and highlighting your strengths. It should effectively demonstrate your skills, talent, and unique qualities in a concise and captivating manner."Demo videos are mission-critical to getting booked and paid as a professional speaker. Today, Grant sat down with Shawn Hanks. Shawn is the CEO of the Premiere Speakers Bureau, and he knows a few things about speaker marketing, demo videos, and how to create a stand-out product. “A demo video helps to mitigate and reduce that risk for an event planner to say, no, I feel comfortable and confident hiring this speaker and putting them on stage, putting my reputation on the line as the event planner to report to my committee or board or boss or whoever it may be."Grant and Shawn dig into:Why you need a strong demo video How to create a GREAT demo video The key idea and formula that something memorable What you should be spending on your demo video The perceptions that go into the setting/image of your video What NOT to do in a demo video The ideal length of a sizzle reel What makes a sizzle reel and a demo video different Episode Chapters: [00:02:19] Why a demo video essential for booking paid speaking gigs[00:04:42] How to make your video stand out by including powerful moments and crowd response[00:09:29] Why short, impactful videos capture audience attention best.[00:12:24] Why you should keep videos 8-10 minutes, highlight interesting content in first 30 seconds[00:17:03] How to use videos to showcase expertise, captivating stories, and positive testimonies [00:21:12] How impressive speaker videos have set new standards[00:23:08] Why your talking head footage needs to have punch[00:27:59] How to make sure your video progress reflects personal and professional growth[00:33:37] Why hard work pays off in a thriving events industryEpisode Resources:Connect with ShawnLearn more about Premire SpeakersGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"There were two modules that were particularly helpful for me...The module about preparing your talk was really helpful...It helped me fill in stories where I needed to fill in a story and applications for real-life examples...And then the other part was the last module, Know When to Scale...That last module helped me really make sense of it all."Dr. Peggy DeLong joins Maryalice Goldsmith on the podcast this week to talk about her journey to The Speaker Lab and what she’s accomplished since beginning her speaking career. Together, they dig into what Dr. Peggy speaks about, how she found her niche, and what pushed her to take the next step to grow her business. "Well, a couple of things came together at perfect timing. Actually three things. Two opportunities literally fell in my lap. I've been a speaker for 20 years, often speaking for free, lots of different reasons and not making much movement. And then all of a sudden, the largest audience opportunity came my way without pitching, and the largest fee came my way. So I thought I really better level up my game."In this episode, they talk about: The impact of gratitude on your bad days Gaining clarity through the programming and resources TSL has How Peggy structures her talks and her message The power of finding your niche When Peggy fits in her Daily Power HourLearning how to say no to things that are good not great How Peggy takes care of herself so she can take care of everyone else the way she does The ins and outs of Peggy’s Pre Talk routine "I teach methods like gratitude and other things that feel good while we're doing them. So it's not a chore. You can actually look forward to doing these things, and when you do them on a regular basis, you are setting yourself up for positive mental health in the future."Episode Chapters:[00:04:20] Where did you find Gratitude?[00:07:57] Brain psychology of habits and why changing your thoughts can change your life?[00:11:38] What aligned to make you take the jump?[00:15:55] What helped you grow the most in the program? [00:18:08] Where is your speaking business taking you?[00:21:03] What is your framework for mental health?[00:23:13] What do your talks center around?[00:28:25] What does your schedule look like to build your business every day?[00:30:29] What was your biggest lesson to learn in the program? [00:33:48] What is your pre-talk routine?Episode Resources: Connect with Peggy on LinkedinExplore Peggy’s WebsiteBuy Peggy’s Books Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"AI enhances my creativity and helps me explore new ideas. From AI-generated music and artwork to machine learning algorithms that assist in brainstorming and content creation, it has become an invaluable tool in my creative process."Today, Grant sat down with Lauren Teague to chat about her speaking business and how she uses AI as a work partner to maximize her time, increase her creative output, and scale the amount of work she’s putting in to create great pieces of content. "It's like the most valuable intern that you could hire in that most capable, but you have to be extremely specific and good at delegation in order to get the most out of it."In today’s episode, Grant and Lauren dig into: Lauren’s background in speaking Why content matters when you’re building a brand How to leverage AI to help you create more content What Lauren uses AI for in her everyday life How AI can help you scale the amount of content you ship What AI tools are currently on the market, and what they do The difference between queries and prompting What makes a strong prompt And more! "AI is both new and old. It's new in the sense that we're seeing advancements and applications that we couldn't have imagined even a few years ago. But it's also old because the concept of machines being able to mimic human intelligence has been around for decades. It's fascinating to see how far we've come, but also humbling to realize that we're still just scratching the surface of what AI can do."If you’ve been thinking about implementing AI into your business and your everyday life, this could be a great episode to help you unlock the potential and explore tactical use cases. "Technology doesn't take away the human element, it enhances it. And I think that's what I've experienced personally with using tools like PICTORY and Castmagic. It's not about replacing me as a speaker, it's about amplifying my message and reaching a wider audience."Episode Chapters:[00:01:41] Lauren’s speaking background.[00:04:48] AI is ubiquitous and revolutionizing technology.[00:09:27] AI predictions for the future.[00:13:28] What is AI, and how does it create content?[00:16:34] What different types of AI models are out there?[00:21:02] What is prompting, and what makes a good prompt? [00:26:37] Popular AI tools for video editing, writing, and imagery.