Episodes
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“I think of the definition of a creator as someone who sets out to make original work, to educate, inspire, or entertain other people.”
There are plenty of simple ways to grow as a speaker, but becoming a creator is one of the easiest ways to expand your speaking business and book more paid gigs!
The term "creator" is used frequently (and sometimes negatively), but here's the reality: if you're a speaker, you are already creating content. The next step is to learn how to use and repurpose that content across multiple platforms and channels to grow your audience and build your brand.
This week, we're chatting with someone who has helped millions of people create and share their content — Nathan Barry. Nathan is the creator of Kit (formerly known as ConvertKit), the world's largest email-first operating system for creators.
Nathan is here to talk about how to build an audience through creating compelling and engaging content, as well as some practical tips on how to grow, automate, and segment your email list. Ultimately, building a content-driven speaking business can be a huge win for you and your speaking career, and Nathan is breaking down exactly how to do that.
You’ll learn:
The difference (and value) of automation & segmentation.How owning an email audience can help land gigsWhy building an email list can only benefit youHow to cater your content to each individualWhy you still need to create an impressive demo videoWhy your interests matter to your audienceAnd so much more!“Don’t try to do everything.”
Episode Resources:
Nathan's WebsiteKit'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.
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“It’s very important that the message bearer who’s up there selling that idea cares very, very deeply about it, and they would give it just as much energy if there were 5 people in the room, as if there were 5,000 people in the room.”
Running your own business is extremely challenging, but doing what you love can make it a bit easier. This week, Jack Galloway joined us on the show to talk about the importance of concentrating on what you care about. Jack got his start working with Dave Ramsey for over 22 years, where he received a behind-the-scenes look into how to build a team from the ground up.
Throughout his time at Ramsey Solutions, Jack learned countless lessons about running a business, including the significance of criticism, why simplicity matters, the wisdom that comes with repetition, and much, much more!
Jack has a ton of wisdom and advice to share, and I know you'll get a lot out of this episode.
You’ll learn:
The importance of listening to your audience’s needsWhy practice makes perfectHow to be successful as a “solo-preneur”To surround yourself with good workers and friendsWhat can make or break a small businessAnd much more!"Focus on keeping the main thing, the main thing”
Episode Resources:
Jack'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.
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Missing episodes?
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“Don’t conform to your environment. Everyone else does it, but you need to take that path, that uniqueness that is you, because there is no one like you.”
As a former circus clown (yes, an actual circus clown), Dustin Portillo knows a thing or two about showtime. And now as a professional speaker, Dustin has taken that mindset and applied it to delivering value for audiences everywhere.
This week, Dustin is here to share the lessons he learned from his wide-ranging career and give you some practical tips on things like mastering stage presence, keeping audiences engaged, and what it takes to leave a corporate job to become a full time speaker.
We'll spend time walking through his 5 important principles and why determining what's important to you, really matters. Dustin also talks about some of the most scary moments you can have in the industry and how they can propel you to bigger & better things.
You’ll learn:
The importance of knowing your audienceWhy your value is more than a job titleHow to always have a "showtime mindset"How being relatable can help you excel as a speakerHow to embrace the value of growth And much more!"Don’t knock on a wall expecting a door to open”
Episode Resources:
Dustin'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.
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“You just have to trust that it will work out if you do the right thing. Surround yourself with great people.”
There’s no easy days when you’re an entrepreneur, but figuring out how you can divide and conquer for your business is really important. This week, Jay Papasan joins us to talk about how delegation is a powerful tool that frees you up to do what only you can do best.
Jay walks through what it looks like to have a core focus and motivation for your speaking business and how that can help you take your speaking career to the next level. There are a ton of practical tips in this episode on a wide range of topics, including how to juggle all of the responsibilities of running a business, how to grow personally and professionally, how to consistently deliver value for your audience, and so much more.
You’ll learn:
The important difference between your personal brand and your business brandHow to do what you enjoy so you can be at your bestWhat growing your speaking business can look like realisticallyWhen to start leaning on other people to help grow your businessHow delivering consistent value will keep the work comingAnd much more!“We want to be thought-leaders”
Episode Resources:
Jay Papasan'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.
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"You have to think of it from a relational standpoint, first and foremost, before anything else. And just understand, sometimes things happen, but I never want a client to be upset about paying me. I always want them to pay me and think, man, we got way more than we paid."
We talk a lot about the benefits of being a professional speaker, but there are always challenges in any business! This week, Jake Thompson is back on the show to talk about what to do when things don't go the way you planned.
