The Speaker Lab with Grant Baldwin // Public Speak 5z5172

"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 contracts Guidance 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 lives 09:16 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 speaker 18:59 Underrated speaking advice to help you grow faster 25:25 Negotiating tips to help you get better contracts 28:17 How to capture post event 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 off Episode Resources: Dr. India's Website Connect with Dr. India on LinkedIn Watch her TedX Talk on Grit Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 ing 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 intimidating And 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 life 06:26 What’s your backstory look like and how did you find speaking 11:05 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 opportunities 21:30 The criteria Dave uses to asses if gigs are worth it 24:45 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 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 ing AI to develop your content as a speaker Practical 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 speaker Things to watch out for using ChatGPT and other AI tools Best 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 everything 22:23 Why you should choose your language carefully so it deeply resonates with your audience. 28:22 Other uses for Chat GPT 29:18 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 for it to work for you Episode Resources: Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify Editor's Note: This episode was recorded several weeks ago before recent events involving OpenAI had taken place. See 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 ed 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 repetition Play 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 Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 ed 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 of being on a stage. I knew that I still had a lot of work to do in of crafting my speech, in of the intro and the transitioning and all that kind of stuff. But in 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 LinkedIn Visit Reggie’s Website  Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 ive 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 online Episode Resources: Connect with Dominique on LinkedIn Learn more about Dominique’s work Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 life Regulating 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 Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 industry Episode Resources: Connect with Shawn Learn more about Premire Speakers Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 s 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 Hour Learning 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 Linkedin Explore Peggy’s Website Buy Peggy’s Books  Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 Website Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn Lauren’s Podcast - Brand to Fan Lauren’s Brand - FanWagn  Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 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. that social media aims to 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 ing you and welcome you into the community with open arms. Episode Resources: Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 ed 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 timelines How 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 Joey Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 Bruce Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 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" 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 goals Episode Resources: Connect with Jon Get Jon's New Book: All It Takes Is A Goal Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 resilience Why you need discipline How 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 Chapters 00:02:13 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 Resources Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 message Developing 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: 00:01:06] Prioritizing joy, mental health, resilience, hobbies [00:03:20] Aviation ion leads to incredible achievement. [00:06:39] Young flyer's journey from fame to tragedy. [00:10:07] From paraplegic to helicopter pilot to speaker. [00:13:46] ion for mental health and resilience. Pink Cadillac led to prioritizing joy. [00:18:38] A masterclass in storytelling. [00:22:02] Finding joy and prioritizing happiness transformed me. [00:25:10] Communicate, learn, iterate, observe, and create memorable experiences. [00:28:09] Building a speaking business takes patience and resilience. [00:33:50] Be careful networking too far ahead. [00:35:55] 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 LinkedIn Get Free Speaker Resources Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Calculate Your Speaking Fee The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify See 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 ion and talent early on in life with the help of formative family –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 Story Connect with Shailesh Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get Booked & Paid To Speak Get a FREE Copy of The Successful Speaker Speaker Fee Calculator Episode 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 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 ion and enthusiasm. How to pick the parts of your story that will connect with your audience.  …and so much more! Episode Resources: Connect with Bruce Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get Booked & Paid To Speak Get a FREE Copy of The Successful Speaker Speaker Fee Calculator See 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 Resources: Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get Booked & Paid To Speak Get a FREE Copy of The Successful Speaker Speaker Fee Calculator See 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 s 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 Resources: Visit Mike's Website Connect with Mike on LinkedIn Check out Mike's Podcast - Playful Humans Book a Call with The Speaker Lab Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get Booked & Paid To Speak Get a FREE Copy of The Successful Speaker Speaker Fee Calculator See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.