Speak for Free to Speak for Fee | Toni Collier Episode Recap
Jan 3, 2025
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In an engaging discussion, Toni Collier emphasizes the importance of passion in building a speaking career. She suggests that aspiring speakers should be willing to speak for free to hone their craft. Three key benefits arise from this approach: gaining valuable experience, increasing visibility for future paid gigs, and networking with industry peers. This journey of dedication and practice can lead to effective audience engagement.
Developing a successful speaking career requires such deep passion that individuals should initially be willing to speak for free to hone their skills.
Free speaking engagements provide essential experience and networking opportunities, aiding speakers in gaining visibility and transitioning to paid opportunities more quickly.
Deep dives
The Importance of Passion in Speaking
Building a successful speaking career requires a deep passion for the craft, to the extent that individuals should be willing to speak for free initially. This mindset emphasizes honing one's skills and mastering the art of delivering impactful messages rather than focusing solely on monetary compensation. The process of practicing through free speaking engagements enables aspiring speakers to refine their delivery, understand audience dynamics, and develop their unique voice. Ultimately, embracing this approach allows speakers to evolve and connect more genuinely with their audience, transforming their passion into a more profitable career in the long run.
The Benefits of Speaking for Free
Engaging in speaking events without an upfront fee serves several strategic purposes for speakers aiming to enhance their careers. First, it provides valuable experience, allowing speakers to accumulate 'reps' that help them identify what resonates with audiences and improve their overall performance. Additionally, speaking for free can lead to greater exposure and networking opportunities, which are essential for gaining visibility and establishing relationships within the industry. As speakers build their reputations and demonstrate their capabilities through these early engagements, they can increase their chances of transitioning to paid speaking opportunities more swiftly.
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The Path to Becoming a Paid Speaker: Embracing the Journey
Something our guest Toni Collier shared in a recent interview has really stuck with AJ. Toni said that if you want to build a speaking career, you need to be so passionate about it, so called to it, that you’d be willing to speak for free! In this episode, AJ unpacks three key reasons why you should speak for free until you’ve developed your skills and strengthened your speaking muscles to truly serve your audience. The art of speaking takes time, dedication, and practice. Thanks for tuning in!
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