Jason Raitz, a speaker and communication expert, founded Speak With People to help leaders communicate effectively. He shares his journey from a pastor to a full-time speaker, revealing the struggles of imposter syndrome and income instability. Jason emphasizes the importance of niching down and truly listening to an audience, particularly in the financial sector. He encourages perseverance in public speaking and stresses that real impact comes from meaningful communication and understanding others, not just delivering a message.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Jason's Journey to Financial Speakers
Jason Raitz shares how his childhood love of performing evolved into a lifelong passion for communication.
His journey includes speaking in churches, schools, and finally focusing on financial professionals in corporate settings.
insights INSIGHT
People First Communication
Client communication must prioritize people over rushing to product presentations in 2025.
Effective communication requires focusing on people first across generations working together.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Near Giving Up on Speaking
Jason was close to quitting speaking due to financial stress and booking challenges.
Support from his family and partnership kept him motivated to continue.
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First published in 1936, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie is a timeless guide to improving interpersonal skills. The book is divided into four main sections: Six Ways to Make People Like You, Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking, and Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment. Carnegie's principles emphasize the importance of genuine interest in others, active listening, and avoiding criticism and argument. The book offers practical advice on how to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and influence others by aligning their self-interest with yours. It has been a cornerstone of personal development and business success for generations[2][3][5].
Never Eat Alone
And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
Keith Ferrazzi
In 'Never Eat Alone,' Keith Ferrazzi shares his insights on networking and relationship-building, emphasizing the importance of genuine connections and mutual success. The book outlines specific steps and an inner mindset for connecting with others, highlighting principles such as generosity, constant communication, and reciprocity without keeping score. Ferrazzi draws from his own experiences and those of highly connected individuals to provide practical advice on handling rejection, attending events, and maintaining long-lasting connections in both personal and professional settings.
“Client communication just doesn’t cut it anymore. In 2025 we have so many generations working together, we want to rush right to the product, but we have to learn how to use these people first communication skills.”
Jason Raitz is proof that success as a speaker isn’t about overnight wins or waiting for an opportunity to knock—it’s about grit, clarity, and a relentless focus on serving others. Starting from a childhood love of the stage (and a knack for bribing friends with cookies), Jason spent years speaking in churches and schools before finally stepping into the corporate world, but this pivot didn’t come easy.
For years, Jason juggled ministry with speaking gigs, sometimes feeling invisible and fighting off imposter syndrome—especially when the dream career didn’t materialize quickly. The breakthrough came when he stopped trying to speak to everyone and niched down, listening deeply to the needs of his new audience: financial professionals. That decision, plus hours of research and talking with industry leaders, turned Speak with People from an idea into a respected business.
Jason’s message is simple but necessary: real impact happens when you communicate with people, not at them. His journey is a masterclass in perseverance—reminding us it’s not about being the loudest voice in the room, but being the one willing to listen, adapt, and keep going even when it’s tough.
You’ll learn:
Running a business with a nonprofit mindset
Niching down and focusing on a specific market
Differentiating companies from personal brands
Difficulties in breaking into the church speaking circuit
How financial necessity is a driving factor in career decisions
The challenges of adapting messages and delivery
The importance of being a health communicator
Adapting content creation and sales approaches
And much, much more!
“I want to teach people how to be a healthy communicator, to be able to speak from a place of health on the inside. Because if your inner world is chaos, what comes out of your mouth is not going to be great.”
The Speaker Lab Podcast 