[00:31:25] What is the future of AI and content in regard to how we consume it? [00:33:53] Other AI that are useful and exciting.Episode Resources: Lauren’s WebsiteConnect with Lauren on LinkedInLauren’s Podcast - Brand to FanLauren’s Brand - FanWagn Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"It's kind of like setting up a table for dinner. You don't want to just be scrambling and hustle to the table and be sweating and be like, I don't even know where the forks are. So I think it's like, no, let's have a nice clean table. Lay it all out before yourself so you can kind of settle into it and know exactly where everything is and know you've set yourself up for success."We’re back with another episode in our Coaching Corner series! Today, Maryalice and Emily Arnold sit down to talk about how you can best prep to make your time in the program count. Emily is one of our program concierges, and she’s been around the block a few times when it comes to helping students prep for success and take off running. "And as someone who works with all of you, I see that you do all genuinely care about people. And so I think it's so wonderful to work for a team of people that when I'm getting students on orientation, I know with confidence, I'm sending you off to the coaching team who genuinely cares about you."In this episode, Maryalice and Emily dig into: How to prep for the program What mindsets are helpful to embrace when getting started The richness of the TSL community What it looks like to embrace personal branding How to get over the fear of seeing yourself on a screen When to access the support this program has so you can succeed in the long term And more! "There's this beautiful thread between all of the speakers that come to us, which is typically a desire to help people ultimately. And so what a community to be a part of?"Episode Chapters: 00:02:02 Meet Emily, let’s get to know her! 00:08:38 Set intentions and tips to develop a mindset for success.00:09:45 Set up logistics and follow the checklist for successful orientation.00:12:00 How to get the most from the community. 00:16:38 Using module 3 to help you show your best qualities online. 00:18:20 The fear of personal branding and how to get comfortable with that.  00:24:00 What advice would you give to speakers for social media. 00:26:20 Find and hang out where your people are. 00:31:00 Share your knowledge as you’re learning it. Remember that social media aims to support personal connections. 00:33:30 People want to work with people they want to work with. 00:36:00 We want to challenge you to grow but can’t force you. 00:37:36 We genuinely care about helping and supporting you and welcome you into the community with open arms.Episode Resources:Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"I think speakers are being called to be even more dynamic, more impactful, and a greater return on investment if they're addressing someone or having the pleasure of addressing someone in person and live."Joey Coleman joined us on the podcast this week to chat with Grant Baldwin about his journey of building a speaking business, leveraging books to create credibility, and learning how to eb with the ebbs and flow with the flows as the speaking world grows and changes to accommodate virtual and in-person events. "Every presentation I give, I try to think about, what do each of those three separate groups want? What do they need, and how does my speech serve them? So what is the ROI for the check signer? It's going to be a much tighter dollar ROI than for the person sitting in the crowd. But for the person sitting in the crowd, it's going to be a behavioral ROI."In this episode, Grant and Joey dig into: Joey’s speaking history and expertise The shift in booking timelinesHow to engage crowds virtually What your marketing materials should target How to make sure everyone sees the ROI of you as a speaker Book publishing for your credibility How to run uber specific discovery calls for success “It's my personal belief in my worldview that humans are humans. Regardless of industry, customers have certain things that they're going to do. I don't care whether you're buying a loaf of bread or a tractor. You have certain desires, innate feelings as a human being, and the same holds true for employees. If you're a brand new employee, I don't care whether you're the CFO or the call center rep, you're going to have certain human desires that you want. What I try to do is have as the foundation for everything I do the commonality amongst humans.”Episode Chapters:[00:02:37] How has covid changed the state of the speaking industry?[00:04:45] What is the percentage of your in person vs online gigs?[00:09:48] How do you provide better solutions when what they ask for isn’t what they need?[00:14:13] What audiences do you need to impress with your content?[00:19:07] How to use common human desires to drive business outcomes?[00:22:12] What does it take to focus on customer and employee engagement?[00:27:37] How did you publish your books?[00:31:54] Why should we read your new book?Epsiode Resources: Connect with JoeyGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"If you go through adversity and you don't learn anything from it, that it's a lost opportunity"This episode of the Speaker Lab Podcast is another excellent episode of our Student Highlight Series. Maryalice Goldsmith, Director of Student Success, sat down with Bruce Wawrzyniak to talk about his speaking business, the career he’s building, and his experience here at the Speaker Lab. "So which ones are you going to choose? Are you going to choose the negative thoughts and dwell on those, or are you going to choose the positive, happy thoughts and really affect your whole day with the choices that you make just based on all the different thoughts that come in and out of your mind?"When it comes to developing a speaking career, Bruce reflected on finding his niche, developing confidence in his worth, and learning how to run this operation like a business vs. a hobby. Maryalice and Bruce also cover: Developing a strategy as a speaker The importance of happiness in our life Why you should invest in yourself How to prepare for success What it looks like to take action Why you have to solve a problem for your audiences And more! “Hope is not a strategy that will grow your business.” Episode Chapters:[00:03:33] Importance of happiness, solution-focused mindset, COVID's impact.[00:07:19] LinkedIn bio highlights being talkative and adversity.[00:10:49] Transitioning from unpaid speaking to professional excellence.[00:15:24] Speaker Lab changes speaker's approach to bookings.[00:19:57] Learning how to evaluate event opportunities strategically.[00:23:28] Choose one thing, be successful and prepared.[00:28:34] What do you need for a successful presentation?[00:29:47] Benefiting from adversity, helping and inspiring.Episode Resources:Connect with BruceGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Just because you’ve had success in other fields doesn’t mean that you get to skip rungs on the ladder.” Grant welcomes Jon Acuff back to the The Speaker Lab Podcast! Jon is a regular guest on our show, because he’s an active speaker, a well know New York Times bestselling author, and one of Grant’s good friends. "I think you could climb the ladder faster when you're an expert at something else already. Like, you and I have seen that, like, former athletes climb the ladder faster. People that have done other things climb the ladder faster. But I think it's about setting your expectations. I think it's about setting the reality. I think it's about putting in the work, about thinking about the client, like, outperforming what their expectations are."This week, they dig into Jon’s speaking journey what he’s learned through writing his latest book, All It Takes is a Goal, and how you apply these goal setting principles to your speaking business. This episode also covers: How to climb the speaking ladder What it looks like to set big goals that don’t set you up for failure Jon’s favorite goal setting framework How to embrace challenges and connect with the audience What it’s like always playing away games How to use books to grow your business What ghostwriting is and how to tell if it’s a good fit for you A little bit more about Jon’s new book “It's kind of like, an NFL player who sucks at announcing. They do it for like, three games and you never hear from them again. And you're like, But I thought he played in the NFL for ten years. He's a hall of famer. Yeah, it turns out performing in a game or commenting on a game are very different crafts. And he thought, Nah, dude, I throw touchdowns. I know how to break down a game and do color comment like, no, you don't. You have a chance to engage in that with humility and work on it and put in the reps and the effort, or it just falls apart. And so I remember so many times where I would go and again, it would be low fee, small audience, maybe new content, and I'd put together my own slides, and it was me learning how to do it. And you really have to look at, like, if there's five people in there or 500, I have to give my best.”Episode Chapters:[00:02:34] Start small, build up to guaranteed goals.