

Speakernomics
National Speakers Association
The speaking industry is constantly evolving. Listen weekly for voices of experience from experts in the speaking industry with tips, insights and knowledge to help you become a better speaker, build a better business, and get paid to speak.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 7, 2024 • 17min
Tech Tools for Speakers with A.J. MacQuarrie
Host Kenneth "Shark" Kinney speaks with AJ MacQuarrie about the vast landscape of digital tools. AJ shares a comprehensive guide to utilizing technology to not only survive but thrive in the competitive world of professional speaking. Explore the importance of establishing a web presence, leveraging different platforms for monetization, and the significance of choosing and mastering the right tools for business growth. AJ's Tech Tools Guide can be found here.In this episode of Speakernomics, you will:
Understand the Importance of Technology: Learn why mastering technology tools is crucial for professional speakers looking to grow their business and extend their reach beyond traditional stages.
Explore Essential Digital Tools: Gain insights into various technology tools, from necessities like professional email and websites to advanced tools like CRMs and online course platforms.
Monetize Your Message Across Platforms: Discover strategies to monetize your speaking business through non-traditional platforms like podcasts, webinars, and social media, enhancing your brand's value and establishing yourself as an expert in your field.
Effective Use of Online Courses and Memberships: Understand how to use online courses and memberships not as direct revenue streams but as tools to solidify your expertise and attract more speaking opportunities.
Navigate the Tech Stack for Speakers: Learn how to select, manage, and effectively use a range of digital tools to streamline your speaking business, save time, and increase efficiency.
Balance Technology with Personal Branding: Explore the balance between leveraging technology and maintaining a personal touch in your speaking business, ensuring your digital presence authentically represents your brand.
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Jan 31, 2024 • 25min
What Kind of Speaker Are You? with Shari Levitin
Join Shari Levitin, as she shares invaluable insights on building a successful speaking and training business. In this episode of Speakernomics, you'll explore the essential skills and strategies needed to excel in professional speaking.In this episode, Shari will help you:
Understand the dynamics of different speaking roles, such as trainers, entertainers, and change agents.
Learn the significance of tailoring training methods to align with audience learning styles.
Discover the four pillars of an effective training and coaching program.
Gain insights into creating lasting impact and behavioral change through speaking engagements.
Explore strategies for building and sustaining a multimillion-dollar speaking business.
Learn the importance of repeat business and client retention for long-term success.
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Jan 24, 2024 • 18min
Leveraging Technology with Susan Frew
This week, Speakernomics podcast, host Kenneth "Shark" Kinney interviews Susan Frew, a professional speaker and author with a tech background. They discuss how Susan leverages AI (specifically ChatGPT 4) in her speaking business to find speaking engagement opportunities, automate financial tasks, and enhance social media content creation. Susan shares her experience in using AI for bookkeeping, creating targeted speaking engagement lists and optimizing social media posts. In this session, Susan will explain:
Custom GPT for Speaking Engagements: Using ChatGPT 4 to create a personalized GPT that scours the internet for speaking engagement opportunities. This custom tool helps Susan identify relevant events based on competitors and streamlines the process of finding speaking gigs for 2024.
Financial Automation with AI: Susan describes how she utilized AI, including ChatGPT, for financial tasks. She created a financeGPT to generate a budget for 2024 by inputting profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow forecasts, and bank statements.
AI in Content Creation: Susan discusses using AI, such as ChatGPT and DALL·E (for graphics), in content creation. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's voice in social media posts while utilizing AI to enhance and polish the content. Susan also shares her experience using AI tools for creating eBooks, improving covers, and generating concise content.
