"Two things have to be true: one, you have to offer enough value so that they're paying attention. And two, you've got to communicate that value in a believable way, either through a third party or somebody they trust or you directly."

It might be cliché, but it's still true: speaking is a relationships business. If you want to be a successful speaker, you have to invest in building relationships every single day — with event planners, with industry leaders, and with other speakers.

This week, Grant is sitting down with Mo Bunnell to talk about how to overcome some of the most common obstacles that speakers face in making connections — being "too busy," fearing rejection, and more.

Mo recently wrote a book called Give to Grow about how to invest in relationships to build your business and your career, and he has a lot of practical advice that will help you get out of your comfort zone and start building relationships like a pro.

If you're struggling to get traction in your speaking business and you're looking for a spark to get things going, this might be the episode you need to hear!

"I'll be really bold on this. If somebody is thinking 'I'm too busy to do the next piece of work,' that is a massive excuse and you just need to flush it."

Looking for the highlights?

03:53 How to fall in love with the process of building relationships
07:08 How limiting beliefs can block speakers from achieving success
10:20 Why many speakers struggle with promoting themselves
15:23 How to maximize face time with key decision-makers
20:40 Ways to balance service with getting gigs in conversations
25:06 How to understand client needs and stated vs. unstated problems
33:01 Why you should reach out quarterly to maintain important relationships

Episode Resources:

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

415: Forging a Path for Women in India (The Dharma Toolkit, Episode 40)