[00:06:52] Frustration and joy in pursuing new ventures.[00:09:58] Always serve well. [00:14:54] Content creators need to accept the limitations of their celebrity status.[00:19:08] To become a keynote speaker you have to cater and serve corporate audiences, books are a great tool for that.[00:24:26] Test your content live before creating a book.[00:25:36] Continuing to use older content as it fits the audiences is a great way to use your books after you publish them. [00:31:22] Is ghostwriting the solution? [00:33:30] All about Jon’s Book: "All it Takes is a Goal" The author reflects on his college regrets, realizing his potential, and helping others. Study shows most people feel untapped potential. Book offers practical ways to reach goalsEpisode Resources:Connect with JonGet Jon's New Book: All It Takes Is A GoalGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"We absolutely have the ability to cultivate a growth mindset, which will put us it makes us more resilient. It gives us the ability to see opportunities and connect more easily with people. We move through the world very differently, and it gives you a different energy to go about the task of building a business."The Speaker Lab Coach, Katherine Johnson is back on the podcast this week sharing her expertise on reprogramming your mindset so it’s a helpful tool in building the speaking busines of your dreams. She sat down with Maryalice Goldsmith, to chat about changing your mindset, to ensure that you aren't creating a breeding ground for failure. "I'm always growing. I don't know how to do this piece. This may feel hard right now, but what I know is I can look back at my past life and be like, I can do hard things."Katherine and Maryalice dig into:Tips on how to build resilienceWhy you need disciplineHow to overcome failure What it looks like to transition to a growth mindset How to assess our experiences and the stories we tell ourselves for quality in the decision making process What metrics matter when you’re building a busienss Ways to recovery when you learn a hard or expensive lesson And more! “I think of resilience as coming from focusing more on the activities you're doing and their effectiveness over the long run instead of focusing on the results. Right. Because if we take that idea of, let's say bamboo, right? Bamboo. At first, there are certain kinds. You plant it, you water, water, water. You don't see anything. And then all of a sudden, you can get a foot of growth a day. Right? Well, we have to focus on what you're doing in your speaking business and as a speaker, looking at the activities, and that those compound and they stack. But if you take a snapshot in any moment and you are just like, well, this must mean X, Y or Z, and you walk away, you're doing a huge disservice to yourself.”Episode Chapters00:02:13 Mindset impacts everything. Positive mindset is crucial.00:06:52 Questions to focus on learning and reprograming thought processes.00:11:33 Embrace new opportunities and see what happens.00:15:28 Open to learning, failures lead to success.00:16:36 How to bounce back when things go wrong.00:22:39 Consistently prioritize key tasks to achieve success.00:24:41 Focus on growth mindset, set realistic expectations. Seek coaching for perspective and progress.Episode ResourcesGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"So there are definitely two main chapters to my life, and they both happened before age 22. So when I was very young, and they both involved aviation, and one was ultimately amazing, and one was obviously terrible.”Until age 22, Ryan’s life revolved around flying and aviation. Unfortunately, after an unexpected trip, he was put in a place where flying couldn’t be his #1 priority anymore. After some unexpected journeys as he was healing, he spent a lot of time reflecting on what he would do with his life. “I realized at that point that a lot of speakers are out there, like the prior version of Ryan. Who spoke on climbing a mountain, this incredible success that had its adversities along the way?But there was also a whole different group that spoke on the day that changed their life forever. And that was unrequested adversity. But very few had both. And I thought to myself, wait on, that's actually an opportunity to compare the two to see where we truly learn.”Ryan moved to the US to pursue his speaking career. In a way, the world forced him to change his plans and adapt to the industry as he settled down in the US just in time for COVID to hit. If you’re experiencing a season of turbulence in your life and are hoping to find inspiration to continue overcoming adversity, this episode is for you! Grant and Ryan dig into:How to handle adversity and become “turbulence tough”Following your intuition even when it’s hard. How to tell your stories so they resonate with your audience Engaging the audience so they never forget your messageDeveloping resiliency Learning how to handle the ebbs and flows “There are very few ways to do new ways to do old things, right? It's, finding a way to take a cliche or something that's worn out and present it back to an audience in a fun, unique, potentially viral, unforgettable way, and, That's what we've managed to do, which is really cool. So if you're out there and you don't have that wild story, don't worry about it.”Episode Chapters:[00:02:50] Prioritizing joy, mental health, resilience, hobbies[00:05:04] Aviation passion leads to incredible achievement.[00:08:43] Young flyer's journey from fame to tragedy.[00:11:51] From paraplegic to helicopter pilot to speaker.[00:15:30] Passion for mental health and resilience. Pink Cadillac led to prioritizing joy.[00:20:22] A masterclass in storytelling.[00:23:46] Finding joy and prioritizing happiness transformed me.[00:26:54] Communicate, learn, iterate, observe, and create memorable experiences.[00:29:53] Building a speaking business takes patience and resilience.[00:35:34] Be careful networking too far ahead.[00:37:49] Incredible lifestyle, money, time, work-life balance. Create your own brand and transform.