Who is Susan Frew? Susan Frew is a force to be reckoned with in the world of entrepreneurship. As the CEO of Sunshine Home Services, she led her company to a staggering 535% growth, securing a coveted spot on the Inc5000 list and earning 43 other prestigious awards. Her background as an International GM with AT&T Wireless and an Instructor for the SBA's national Emerging Leaders program only adds to her wealth of expertise. Susan's passion for coaching and entrepreneurship has led her to become a sought-after Professional Speaker, Emcee, and TEDx speaker on the critical issue of workforce shortage. Her insights into alternative career paths for women have earned her a reputation as a renowned expert. With her infectious energy and unwavering belief in the power of taking risks, Susan encourages her audiences to "Go Out on the Skinny Branches" and embrace the unknown. Her book, "Compete on Awesome, Not on Price," has helped countless entrepreneurs build thriving businesses and maintain healthy profits. Susan's journey to success has not been without its challenges, but she has emerged stronger and more determined than ever before. Drawing on her experiences of both triumph and adversity, she has developed a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in the world of business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 2024 • 22min
Your Point of Differentiation with Mark Levy
This week on Speakernomics, host Kenneth "Shark" Kinney interviews Mark Levy, a differentiation expert who helps corporations, brands, and thought leaders come up with their "Big Sexy Idea." In this episode, Mark shares:
Differentiation as a Business Strategy: Mark defines differentiation as a business strategy aimed at standing out from the competition in a meaningful and interesting way. Your point of differentiation serves as a "foot in the door," capturing people's attention and making you memorable. It's not the totality of everything you are but a cool and emblematic aspect of your work that you lead with.
Balancing Differentiation and Safety: Speakers often grapple with the balance between being different and being a safe choice for meeting planners. What's considered safe or dangerous depends on the context and the specific audience. To succeed, speakers should focus on their target audience, understanding that not everyone will resonate with their approach.
Engaging the Audience for Memorable Talks: Engage with the audience both before and during talks. Get to know your audience beforehand, referencing their activities or stories during the speech. This personal and conversational style makes the talk an extension of a dinner conversation.
Who is Mark Levy? Mark Levy is a differentiation expert. He differentiates corporations, brands, thought leaders, political campaigns, TV shows, live shows, products, services, books, and speeches. The ideas his clients and he have created have been discussed and used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Mark began his company in 2001 and is known for differentiating Simon Sinek. Simon’s endorsement: “Mark Levy is the man who helped me find my why. He inspires me.” Mark has also worked with and spoken to leaders, strategists, and teams in large organizations, including Adobe, Amazon, American Express, Bain, BASF, Google, Harrah’s, Harvard Business School, History Channel, Major League Baseball, McKinsey, Neighborly, Popeye’s, Proctor & Gamble, Stanford University, and UPS. He’s also worked with leaders and advisors to government bodies, including the White House and the United Nations. Mark consulted to Joel Hodgson, creator of the beloved cult TV series, “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” which has been named one of the 100 best TV shows of all-time by Time, Rolling Stone, and Entertainment Weekly. In 2018, Mark was inducted into The Million Dollar Consulting® Mentor Hall of Fame. The hall’s founder calls Mark’s positioning-and-messaging work “unparalleled.” He’s an author, speaker, and podcaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 10, 2024 • 15min
Embrace Your Good Awkward with Henna Pryor
In this episode of Speakernomics, host Kenneth "Shark" Kinney interviews Henna Pryor, a workplace performance expert, TEDx speaker, coach, and author. Henna talks about embracing the concept of "good awkward" and using it as a catalyst for professional growth, especially in the field of public speaking. In this episode, you will learn:
Embrace Good Awkward: Henna emphasizes that as speakers, it's crucial to accept that awkward moments will happen, and instead of avoiding them, one should learn to lean into and embrace them.
Build Social Musculature: With the current decrease in social interactions, speakers need to build their agility muscles in social situations.
Adding Value and Incremental Pricing: Henna shares insights on pricing strategies for speakers, recommending asking for feedback after each event, specifically requesting at least one constructive criticism to improve.
Who is Henna Pryor? Henna Pryor, PCC is a highly sought-after Workplace Performance Expert and an award-winning 2x TEDx and global keynote speaker, author, and executive coach. Her clients call her their “secret weapon for impossible change,” an honor she wears proudly. She’s known for her science-backed approach to improving the performance, habits, and actions of hungry high achievers – in her fun, no-nonsense, no-jargon way – to move them from their first level of success to their next one. She’s recognized as a SUCCESS Magazine Woman of Influence, and her best-selling book, Good Awkward, was endorsed by NFL Quarterback Russell Wilson and former HBR Editor Karen Dillon, and was named a Kirkus Reviews’ Best Book of 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 3, 2024 • 23min
Define Your Space and Direction with John Register, CSP
It's a brand-new season of Speakernomics with our brand-new host, Kenneth "Shark" Kinney! Shark is kicking off our new season with John Register, CSP, a paralympic silver medalist, US Army combat veteran, and Certified Professional Keynote speaker. John discusses being an expert in the professional speaking space, how to define one's expertise and the importance of being easy to work with as a speaker. In this episode, John talks about:
Go Deep Before Going Wide: Define your expertise and go deep into it before trying to cover a wide range of topics. John suggests finding one word that encapsulates what you do and sticking with it to become known in that specific space.