Jake is breaking down how to handle things like travel issues, contract disputes, event delays, organizers who won't commit, and more — all pulled from his personal experiences in his speaking business over the past few years.
If you want to be a successful speaker in the long run, don't miss this episode!
You'll learn:
Why you should never miss a gig, no matter whatHow to put yourself in the top category of speakersHow to get event organizers off the fenceWhat to do when your event gets rescheduledHow to handle contract issues and disputesAnd much, much more!"When you're amazing on stage and amazing offstage, it puts you in a completely different bracket."
Episode Resources:
Jake Thompson'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.
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One of the coolest parts of TSL is watching our coaches work 1:1 with students and helping them find the clarity and confidence they need to take their speaking businesses to the next level. And today, you’re going to get to see that process in action.
We're back with another live coaching episode with Erick Rheam! This week, Erick is helping two TSL students, Josie Ann Lee and Kenny Barnwell, work through real problems they're facing in their speaking businesses.
Josie Ann is trying to introduce a new idea through her talk to event organizers — but she's not sure how to sell an idea no one is familiar with. Kenny has established himself as the expert in his niche, and now he's ready to take things to the next level by scaling his business through workshops.
During this episode, you'll learn:
How to get initial traction in your businessHow to refine your message through real world feedbackWhy you just have to get started without waiting for perfectionThe value of establishing yourself as the primary expert in your nicheHow workshops can accelerate your speaking incomeThe most important things to know when adding a workshop to your businessAnd much, much more!Episode Resources:
Josie Ann Lee's WebsiteKenny Barnwell'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.
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"Every time we make a decision, it is the conclusion of a story that we have built in our minds unconsciously about why that decision does or doesn't make sense."
One of the most rewarding parts of being a professional speaker is the feeling of making a difference — the idea that the message you have to share can create real change with your audience. But how do you actually make that happen?
Tamsen Webster knows a thing or two about creating an effective message. As the Idea Strategist one of only nine legacy-level TEDx events in the world who has worked for organizations like Harvard Medical School, Fidelity Investments, and Klaviyo, Tamsen has decades of experience in helping speakers develop their message.
This week, Tamsen is here to break down how aligning your message with the audience's existing beliefs and desires is the most effective way to create lasting change. If you're ready to make an impact from the stage, this is an episode you can't afford to miss!
You'll learn:
How to simplify complex ideasWhy storytelling is so powerfulHow to build the "compact case" for your messageThe 7 principles of creating lasting changeHow to harness the "curiosity curve" in your talkHow to turn your basic idea into a finished speech And much, much more!"Lots of people like to quote Maya Angelou — 'They're going to remember how you made them feel.' But wouldn't it be even better if they also remembered what you said in addition to what you made them feel?"
Episode Resources:
The Compact CaseSay What They Can't Unhear BookEpisode 132 with TamsenEpisode 358 with TamsenGet 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.
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"I think often we confuse strategy with activity, and we can get stuck in this kind of flywheel of just like, well, I feel busy, I look busy. I did a lot of things today, but what did I actually accomplish?"
If you really want to build a successful speaking business, you have to follow the right processes — and be consistent in doing the little things well. Everyone wants to book more paid speaking gigs, but what are the simple, practical things that most speakers miss?
Dan Irvin knows a thing or two about building processes to scale your speaking business — in just a few years, he's gone from a full time corporate job to 60 paid gigs in 2023. This week, he's sitting down with Grant to share 7 strategies you can use right now in your speaking business to get more gigs.
No matter where you are as a speaker or how many gigs you've booked, you'll get something out of this episode to help you move to the next level.
"Find what can you do each and every day consistently, even if it's just one tiny little step that you can do every day versus these massive kind of leaps that I think people oftentimes want to create."
Looking for the highlights?
02:29 How to build long term relationships in the speaking industry08:35 Why having a strategy is more important than being busy 10:39 How to overcome the challenges of building a speaking business11:38 Why consistent lead generation and follow up is the key to success23:33 How to level up your communication with event organizers27:39 Why your audience (and clients) are craving more from you32:26 The power of referrals in building a speaking business36:05 Why you should give yourself grace in the processEpisode Resources:
Dan Irvin's WebsiteDan Irvin's New 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.
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"You can get rid of that limiting belief that you have to have a talk fully ready before you sell it."
One of the hardest things for new and aspiring speakers is putting together a compelling talk. It's hard to move forward until you feel like everything is perfect — but what if you could sell your talk before it even exists?