“What if I merge these two worlds? What if every time I was struggling, I actually intentionally prioritized joy? What if I took this one thing that a lot of us consider selfish, and I made it essential? And it was an understanding of the benefits, a deep dive into that, that led to the permission to do something we often see as selfish.The permission led to prioritization, which led to positive change. So this one idea of ‘Hey, this stuff matters’ led me down a path that not only did this become one of the greatest benefits in my life to my mental health, especially since the accident, it actually became a question, what's your pink Cadillac? What's the one thing you do that makes you smile like a kid?”Episode Resources:Chat with Ryan Connect with Ryan on LinkedInGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many speakers lean gradually into speaking. Still others stumble upon it unexpectedly. And still others find their passion and talent early on in life with the help of formative family members–like Shailesh Ghimire. Shailesh is our latest Student Highlight guest on The Speaker Lab podcast, and he shares his story on episode 459 with Maryalice Goldsmith, our director of student success. Today, Shailesh is a speaker, podcaster, and marketing expert with a background in physics. But years ago, he was a fourth grader preparing and delivering presentations for his dad, who loved and respected the fields of public speaking and debate. Thanks to those early years learning how to speak in front of an audience, Shailesh has never struggled with stage fright to this day.While Shailesh’s dad helped set him on the road to public speaking, it took him some time to move beyond treating speaking like a hobby on top of his successful marketing business. But ultimately, as he attests, everybody has the same 24 hours in a day–and he refocused his time to prioritize building a speaking business. That’s where The Speaker Lab comes in! Shailesh walks Maryalice through how our program offered him structure and consistency while leaving lots of room for independent initiative and creating your own systems. For example, unlike most speakers, Shailesh relies primarily on email for lead outreach rather than phone calls. This requires a unique set of systems for getting in touch with clients and following up, as you’ll learn on the show. Shailesh is full of enthusiasm and humor on air as well as on the stage–listen till the end to hear why he’s ready to write the “definitive book on women” after raising four daughters. He is currently working on expanding to new clientele and you’ll get to hear all about the additional hurdles and challenges that come with the scaling stage of running a speaking business.You’ll also learn all about: How being involved in theater helps prepare you for confidence as a speaker.Tips and tricks for balancing speaking and parenting. How to make traveling all the time more enjoyable. Why you shouldn’t overcomplicate the prospecting process.Why imposter syndrome is actually a good thing.How to maintain energy from one speaking engagement to the next.…and so much more!Episode Resources:Read Shailesh's Success StoryConnect with ShaileshGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifyEpisode Chapters: [00:01:51] Dad's influence at home to get public speaking practice.[00:04:02] Discovering speaking career leads to paid gigs.[00:09:40] Time is all about priorities and goals.[00:14:30] Be intentional, follow instructions, use email.[00:19:43] Surprise: Learning about presentation time requirements[00:22:12] Last-minute panic turns into successful presentation.[00:25:25] Big experience with dedicated, learning audience. Stay prepared.[00:29:11] How are you focused on expanding your speaking business?[00:33:41] Game-changing; juggling multiple businesses with purpose.[00:34:47] Believe in your message, forget self-doubt.[00:40:00] Legacy: emotional attachment to leaving a mark.[00:41:23] Grateful guest expresses appreciation for podcast appearance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a speaker, it’s often hard to find the balance between telling your story, building your personal brand, and serving your audience. No matter what your story is, you have to connect it to solving your audience’s problems. Otherwise, you’re just talking about yourself–and that’s a surefire strategy for failure if your goal is making an impact. On Episode 458 of The Speaker Lab podcast, Grant Baldwin invited Bruce Van Horn, a speaker with a pretty extraordinary story, to help you walk that very fine line. Before Bruce was a speaker, he was a creative writing major who pivoted to a successful career in the software business. If you’re struggling to connect the dots between what you studied, where you work, and what you want to speak about, his path will inspire you to think outside the box and buck expectations. Bucking expectations is a big part of Bruce’s mission. On top of being a speaker, he is also a life coach, author, and podcast host. Through his various efforts to promote positive change using words, he helps other people experience radical mindset shifts and get unstuck from negative patterns in their life. On the show, he shares some of those strategies and a sneak peek into what he calls his “victory routines.” His podcast, Life Is A Marathon, invokes a powerful experience of self-reflection and mindset shift he had while training for a marathon during a series of tragic life events.You’ll also learn all about: The drawbacks of basing your career choices entirely on money. How Zig Ziglar inspired Bruce to kick his victimhood mindset. What we can learn about from marathon training. How to leverage a podcast to get you more speaking gigs. The difference between passion and enthusiasm.How to pick the parts of your story that will connect with your audience. …and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESConnect with BruceGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Establishing your niche is one of the most important tasks of building your speaking business.Like all important tasks, this isn’t a one-step process–it is a long journey of discovery and refinement. Because this is such a hot topic among our TSL students, our latest coaches’ corner podcast naturally focuses on finding your niche. In Episode 457 of The Speaker Lab Podcast, TSL coaches Maryalice Goldsmith and Katie Campbell discuss how to figure out what your niche really is. If your niche is an onion, this episode is peeling back the layers so you can hone in on your target audience and book the gigs that are best suited to your expertise.The more you narrow your niche, the more you attract the attention of the right people. That’s how successful speakers build momentum, as Katie and Maryalice explain on the show. No matter how broad you think your message is, you can amplify it best by finding the specific audience out there whose needs intersect perfectly with what you bring to the table. At the same time, finding your niche should not be a limiting experience. Many speakers mistakenly think they have to draw only from their on-paper experience to find a niche. But if your industry is over-saturated, there is probably a gap in the market where an unexpected audience really needs to hear what you have to say!Another limiting belief that many speakers unconsciously subscribe to is that your story determines your niche. Stories are a core part of who we are and any speaker’s personal brand. While your story informs your talk, it does not have to define your niche. Speaking at its core is about solving problems, not selling stories. If you feel stuck in your attempts to drill down in your niche, reconsider whether you have let your story eclipse the solutions you offer. Chances are, reorienting your speaker brand around solutions and transformation will give you a boost and help you reach the right people. That’s what Katie and Maryalice will walk you through in Episode 457!You’ll also learn all about: What your “unique leverage point” is and how to find it. How to apply your experience to a drastically different field. Why your expertise matters more than your stories.How to choose stories that connect to your solutions. How getting clear on your niche helps you sell yourself on the phone. The importance of coaching and mentorship to overcoming imposter syndrome.