Be Easy to Work With: As a speaker, it's crucial to be easy to work with, especially for meeting professionals and event planners. John shares practical tips such as providing PowerPoint slides promptly, maintaining open communication, and showing appreciation with small gestures like gift cards for the event team.
Active Role in Networking: Actively seek out opportunities to see other speakers and build relationships within the speaking community. Rather than evaluating other speakers, focus on understanding what they do and use that knowledge to make valuable referrals, fostering a supportive and uplifting environment within the industry.
Who is John Register, CSP? John Register failed to clear a hurdle as he trained for the Olympic Games—a move that led to a tragic accident and altered his life forever. He shifted his focus and embraced a “new normal mindset.” The decorated Persian Gulf War combat U.S. Army veteran world champion became a two-time Paralympic Games Silver Medalist, professional speaker, and global influencer. Register “amputated his fears” and founded the U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic Military Sports Program. He authored 10 Stories to Impact Any Leader: Journal Your Way to Leadership Success in Spring 2020 and works with business leaders to hurdle adversity, amputate fear, and embrace a new normal mindset to win life's medals. The artificial leg he used to win the silver medal is displayed in the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 27, 2023 • 24min
Hold Your Own Events with Kenneth "Shark" Kinney
In this episode of Speakernomics, Robert Kennedy, III speaks with special guest, Kenneth "Shark" Kinney discussing hosting events as a professional speaker. Shark shares the challenges and opportunities of organizing conferences, providing valuable insights for speakers looking to expand their business into event hosting:
Creating Your Own Event: Shark shares that hosting your own conference is a powerful way to align your expertise with your financial investment. It offers a unique perspective on your speaking brand, helps you understand the value in the words you speak, and allows you to evaluate other speakers from the viewpoint of a meeting planner.
Mitigating Risks with Sponsors: Shark emphasizes the importance of sponsors in mitigating the financial risks associated with organizing an event. Choosing sponsors that align with the event's purpose and can benefit from the partnership helps create a win-win situation and provides financial support.
Measuring Return on Content: To ensure the success of an event, Shark advises speakers to measure the return they provide through their speeches. This involves assessing the impact of their advice, understanding how it translates into tangible results for the audience, and leveraging this information to attract the right participants to the event.
A very special thanks to Robert Kennedy, III for his amazing year hosting Speakernomics! NSA is truly grateful for your service! Tune in until the end where RK3 announces the new host of Speakernomics for 2024!Who is Kenneth "Shark" Kinney?Kenneth “Shark” Kinney is making waves as a keynote speaker, author, marketing strategist, and shark diver and conservationist. Today, Kenneth inspires leaders to dive deeper and find new perspectives to transform their businesses to drive growth and create better experiences for their customers as well as their employees. " Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 20, 2023 • 27min
Dealing with Burnout with Cheryl Knowlton, CSP
Robert Kennedy, III speaks with Cheryl Knowlton, CSP on burnout in the speaking business. Cheryl shares insights and strategies to recognize and address burnout, emphasizing the importance of self-care for speakers. In this episode, you will learn:
Self-Care is Crucial: Speakers are the product they sell, making self-care essential. The SWEET framework serves as a guide to maintaining optimal physical and mental well-being.
Recognizing Burnout Signals: Cheryl encourages speakers to be self-aware and regularly assess their feelings and commitments. Recognizing shifts in enthusiasm, energy levels, and joy can help identify potential burnout. It's crucial to distinguish between genuine disinterest and burnout.
Support Systems Matter: Having a support system, such as a mindset coach, is highlighted as an invaluable resource. The importance of seeking help, whether personally or professionally, is emphasized to navigate challenges, prevent burnout, and foster personal growth.
