Exploring the balance between accepting paid speaking gigs for business growth versus free guest speaking for relationship building. Emphasis on using '5 whys' technique to uncover true motives. Deciding when to get paid for speaking engagements based on strategic alignment with business objectives.
Distinguish between speaking as a marketing tool or a paid product.
Utilize the 'Five Whys' root cause analysis to refine decision-making processes.
Deep dives
Understanding the Importance of Sequence Over Strategy
In this episode, Michelle Warner emphasizes the significance of prioritizing sequence over strategies in business. She highlights that the sequence of actions taken in a business and the order in which they are executed hold more value than individual strategies. By encouraging entrepreneurs to trust their unique sequence rather than blindly following strategies, she aims to help them navigate business challenges more effectively.
Navigating the Decision to Get Paid for Speaking Engagements
The podcast delves into the dilemma faced by entrepreneurs, especially paid speakers like Jay Akunzo, regarding whether to charge a fee for speaking engagements or opt for free virtual talks. Michelle Warner advises on reevaluating the purpose of speaking engagements, distinguishing between their role as products or marketing activities. She emphasizes that speaking for marketing purposes should not impose expectations of payment, as it serves as a cost-effective method to reach ideal audiences.
Utilizing the 'Five Whys' Framework for Strategic Decision-Making
Michelle Warner introduces the 'Five Whys' root cause analysis as a tool to delve deeper into business dilemmas and refine decision-making processes. By applying this framework to understand the underlying purpose of activities like speaking engagements, entrepreneurs can make informed choices based on whether an activity serves as a product or a marketing tool. This approach facilitates clarity in differentiating between revenue-generating services and cost-effective marketing strategies.
If you know you’re going to get new business after a keynote or other speaking event, should you also be getting paid for it? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner takes this question head-on, and immediately starts digging down into what we really need to answer instead. Using listener Jay Acunzo's question as a case study, Michelle emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between when speaking serves as a marketing tool versus a paid product, and shares the tools you need to do it for your own work.