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s not every day that a game show host comes onto The Speaker Lab podcast. But this is your lucky day! For this episode, Mike Montague joins Grant for an exciting conversation about how he balances podcasting, speaking, game show hosting, and his job for a prominent sales and leadership training company. While some might have a specific vision of what it means to be a speaker, for Mike it means any time he’s behind a microphone. He knows how to bring the party to whatever kind of event he’s leading, whether it’s a corporate seminar for a multinational company or a keynote where he’s throwing water balloons at the audience.Mike strikes an unusual balance for a speaker, as he has multiple ongoing employment contracts on top of his independent speaking business. As a result, this episode offers a great deal of insight into managing multiple streams of income. Most speakers scale and diversify their business at some point, so even if you’re not at that point yet, it can be really helpful to hear what that process is like for someone as multi-talented as Mike. Deciding whether to go all-in on entrepreneurship is a tough decision with many factors. Family, finances, and prior commitments can all impact the decision. Whether you like the stability of having one employer or you enjoy juggling multiple jobs at once, Mike’s story will certainly have some insights for you.You’ll also learn all about: Coping when your dream job isn’t everything you thought it would be. How to create contracts with your employer that allow you freedom in your speaking business. How to shake off imposter syndrome by getting comfortable in your niche. When it’s time to take risks with your audience. What it’s like to audition for game show gigs.How to write a game show script. …and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESVisit Mike's WebsiteConnect with Mike on LinkedInCheck out Mike's Podcast - Playful HumansGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A lot of coaches become speakers, and a lot of speakers become coaches. It’s not a simple 2+2=4 formula, but there’s a few reasons why these professions complement each other so well! One of our recent program alumni, Kyle Cofer, came onto episode 455 of The Speaker Lab podcast to discuss her path from life coaching to speaking. In this student highlight, Kyla shares how our program helped her amplify her message about overcoming burnout. Going from aspiring to professional speaker requires tailored guidance and mentorship. As Kyla testifies, even an expert at coaching other people can have trouble overcoming a few nagging insecurities. Kyla and our director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith discuss the trickle down effect she experienced from her experienced TSL mentors and the breakthroughs she achieved using our five-module SPEAK framework.Kyla is more than an entrepreneur and speaker–she’s also a devoted homeschooling mom. Juggling motherhood and the fast-paced speaker life is no joke and requires a few iron-clad priorities balanced by flexible routines. When it comes to childcare and splitting parental responsibilities, Kyla offers some “real talk” and encouragement for any speaker trying to give their best self to their kids and their business.The truth is, nobody can be perfect to everybody all the time, and despite your best ambitions you will fall short at speaking, parenting, and everything in between! But like any good life coach, Kyla has words of wisdom for handling failure: it all comes down to gratitude and acknowledgement of what makes us human. If this episode doesn’t have you dying to hire Kyla as your life coach, it will definitely have you feeling better equipped to handle your flaws!You’ll also learn all about: Why striving for perfection gets in the way of creativity. How to readjust your goals without compromising. How to move on without baggage from even the most epic flops. The value of letting go when it comes to negative feedback.Tips for composing and practicing your talk. The relationship between self-care and successful speaking.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESKyla's WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan Irvin was laid off of his C-suite position just as COVID started taking off. He took it as a sign to start the speaking career he had long been considering. Between pandemic-induced chaos and his own inexperience with the speaking industry, his first efforts were, in his own words, “dismal.” Fortunately, he discovered The Speaker Lab, which helped him systematize his business to the point where he is now speaking over 50 times a year on top of working as a member of the TSL team. Dan joined us for episode 454 of the TSL podcast to discuss the step-by-step processes that help him succeed.To really succeed as a speaker, you need a plan. Having a plan will get your family and friends in your corner when you first launch your business as well as showing future clients that you are serious about what you do. Dan has used careful strategy and repeatable systems to turn his speaking business into a well-oiled machine. From time management to email followups, putting systems in place will set you apart from the many wannabe speakers who are fueled by enthusiasm that lacks consistency. Furthermore, automated systems that work for you when you’re not even paying attention help you free up valuable time to spend with your loved ones. One of Dan’s systems that will interest many speakers is how he evaluates whether to take on unpaid gigs. Many clients with tight budgets can still offer value that can’t be quantified in monetary terms. At the same time, if you get a reputation for speaking for free, nobody will want to pay you! This is a question that boggles many speakers…after all, at the start of your career, you have very few options! Dan and Grant have all the answers for you on this episode, from how to decide if an audience is the perfect fit to tough conversations with clients who can’t pay you. You’ll also learn all about: Dan’s tried-and-true contact strategy that connects him with the best leads.Why quality of leads matters more than quantity.  Why you should start with one signature talk rather than a suite of talks.How to use your time if you have just 30 minutes a day for your speaking business.How to balance your love of travel with missing your family at home.Which parts of your speaking business should and shouldn’t be outsourced.How to decide on software tools to automate your tasks.