Daniel Harkavy, Founder and CEO of Building Champions with nearly 30 years in coaching, dives into the journey of turning speaking failures into business success. He shares his rocky first speaking gig and how it fueled his desire to connect authentically, emphasizing that speaking can ignite growth. Daniel advocates for embracing uniqueness, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the powerful role of speaking in lead generation for coaches. He inspires listeners to balance their speaking and coaching endeavors for greater impact.
45:32
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Disastrous First Speaking Gig
Daniel Harkavy's first speaking gig was a disastrous 15 minutes in front of 40 top mortgage bankers in Nevis.
Technical failure and nervousness caused him to be rescued mid-talk, but a listener hired him afterward, launching his coaching business.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Choose Right Audience and Topic
Before accepting a speaking engagement, ensure the audience is the right fit and open to learning.
Only speak on topics you are passionate about and a subject matter expert in to maximize impact.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Balance Speaking With Life
Build a life plan and schedule to rejuvenate and maintain balance between travel and family.
Maximize your best self on the road by being fully present when working and fully present when home.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Coaching with Confidence offers a practical guide for individuals seeking to enhance their coaching skills and empower others. The book focuses on developing essential coaching techniques, such as active listening, effective questioning, and providing constructive feedback. It provides a framework for creating a supportive coaching environment and building trust with clients. Coaching with Confidence explores the importance of understanding individual strengths and weaknesses, as well as setting achievable goals. The book encourages readers to embrace a growth mindset and cultivate a coaching approach that fosters personal and professional development. Coaching with Confidence equips readers with the tools and strategies necessary to inspire and guide others toward success.
Working the room
Nick Morgan
In "Working the Room," Nick Morgan offers a guide to effective communication and networking in professional settings. He emphasizes the importance of making meaningful connections and building rapport with others, rather than simply exchanging business cards. The book provides practical advice on how to initiate conversations, engage with individuals, and create a positive impression. Morgan explores the power of nonverbal communication, including body language and facial expressions, in conveying confidence and sincerity. He also addresses common anxieties and challenges associated with networking, such as overcoming shyness and managing difficult conversations. Morgan encourages readers to approach networking as an opportunity to build genuine relationships and create lasting connections.
Becoming a coaching leader
Daniel Harkavy
The E-myth revisited
why most small businesses don't work and what to do about it
Michael E. Gerber
The E-Myth Revisited challenges the common assumption that most businesses are started by entrepreneurs. Instead, Gerber argues that most businesses are started by technicians who understand the technical work but not the business itself. The book introduces the concept of the E-Myth and explains that successful business owners must balance three roles: the Entrepreneur (the visionary), the Manager (the planner and organizer), and the Technician (the one who performs the technical work). Gerber emphasizes the distinction between working 'in' your business and working 'on' your business, and he provides strategies for systemizing and scaling businesses, including the concept of the Franchise Prototype.
“If you impact one leader and that leader shows up better, then that leader engages better with his or her team. And then if that’s a good experience and it’s consistent, then those teammates do the same for their team. And all of a sudden you’re cascading down.”
One of the best things about being a speaker? You get to write your own story—and Daniel Harkavy’s is proof that the path isn’t always smooth, but it’s definitely worth it. In this episode, Daniel opens up about his rocky first speaking gig, however instead of quitting, he uses that failure as fuel. As a result, speaking became the key to growing his coaching business—not just for applause, but to make real connections and lasting impact.
Daniel reminds us that success on stage isn’t about being perfect, it’s about leaning into your strengths, learning from the mess-ups, and using your unique voice to serve others. Speaking doesn’t have to be your end game—sometimes it’s the launchpad for something even bigger. His big takeaway is to embrace what makes you different, seek out opportunities to serve, and don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back. There’s no single way to build a speaking business—so create one that excites you while opening doors for others, too.
You’ll learn:
Overcoming imposter syndrome in speaking
The role of speaking in business growth
Speaking as a lead generation tool
Balancing speaking and coaching
How to determine the “right audience”
Scaling a coaching/speaking business
Modernizing speaking business structures
And much, much more!
“Build a life plan and then a schedule that enables you to flourish and rejuvenate so that when you go out on the road, you are the best version of yourself.”
The Speaker Lab Podcast 