Your best marketing is a great talk — but you don't necessarily need to have that talk fully developed before you pitch it to event organizers.
This week, Erick Rheam is back to break down the four main reasons developing your talk first can actually be problematic, along with advice on how to test the market, why prospecting is a superpower for successful speakers, and much, much more!
If you're feeling stuck or you're not sure how to get things rolling as a new or aspiring speaker, this is the episode for you.
"When you're on the phone with an event planner and you're discussing what their needs are, if you're too rigid and you have this talk already developed, and you've got too much time invested in it and too much energy, it's harder to adjust and a little demotivating if you spent all this time building something that the event planner doesn't exactly want."
Looking for the highlights?
02:58 Four reasons why speakers shouldn't finalize talks before selling them03:54 How to adapt your presentation to meet the event planner's needs.07:00 How to draft a rough idea and adapt it based on feedback10:10 Why you should be flexible with your topic and develop assets around it later13:29 Why it's easier to pivot when you're already in the game18:47 Why you don't need a dramatic story to speak25:51 Why consistent daily prospecting beats sporadic efforts28:05 Why success in speaking requires aligning passion with demand33:01 How deadlines will force preparation and commitmentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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"Two things have to be true: one, you have to offer enough value so that they're paying attention. And two, you've got to communicate that value in a believable way, either through a third party or somebody they trust or you directly."
It might be cliché, but it's still true: speaking is a relationships business. If you want to be a successful speaker, you have to invest in building relationships every single day — with event planners, with industry leaders, and with other speakers.
This week, Grant is sitting down with Mo Bunnell to talk about how to overcome some of the most common obstacles that speakers face in making connections — being "too busy," fearing rejection, and more.
Mo recently wrote a book called Give to Grow about how to invest in relationships to build your business and your career, and he has a lot of practical advice that will help you get out of your comfort zone and start building relationships like a pro.
If you're struggling to get traction in your speaking business and you're looking for a spark to get things going, this might be the episode you need to hear!
"I'll be really bold on this. If somebody is thinking 'I'm too busy to do the next piece of work,' that is a massive excuse and you just need to flush it."
Looking for the highlights?
03:53 How to fall in love with the process of building relationships07:08 How limiting beliefs can block speakers from achieving success10:20 Why many speakers struggle with promoting themselves15:23 How to maximize face time with key decision-makers20:40 Ways to balance service with getting gigs in conversations25:06 How to understand client needs and stated vs. unstated problems33:01 Why you should reach out quarterly to maintain important relationshipsEpisode Resources:
Mo's WebsiteGive to Grow BookGive to Grow LiveGet 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.
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This week, we’re giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what coaching can do for speakers.
Erick Rheam is hosting live coaching sessions this week! These sessions feature TSL students and real problems that speakers face in their businesses.
This episode features Molly Kennedy and Theresa Skaar. Molly focuses on shifting her demographics and finding new income sources, while Theresa focuses on overcoming impostor syndrome and selling herself with confidence.
A few of their quotes that you might relate to:
“I just turned 50 this summer, and I feel like, personally, I'm kind of evolving and growing. I feel like my reach can expand beyond education, although I love teachers. Again, it's kind of an easy space for me, but I also feel like I want to challenge myself to have a broader reach as well." - Molly Kennedy
"I don't know if it feels audacious if it feels like so many people position themselves as an expert. And I'm like, you know, I don't know." - Theresa Skaar
Want to skim the session?
04:56 Why Molly loves what she does currently08:09 Where she would like to transition into12:52 Erick’s ideas on getting into a new market 15:18 Molly’s final steps to make the shift 18:51 Where Theresa feels like she’s lacking confidence 22:27 How Theresa wishes people felt about aging25:11 What Theresa hopes to accomplish with her work 28:03 Erick advice on how to build confidence and show up as a proEpisode Resources:
Connect with Molly on LinkedInFollow Molly on InstagramVisit Molly's WebsiteConnect with Theresa on LinkedInFollow Theresa on InstagramVisit Theresa'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.
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“The key to any industry is not focusing or trying to sell to 98% of your market. You're only trying to sell to that very top percentage of people."
If you're a speaker looking to scale your business and add new streams of revenue, you might want to consider launching a high ticket offer. This week, Grant sat down with Bryan Harris to chat about the value a high-ticket offering can bring to your business, how to get started, and some tips on developing these offerings in your own business.
Thinking about what’s next for your business? A high-ticket offering just might be for you!
“Our mission is to make it almost impossible to fail at getting customers."