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESDan Irvin's WebsiteDan's Email TemplatesGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brittany Richmond is an experienced volleyball coach and counselor. She’s also an uplifting speaker and influencer who inspires teens to manage their anxiety and overcome stigma around mental illness. Our favorite part? She’s a coach for us here at The Speaker Lab. This week on Episode 453 of The Speaker Lab podcast, she shares how she speaks about incredibly vulnerable topics in a relatable and sensitive way.Brittany already had a lot of experience working with students, so her story offers great insight into knowing when you can make a more impact as a speaker than one-on-one. Her own experience as a youth with crippling anxiety that was invisible to even her closest loved ones informs her message about proactively evolving through mental illness to live a thriving and fulfilled life. While she normally shares her message with teens, today she’s sharing it with you too–if you’re an aspiring speaker who struggles with anxiety, Brittany’s story is sure to give you a confidence boost.Speaking to the youth market is a difficult task–making money, finding your niche, and marketing yourself all come with a special set of challenges. Brittany has really mastered the delicate balance of relatability and relevance. While she offers hope, she also offers tactical steps that leave her listeners feeling better equipped to deal with her struggles. On the show, you’ll hear how she keeps her niche narrow so she can better serve her audience. Perhaps most powerfully, Brittany explains why she tailors her message to the person she once was–the anxious teen who just needed to hear “you’re not alone.”You’ll also learn all about:How to be vulnerable without oversharingStrategies for connection and engagement with a younger audienceHow TSL’s SPEAK framework gave Brittany her roadmap to speaking successWhy COVID has resulted in a greater demand for mental health speakersHow alignment with your purpose defeats insecurity about your speaker qualificationsWhen it’s time to let your intuition guide what you say onstage…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESBrittany Richmond's WebsiteBrittany Richmond's InstagramGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our system here at The Speaker Lab includes establishing non-negotiable elements of a successful speaking business early. Once you establish these fundamentals, you get to move on to the “fun” stuff like preparing your talk and creating snazzy marketing materials. While our coaches can only personally guide you through creating these steps in our coaching programs, they also come on the podcast to introduce some of the most important pieces of the great puzzle that is your speaking business. One of those fundamental pieces is your Expert Positioning Statement (EPS). This week, TSL coach Michelle Onuorah joined our director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith for Episode 452 of The Speaker Lab Podcast to dig into what an EPS is and why it’s so important. If your speaking business is a pyramid, your EPS is the foundation. If that sounds like a big deal, it is! At the core of every good speaking platform is solving a problem for a particular audience. In your EPS, the solutions you offer, the people you serve, and the transformation you hope to effect all come together into one statement. Discovering your EPS is all about getting clear on the vision toward which your entire speaking business is oriented. This process isn’t just helpful to building out your business strategy–it will also empower you to act more boldly in the speaker marketplace. Accurately communicating and the value you bring to the table helps you recognize your own worth and promote your business accordingly. Michelle and Maryalice share great tips for how your EPS keeps you on track by emphasizing what you’re best at. It reflects who you are and the types of people you want to attract. It acts as the compass for your personal branding journey so that your clients and audience know exactly what they’re getting when they hire you or see you walk on stage. While formulating your EPS can be an intimidating challenge, our coaches will walk you through how it’s actually an incredible opportunity to focus on yourself and your brand.You’ll also learn all about:Why your EPS matters even before your speaking business gets off the ground. How formulating your EPS can help you avoid the toxic comparison trap.When to adapt or expand your EPS.How your demeanor and exterior affect the clients you attract. Why clarity breeds confidence in the speaking world. How to align the elements of your brand in the direction you want your business to go.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESOur CoachesGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some entrepreneurs spend their whole lives hustling, allowing burnout to gradually erode their overall quality of life. Others prioritize work-life harmony early on, allowing them to pursue their passions, keep creating, and enjoy life.That’s what Tina Wells has done, with her signature “Elevation Approach,” a system for entrepreneurs which lies at the heart of her book, online course, and upcoming podcast. On Episode 451 of The Speaker Lab podcast, Tina shared the wisdom she has learned along a journey that has led her from market research, to brand strategy, to content and product creation. The core of her mission is helping other entrepreneurs put their energy into activities and initiatives that make the most sense for where they want to be in life. No more hustling and grinding just because everybody else is doing it–get ready to elevate your approach!Tina started her entrepreneurship journey at age 16 researching youth and fashion trends. Despite the many evolutions of her professional career, she hasn’t lost sight of the things that originally set her on fire! Today, you can find her snazzy collection of office supplies on the shelves at Target as well as her children’s series and her new book The Elevation Approach. This episode offers an incredibly refreshing perspective on maintaining your business momentum without sacrificing your quality of life. If you’re a multi-passionate creative, a mom balancing career, kids, and aging parents, or a marketer who wants to shift into the product space, there are special tips for you too.As speakers, choosing which channels to leverage for your personal brand and organic marketing can be quite overwhelming. Tina offers guidance for choosing the channel best suited to your target audience and adapting your message to different settings.You’ll also learn all about: How to balance your creative side with practical business considerations.The difference that a good market researcher can make as a speaker.   Why a “podcast tour” is a great strategy for brand exposure.How to choose a good podcast agency. Why you should expand the horizons for your target audience. Why starting an email newsletter will be a huge asset decades down the road.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESTina Wells' WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You can’t solve all your audience’s problems with one short keynote — often, you barely scratch the surface. So how do you offer your audience the next steps toward solutions? That’s what our very own coaches Maryalice Goldsmith and Jeremy Rochford cover on Episode 450 of The Speaker Lab podcast. Building your talk out into a coaching program is an incredible way to add streams of income and diversify your speaking business. Our TSL coaches have helped thousands of speakers succeed in this venture without burning out or losing sight of their core message, and today they’re helping you do the same. On the show, Maryalice and Jeremy go through the process of adding a coaching branch to your business with copious examples to help you get started designing your very first coaching program. Your signature keynote probably leaves your audience inspired with solutions, but unsure how to implement them beyond the first few action items. A coaching program expands on the substance of your talk in a structured setting geared toward knowledge retention. Since most coaching programs are eight to twelve weeks long, you have ample room to amplify all your most important points and dig deeper with explanations that will have more staying power than an exhilarating but all-too-brief talk. And as our students in The Speaker Lab programs already know, there are many different formats and variations of content you can utilize to help pass along all that valuable knowledge. Once you’re really clear on the problem you solve and the audience you serve, it’s probably time to start building out other branches of your speaking business. Designing a coaching program is an incredible way to grow your fanbase and your income. As you’ll hear from Maryalice and Jeremy in this episode, you can scale a well-designed coaching program and take on even more clients by hiring certified coaches to follow your system.You’ll also learn all about: The pros and cons of pre-recorded coursework vs. one-on-one coaching. How to stop coaching from crowding out your speaking. How to price your coaching program.When to hire more coaches to lead your program.Whether coaching certifications matter. Why your unique voice is so needed in the world of coaching.