Answer our Question! Head over to www.Speakernomics.com/voicemail and leave us a voicemail answering our question and we may use your recording on an upcoming episode of Speakernomics! Question: Where is your burnout coming from?Who is Cheryl Knowlton, CSP?As the CEO and Chief Energy Officer of Dynamite Productions, Cheryl specializes in enthusiastically empowering excellence by consistently delivered highly engaging, timely, and relevant tools to help today’s real estate professional raise the bar – in business and in life. As a national real estate educator, broker, coach, author, podcast host, and 23+ year veteran of the real estate and mortgage industries, Cheryl is obsessed with helping real estate agents grow in confidence and competence to become powerfully relevant in today’s marketplace and win in any market. Cheryl ensures that real estate professionals leave with the practical tools they need to hit the ground running and experience explosive growth and success in their careers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 13, 2023 • 25min
Building a High-Performance Business with Mike Staver, CSP, CPAE
This week, Robert Kennedy, III, speaks with Mike Staver, CSP, CPAE on building a high-performance speaking business. Mike shares insights on his speaker journey and emphasizes the need for speakers to focus on what they have, diagnose the needs of their audience, and face fear head-on. In this episode, Mike discusses:
Stop Getting Ready and Start Getting Busy: Move beyond excessive preparation and take action. Many speakers have more than enough to build a world-class business and should focus on doing the work.
Three High-Performing Business Characteristics: Clarity about the problem it solves, a strong sense of purpose, and the ability to diagnose and meet the needs of the economic buyer.
Courageous Decision-Making: The importance of making decisions that align with one's values, even if it means letting go of substantial revenue.
Answer our Question! Head over to www.Speakernomics.com/voicemail and leave us a voicemail answering our question and we may use your recording on an upcoming episode of Speakernomics! Question: What is the thing that you know you need to do that you haven't done that if you did, it would move your business forward? Answer our Question! Head over to www.Speakernomics.com/voicemail and leave us a voicemail answering our question and we may use your recording on an upcoming episode of Speakernomics! Question: What is the thing that you know you need to do that you haven't done that if you did, it would move your business forward? Who is Mike Staver, CSP, CPAE?Mike Staver is the author of “Leadership Isn’t for Cowards” and an internationally respected speaker, author, and coach. Mike takes noisy, often complex, leadership content and makes it immediately useful, digestible, and entertaining. In all Mike's work, the goal is simple – helping leaders perform better and live better lives. To accomplish this, Mike uses counterintuitive perspectives, a storytelling style, and entertaining delivery that makes the often-challenging realities of work and life easier to absorb and put into practice.Mike architected a training program ranked #1 by Training Magazine on their 2018 Training Top 125 list, which recognizes organizations with the most successful learning and development programs in the world. That same program joined the Training Magazine Hall of Fame in 2019.In the last 30 years, Mike has influenced over 200,000 people in ways that have not only transformed thinking and action but improved results. His message is grounded in the belief that leadership is about influence regardless of position, title, or power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 6, 2023 • 21min
Using Retreats in Your Business with Elaine Rodriguez, CPC, ACC, ELI-MP
This week on Speakernomics, Robert Kennedy, III speaks with International tour expert, Elaine Rodriguez, about the significance of retreats for speakers and coaches. Elaine discusses the planning process, pricing considerations, and the importance of aligning the retreat theme, activities, and location. She emphasizes the need for a balance between learning and free time for participants to absorb information. In this episode, Elaine will share:
Retreats for Impactful Messaging: Retreats are presented as a pure way to convey messages, connect with clients, and facilitate transformations, allowing speakers to impact their audience more deeply.
Strategic Planning and Pricing: Speakers are advised to plan retreats at least nine months to a year in advance, considering audience affordability. Pricing should reflect the value provided, with an emphasis on not undervaluing one's time and effort.
Balancing Structure and Spontaneity: The ideal retreat schedule includes a mix of learning, coaching, and free time. Leaving room for spontaneity allows for unexpected, impactful activities and enhances the overall retreat experience.
A transcript of this episode is available to NSA Members in the NSA Digital Vault Catalogue.Answer our Question! Head over to www.Speakernomics.com/voicemail and leave us a voicemail answering our question and we may use your recording on an upcoming episode of Speakernomics! Question: What is the one thing you want people to walk away with after working with you that would change their lives forever? And what can you do to make that message clearer? Who is Elaine Rodriguez, CPC, ACC, ELI-MP?A 14-year veteran of the travel industry, Elaine has impacted the lives of travelers from all over the world through tour directing, tour planning, and now as a retreat planner for speakers, coaches, and facilitators through her company Essential Retreat Experts. Elaine keynotes on customer service, leadership, and teamwork, using her stories from her time on the road to inform – and entertain – her audiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