In this episode, they also cover:
00:00 What do Bryan and his team do?04:41 Why should people consider a high-ticket offering?08:22 How do you think about finding your target market for this offering?09:27 What can your business look like in practice?13:33 How does support vary in you business and other places in your life?19:11 What can you do to ensure your clients get what they need?21:47 How do you continue to create value for your high-ticket offerings?24:17 What does it look like to sell to your target market?27:56 Book a free strategy session with Bryan's team31:10 How can you leverage this as a speaker?Episode Resources:
Growth Tools WebsiteConnect with Bryan on LinkedInFollow Growth Tools on YoutubeFollow Bryan on TwitterFree Strategy Session with Growth Tools TeamExplore List SwapGet 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.
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"If you've got a working keynote that has structure that you've been honing for a while, you probably have the bones of a book." - Liz Morrow
"If you are someone who is highly entrepreneurial and you feel like you really value having a lot of creative control over the end product and you don't mind doing the hard, you know, kind of manual work of putting all of those systems in place and really championing your book yourself, then self publishing could be a great choice for you." - Ariel Curry
This week, Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry joined Grant to talk about the process of book writing for speakers. If you've ever thought about writing a book, this is the episode for you! Liz and Ariel have been at it as writers and editors for years, so they bring first-hand knowledge to the conversation about the process of writing and selling a book.
In this episode, Grant, Liz, and Ariel cover:
05:31 What’s involved in building a platform to sell a book? 08:34 Pros and cons of self-publishing vs traditional publishing.12:53 How do you find angles to sell a lot of books? 14:19 Why are speakers positioned uniquely to write great books? 18:59 How does the book mapping process make a difference when it’s time to write? 20:42 What is the structure you recommend to writing a nonfiction book? 24:30 How do you use the book map to align your content as you write? 29:31 Are there ways to use AI to make the book-writing process easier? 32:41 Why should someone write a book? 35:14 Final advice for people still on the fence about writing a book."And these are people who have multimillion dollar businesses. They have 4 million Instagram followers. They've got multiple six figures of email subscribers. I mean, these are people who think would have all the justification in the world that they have something worth sharing, and they still worry, am I good enough?" - Liz Morrow
"The quality of the idea matters because people want something that is surprising. People want something that is new, and it's really hard to define." - Ariel Curry
Episode Resources:
Buy Liz and Ariel's Book - Hungry AuthorsFollow Hungry Authors on FacebookFollow Hungry Authors 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.
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“I'm really passionate about solving the same problem that they're passionate about solving. I have a unique ability that I'm willing to share."
How do you write your own story and become the speaker you've dreamed about being?
This week, Brittany Richmond and Jake White are answering that question and talking about when to scale your business, how to find your niche, and so much more.
“If you want to accelerate faster, then you need quality time with the people that buy what you offer. I need to partner with the perfect match, learn their language, how they're funded, what problems they have, whenever they book us, what are the hurdles they have to go through? And however it can make it so easy for them to bring us in, that's part of my learning curve."
During this episode, you'll hear about:
00:00 Jake’s background and the road to speaking06:00 Jake’s story of founding Vive18 08:54 How Jake met his co-founder12:53 What it means to create your own story14:08 The power in living your message 18:05 Why you have to invest in your own career 20:32 How to find your people in your industry 24:34 Tips to accelerate your business and learning from the get-go 28:16 How to create value for your customers 32:55 What it looks like to support your decision-makers“If you build the community, then your people are going to continue using you because you are the hub and where to go."
Episode Resources:
Connect with Jake on LinkedInCheck out Vive18's WebsiteFollow Vive18 on InstagramSubscribe to Vive18 on YoutubeConnect with Vive18 on FacebookFollow Vive18 on TikTokGet 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.
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"Just show up and provide value and get to know us."
If you’re like most speakers, you’re probably wondering about AI. How should you use it? Should you be using it at all? And how do you make sure your authentic brand and story doesn’t get lost in the process?
This week, Pat Flynn is answering all of those questions and ALSO diving into what it's like being an event planner. How do event planners look for speakers? How do they make final decisions? Check out the full conversation!
"Short form video is like handing out Halloween candy, right? You have people coming to your house, you hand out candy, they move on to the next one. That's just people swiping, and when they move on to the next house, they kind of forgot about you already."