…and so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESOur CoachesGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amy Porterfield describes herself as an “ex-corporate girl turned accidental entrepreneur.” It’s hard to believe it was an accident! Amy runs an incredibly successful business teaching other entrepreneurs how to grow their following online. She is an author, podcaster, and occasional speaker with a special knack for building email lists and creating online courses. With that in mind, her appearance on Episode 449 of The Speaker Lab podcast is full of tips for integrating lead magnets into your and other methods for springboarding off of your speaking engagements to maximize your personal brand. Whether you’re looking for your first gig or a seasoned speaker already, every potential gig is either an opportunity for furthering your mission or a waste of time. As she explains on the show, Amy doesn’t particularly enjoy speaking–even though it’s an important part of any online entrepreneur’s brand. With that in mind, she takes the process of deciding which gigs to take and which to pass up on very seriously. There is no worse feeling as a speaker than getting on stage and realizing you’re in front of the wrong audience! Even if you’re still in the stage where you take whatever gig you can for exposure, this process of discernment is worth your time and attention. Fortunately Amy has a whole toolkit of questions to ask, research to conduct, and red flags to look for so you end up in front of the right people at the right time. Amy’s shares her invaluable wealth of expertise about entrepreneurial audience-building in this episode. Her advice for leveraging course creation, email lists, and social media is sure to leave you ready to hit the ground running!You’ll also learn all about:Why it’s OK to have a love-hate relationship with speaking.  How to continue your conversation with your audience off the stage. Why QR codes are the best lead magnets. What to do if your speaking audience isn’t the target market for your other products.How to price your online products.Using social media for connection instead of superficiality. How an online business acts as a safety net during events like a global pandemic.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESAmy Porterfield's WebsiteTwo Weeks Notice BookGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the best feelings as a coach at The Speaker Lab is seeing our students turn their visions into reality. In episode 448 of The Speaker Lab podcast, TSL director of Student Success Maryalice Goldsmith is joined by Sara Murray from our VIP cohort. Sara came into our program with a successful sales career under her belt and a vision for her platform: “prospecting on purpose.” Sara’s mission is to introduce salespeople to a mindset shift that helps them exude confidence and build authentic relationships with their prospects. All of this comes down to prioritizing human connection–something unfortunately lost to many sales teams today. Sara is an incredibly visionary person and as she entered the world of speaking and entrepreneurship, she knew she needed accountability to help her accomplish her big dreams. That’s why she came to The Speaker Lab, where as she shares with Maryalice, she found accountability for all areas of building her speaking business. She also shares the creative methods she discovered while she was a TSL student for collecting testimonials, video footage, and other fundamental assets for your speaking website. For anybody wondering about the experience of being part of our Booked & Paid to speak VIP cohort, Sara has the details you’ve been dying to hear!Something that many professionals with experience in the sales industry might struggle with is feeling defined by the income they bring. Sara addresses this challenge head on and discusses how to shift from an income to an impact mindset. This episode is full of professional development advice, whether you’re a sales professional like Sara or any aspiring speaker with big dreams.You’ll also learn all about: How to enjoy every stage of the entrepreneurship journey. How to pitch the value of your speaking services when you already create free content.What lessons from hostage negotiation tactics apply to speaking.Mantras to give yourself confidence as you start your speaking career. How to leverage intentionality to breed success. Ways your personality might influence how you prepare your talk.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESSara Murray's WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shane Sams is a man who has taken control of his life. After a scary experience with a supervisor that got in the way of caring for his family, he struck out into entrepreneurship with his wife so they could quit their 9-5s and be more fully present with their kids. The best part is, they have dedicated their lives to helping others do the same thing through their business, Flipped Lifestyle. While Shane started out with podcasting and online courses, his speaking business has gained a lot of momentum recently. Shane is a rare bird in the speaking industry–he delivers both multi-day workshops and 30 minute keynotes. That kind of flexibility requires an incredibly systematized process behind the scenes so In Episode 447 of The Speaker Lab podcast, Shane shares the systems that help him prepare incredible talks for any occasion. Before he became an entrepreneur Shane was a teacher, so he came on the show ready to educate. His framework for structuring the overarching story of your keynote will help you keep your audience engaged and anticipating the solutions you offer onstage. Once your structure is in place, you can insert humor, relatability, and “check-ins” with your audience that ensure you all stay on the same page. If you’re struggling with integrating any of those connection points, Shane is a veritable well of inspiration especially when it comes to humor.Shane has plenty of wisdom to offer on workshops and seminars too–including how to deal with the dreaded scenario where you finish your planned content with hours still to go. Whether you’re a keynote speaker, a workshop leader, or a mix of both, Shane has tips for how to make the most of any speaking opportunity.You’ll also learn all about: How to use your speaking engagements as a sales funnel.What Pixar can teach you about structuring your keynote.Tips for rehearsing the morning of your talk.How to divide up your workshop into more manageable chunks of content.Why the age of your audience matters for holding their attention.Using pattern interruptions to keep your audience from getting bored.