The Five Levels of Building a Successful Speaking Business with Erick Rheam

Oct 14, 2025

In this engaging conversation, guest Erick Rheam, a seasoned professional speaker, shares insights from his journey in building a sustainable speaking career. He outlines the five levels of a speaking career, discussing the challenges and triumphs at each stage. Erick emphasizes the importance of intentional routines, clear priorities, and strategic rest to avoid burnout. Listeners gain practical advice on how to maintain ambition without losing vision, making this a must-listen for anyone aiming to make a lasting impact in the speaking industry.

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ADVICE

Get Coached And Clarify Your Audience

Get coaching early to accelerate clarity and avoid wasted effort.
Clarify a specific audience and problem before polishing your story or message.

ADVICE

Practice Live And Book One Paid Gig

Get on stage repeatedly, even if some gigs are unpaid, to sharpen your talk.
Focus your next milestone on booking one paid gig to build confidence and momentum.

INSIGHT

Validate, Expect Volatility, Then Reinvest

Early paid gigs validate your work but create volatile highs and lows.
Reinvest initial earnings into assets that build credibility and future bookings.

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“You have to make sure you don’t lose the vision of what you started, because the team could begin and can take on a personality of its own. And if you don’t manage it, you can get off the vision of what brought you here.”

What does it really take to build a thriving speaking business? In this week’s thought-provoking episode, Grant Baldwin sits down with Erick Rheam to explore the practical strategies and mindset shifts needed for true longevity in this industry.

Erick, an established speaker with years of experience under his belt, opens up about his own journey: the early hustle, the inevitable challenges, and, most importantly, how he’s learned to balance ambition with sustainability. He and Grant get real about the myth of constant grind, explaining that putting in the hard work is necessary at the start, but staying stuck in overdrive isn’t the secret to lasting impact or happiness.

Instead, this conversation dives deep into the habits and boundaries that separate career burnout from long-term success. Erick shares how intentional routines, clear priorities, and strategic rest have shaped his evolution, not just as a speaker, but as a leader, husband, and friend.

If you’re dreaming about building a speaking business with staying power, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Tune in for a refreshing look at what it takes to sustain your passion and make an impact for years to come. Whether you’re just getting started or already established, Erick and Grant’s discussion is a must-listen for any speaker ready to play the long game. Don’t miss it!

You’ll learn:

The defining characteristics, obstacles, and recommended advancements for the five levels of a professional speaking career
Level 1: The Aspiring Speaker
Level 2: The Amateur Speaker
Level 3: The Professional Speaker
Level 4: The Career Speaker
Level 5: The Legacy Speaker
Not taking the speaking journey for granted
The importance of being coached at every level
And much, much more!

“It’s fun when you do something that you’re really passionate about and aligned with, it’s amazing how every other part of your life starts to align once you figure out what that looks like.”

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