Grant and Pat also talked about:
03:22 What does your speaking business look like to date?08:05 How does the format of content change the way it’s consumed?11:06 What kind of prompts get you the best results when you use AI?13:17 Why should someone consider using AI in their business?20:07 When did you get into hosting events and what did that first one look like?25:45 How do you think about finding speakers for an event?29:12 Why showing up the spaces you want to be in matters.31:26 Tips to get on event planners radars.34:43 From an event planner, what makes a great speaker?36:54 How do you build credibility with speakers before you make your selection. 40:20 Why it’s important to maintain quality relationships with other speakers.44:10 Why the story you tell yourself matters, and how to change the narrative."When I first started, there were gatekeepers, there were people like, what are you doing here? Why are you trying to do this? And, like, who are, who are you to even do this? And I just, you know, just kept going and kept, you know, hitting that hammer across the value wall, and eventually, it broke, and people saw what I was actually here for, which is amazing."
Episode Resources:
Visit Pat's WebsiteConnect with Pat on LinkedInSubscribe to Pat's YouTube ChannelGet 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.
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“They used to be easy to spot, but they're getting better. They are getting more and more convincing at weaving their stories."
This week, Grant sat down with Lauren Sergy to talk about a new (and very) convincing speaker scam and, more importantly, how to avoid falling for it!
“No transactions are made, no contracts are signed. Unless you have a zoom, ideally a face to face Zoom call or a phone call. There must be a phone call. You have to make voice to voice contact."
Ready to jump into this episode? Here’s the layout:
00:00 What does Lauren speak on.04:13 When did Lauren start speaking?09:06 What does Lauren’s business book like today?12:11 How did Lauren build her speaking business? 12:52 The mindset Lauren brings to fluctuating seasons.16:09 Let’s get into this speaker scam… how did it come to your door? 20:31 Beware of weird or unconventional payment methods. 23:37 What has changed with modern-day scammers?25:49 How to logically think about gigs at the moment.30:56 Don’t forget to trust your gut and ask others if they have experienced something similar!“If you are in doubt, get a hold of the venue and double check with them and then understand how your payments work. If you want to be really safe with your payments, you could say, I will only accept payment by credit card."
Episode Resources:
Visit Lauren's Website Connect with Lauren on LinkedInFollow Lauren on YoutubeGet 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.
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"We always recommend that people do not memorize their presentations verbatim. That results in just acting a little bit too robotic. Your audience can tell, and that's just not the best way to go." - Eric Silverberg
This week, Grant sat down with Eli and Eric, some of our friends from Speaker Labs (not to be confused with The Speaker Lab). Eli and Eric help speakers master the four pillars of becoming a world class speaker — content, delivery, visuals, and mindset — so that they can become exceptional communicators.
"When you share your idea, even if it's a known idea in the world, but you share it your way through your stories, your experiences, your unique creative analogies and metaphors, and interesting ways to package that idea, the audience may not have heard it your way, and that allows you to feel confident, to show up and say, I may tell you something you already know, but I'm certainly going to tell it to you in a way that you haven't heard it before, because I'm telling it to you my unique way." - Eli Gladstone
In this episode we cover:
05:12 How Eli and Eric built this business06:21 What Speaker Labs does 10:28 The difference in good and great speakers 15:02 What makes a great presentation18:41 How to improve confidence as a speaker 21:53 Understanding the E’s of engagement23:52 How to read the audience and develop a knack for making last minute tweaks 26:59 Let’s talk about slides and visual aids28:51 How to think about slides + some tips and tricks 34:06 The importance of mindset in public speaking 38:05 How to confront and overcome fears39:11 Tips to overcome impostor syndrome as a speaker 42:32 The most important question to ask yourself about your message"Eli came up with an amazing analogy once that has to do with the GPS systems. You know, when you're in your car and you're using waze or Google Maps or whatever, and then there's a voice that speaks to you, and they tell you what to do. They tell you, in 400, you know, or in 4 miles, turn left, and in 3 miles, turn right. But here's what the GPS doesn't do. The GPS does not say, turn left, go straight, go straight, go straight, go straight, go straight, go straight, go straight, go straight, go straight, turn right, go straight, go straight, go straight, go straight. That's way too much, right?" - Eric Silverberg
"I try to get them to think about playing with the levels of altitude of that idea. You may not change your message, this is your message. But once you understand the most abstracted version of that idea, you now understand the language that could speak to the most people." - Eli Gladstone
Episode Resources:
Connect with the Speaker LabsFollow Speaker Labs on InstagramFollow Speaker Labs 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.
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"There is so much value in saying no because not every event is the right event for you."