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESFlipped LifestyleGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaking is full of surprises. Even if you’re equipped with the best business plan, vision, and work ethic, things don’t always go as planned. Knowing how to handle tricky situations is something that comes with experience, but there are many steps you can take to shore up your speaking business against pitfalls. While there’s no reason to dwell on worst case scenarios, it’s valuable to have a game plan or safety net when it comes to potential problems. Fortunately, our TSL coaches have guided thousands of speakers through these strategies. For episode 446 of The Speaker Lab podcast, our director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith and coach Rick Clemons share how to avert–or at least ameliorate–potential disasters in your speaking business. Clients are perhaps the most typical yet unpredictable source of tricky situations. Whether it’s a misunderstanding about the speaking topic, payment timeline, event schedule, or intellectual property, even the most well-meaning client can cause a miscommunication. Once you realize early on which events are a poor fit for your mission and recognize the red flags of a shady contract, you will save yourself and your clients time and energy. Doing your due diligence on potential clients–including reading all the fine print and reviewing your own contract terms–is essential. This can seem like a momentous task, but Rick and Maryalice break it down into manageable action items that you can start implementing today. From designing a contract, to consulting an attorney, to hiring your first employee, our coaches have every step of building your speaking business covered!As we reiterate time and time again, the key to getting this right is having systems in place. This coaches’ corner show is sure to get you thinking about how you can systematize your speaking business to keep it running smoothly for years and even decades down the line.You’ll also learn all about: Polite and supportive ways to decline a gig and recommend alternative speakers.How to decide if an iffy client is worth compromising for.How to roll with the punches when you can’t avoid a last-minute setback.How to navigate money conversations and secure deposits early on.Why having an attorney look over your contracts is the best investment you’ll ever make.Why overcommunication is key (and how it can save your business). Which processes to document before you hire employees (hint: all of them).…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every week, our Speaker Lab podcast guests surprise us with all the exciting twists and turns of their journey to the stage. This week’s guest, Taurea Vision Avant, is no exception — listen in to episode 445 to hear her adventures from computer science, to network marketing, to authorship, coaching and beyond. In fact, Taurea never even saw herself as a professional speaker or entrepreneur at the beginning of her career! In this episode, she admits speaking was “never her thing” until she realized how powerful and impactful she felt speaking for even just a small room full of people. Now, she’s a successful entrepreneur and author of over 15 books. Her story is an incredible testament to how no matter what educational background you come from, you can challenge expectations and make an impact as a speaker.As a network marketer, Taurea often found herself speaking to smaller groups. As she invested in her skills, she became a speaker on behalf of the entire company! Despite her experience and success selling from the stage, she held off on speaking “for herself” for years. On the show, she shares how she finally got into the mindset that took her from wishing she was a speaker to actually starting her own speaking and coaching business, which she did from the ground up. That’s right–every event she spoke at during the first year she organized herself from start to finish. Her grit and determination earned her six figures that first year and she hasn’t stopped hustling since. Now, through her coaching and speaking business, she helps others amplify their personal brand and hit their goals as authors and entrepreneurs.Taurea doesn’t put on any airs about her success–she is humble, humorous, and honest about the things she wishes she didn’t do. If you’ve been hesitant about launching your speaking business or publishing your first book, you’ll be hanging onto every word of this episode!You’ll also learn all about: Tips for inviting guests when you organize your own event.How to shift from running your own events to being a guest speaker.When it’s a good idea to speak for free or even pay to speak.Why planning is essential to publishing a book that actually profits.How to write a book that sells itself.Why helping people get from A to B is more helpful than A to Z.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESTaurea Vision Avant's Website10k Book WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify Quotable Quote:“I tell every entrepreneur, I don't care what your product or service is, you have to develop the skill set of knowing how to speak in front of people.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you think some careers just aren’t a good fit for speaking? Think again! This week, we invited a world champion salsa dancer on the podcast. Not only is he a professional dancer, but also a veteran firefighter–we’re talking about Alex Lee, one of our Booked and Paid to Speak program alumni featured in our latest Student Highlight. In Episode 444, he shares the twists and turns of his professional career with our director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith, as well as the lessons he learned and applied from our coaching program. His message focuses on teaching the language of leadership through the paradigm of three pillars: credibility, humility, and loyalty. This message is applicable to a wide variety of audiences, and equally so to the speaking world. It’s a helpful paradigm to keep in mind when acknowledging the reality that there’s no “shortcut” to gaining momentum as a speaker. While our Booked and Paid to Speak program has equipped Alex and thousands of other speakers to launch sustainable, successful speaking careers, we can’t offer a “get rich quick” method. Getting your speaking business off the ground usually requires a year or two of late nights, unanswered emails, and non-ideal gigs. Alex offers some inspiration for humbly and patiently taking on those years of building credibility before you start to reap big rewards–and staying loyal to yourself in the process.Alex does an incredible job of making his unique story both relatable and memorable for his audience, a skill that sets apart great speakers from good speakers. Whether you also come from a career that isn’t well-represented in the speaking world or you just need a pep talk full of grit and resilience, Alex’s story is sure to warm your heart and set you on fire for your passion!You’ll also learn all about: Why credibility is key to building trust with your audience. What it means to be loyal to yourself, and why that’s important for speakers.When to turn down gigs and why it can help your business. How to create a roadmap for your business (and how The Speaker Lab can help).Why money can’t be the primary factor driving your speaking business.How to approach speaking as a second career.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESAlex Lee's Success StoryGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.