This week, Brittany Richmond sat down with Nathan Wray, an inspirational speaker who speaks on teen mental health and substance misuse prevention. Together, Brittany and Nathan dig into dozens of practical topics including recovering from rough feedback, showing up for and supporting event planners, finding direction in your career as a speaker, and more!
"So I'm going to go as far as I can go to help an event organizer to make sure that they're successful. And if that includes setting up 300 chairs at 01:00 in the morning, then I'm gonna do it."
In this episode, Brittany and Nathan get into:
04:49 Who does Nathan serve and what’s his message? 08:00 How do you take feedback on your message and build something better?10:58 Nathan’s turning point for storytelling.15:41 The importance of community in the speaking world. 16:58 Why you should say no to some events20:05 What to focus on as a speaker?24:32 Why your superpower matters and will shape the way you show up.26:59 The importance of pre-event meetings.30:20 Why making the whole event a success matters.35:09 How to support decision makers and event planners. 37:01 Why showing support and value changes things. 42:53 What the speaking community is like. 44:10 How the audience impacts us as speakers. 49:52 Where to find Nathan and our hope for every aspiring speaker out there!“I reshaped the whole thing, and then I went and delivered it at a school, and it was the first time that kids came up to me afterwards and were like, can I take a picture with you? Can I tell you what happened to me? Can I tell you my story? Can I ask you a question? And that's when I knew, like, okay, I don't have it where I want it, but I'm on the right path."
Episode Resources:
Connect with Nathan on FacebookConnect with Nathan on LinkedInFollow Nathan on TikTokGet 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.
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“I feel like I've always been Reggie's administrative assistant with our life. So it was kind of a natural transition just to slide into that.” - Patrice Wright
This week, Grant sat down with not 1, but 2 lovely guests to chat about building a speaking business with your spouse! You may remember Dr. Reggie Wright from Episode 471 last fall, but this week, we’re hearing from him AND his better half, Patrice.
“My first year as a full time speaker, I wanted her to resign. I wanted her to retire the first year and come on board as my COO. And that was a little bit of some tension there, because she wanted to kind of wait and see how things would play out, and that kind of put some stress and strain on things." - Reggie Wright
Grant, Reggie, and Patrice get into:
00:00 Where does the story of Reggie and Patrice start?04:31 What’s your history of supporting each other in your marriage?06:24 When did you start using help to scale your business?10:56 What point made sense to put more time and energy into the speaking side of things?14:59 Where was the tension in the decision of Patrice still holding down a full-time job?16:36 How did Patrice know it was time to make the jump?20:57 What habits/thought patterns/routines do you instill to focus on your family and marriage first?24:37 What are some examples of setting boundaries around your time?27:01 How do you balance work and rest and each other’s work ethics?31:10 Reggie’s reflection on the growth process to build a business like he has34:15 What should you think about before picking a support system?“I would not be half of what I am right now if it wasn't for my wife." - Reggie Wright
"Knowing my own worth and value and knowing what I bring to the table helps me to never feel less than or never feel like, you know, he's up here and I'm down here. We're on an equal playing field." - Patrice Wright
Episode Resources:
Connect with ReggieGet 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.
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"If you can align your expertise with a specific industry and then really bring tremendous value with a clear ROI, you're always going to win the game."
This week, Grant’s on the show with TSL legend Erick Rheam. We’re a little late to this year’s state of the speaking industry, but better late than never, right?
"It's not necessarily that budgets are cut, but what I would tell you is that event planners, they tend to be intentional with the money that they're spending. Instead of saying "I've got a $100,000 budget for this event," it's "Yeah, I've got $100,000, but I need to see a return on that $100,000."
In this episode, Grant and Erick get into:
00:00 Current trends in the speaking industry06:06 Why do relationships matter more now than ever before?07:32 How do you focus on building relationships?11:20 The importance of offering a virtual service as part of your speaking business15:51 The key to growth right now, even in a tough economy 19:44 Why you should focus on relationships and providing long-term solutions for your clients21:50 How to leverage industry expertise to prove ROI26:35 What it looks like to tweak your message to withstand the test of time.28:00 The importance of iterating and meeting your client’s needs.31:11 How to balance other streams of income + being on stage35:28 How to get comfortable creating value for clients36:44 Reflections and wrap up"Something that is not attractive is desperation. And you could tell it, you could smell it from speakers — when they're just trying to get the gig, they're trying to get the money, as opposed to speakers who are like "Hey, I want to add value and I'm willing to go on a long term type of commitment with you."
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.
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