AJ gained some valuable insight after her conversation with the Owner and CMO of eSpeakers, Joe Heaps, about what it takes to make speaking your profession and how to grow your speaking business. This recap episode highlights the biggest mistakes that new speakers make and how to avoid them, how to make the perfect demo video, why it’s important to understand what buyers are looking for, and everything you need to remember when setting fees for your speaking business.   

The speaking industry has grown leaps and bounds to the extent that speakers are now considered entrepreneurs, as they are now personal brands and businesses. But finding work is not as simple as just sending a text or email, and being a successful speaker requires the same hard work and dedication that is necessary for any thriving business. Joining AJ in conversation today is Joe Heaps, the Owner and CMO of eSpeakers, an online platform that connects speakers with their audience. Joe believes that his business is crucial for the industry and credits its established systems and processes as the vehicle behind its prosperity. We learn about the importance of the Audience Benefit statement, how speaking is no different than any other business, how speakers should prepare for their events, and what non-celebrity speakers need to take into account. We also explore Joe’s special recipe for connecting speakers with clients, how to set your fees as a speaker, the trending topics that speakers are being hired for, and how speakers can play their part in upholding standards of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

Many people don’t see breakthrough in their lives, despite their best efforts. Following our conversation with Michael Bungay Stanier, we’re sharing our five step formula, to support you as you help others to have a massive breakthrough in their lives. Tune in to hear the real reason it’s so hard for most people to make much-needed changes before we dive into the true premise of coaching, and explore your role in identifying and calling out limiting beliefs and leading client’s toward new ones. We equip you with a new understanding of how to encourage and inspire people, and offer an informed glimpse into what really happens when you help someone to overcome limiting beliefs and find breakthrough. Join us today to hear all this and more.  

Despite its undeniable power to affect change and bring forth transformation, coaching, as a profession, is still widely misunderstood. Understanding coaching and what it could do for you and those around you is vital for the future of unlocking every individual’s inner greatness. Michael Bungay Stanier is a world-renowned coach, speaker, and bestselling author, and his most famous title, The Coaching Habit, acts as the foundation of today’s conversation. Michael joins us to share what it means to be a coach, starting with his behavior-based definition of coaching followed by an explanation of the true purpose of coaching, how teaching and managing differ yet act harmoniously when in coaching, and the importance of asking questions and leading with curiosity. We learn how coaches can go about their work to gain the most out of their clients, finding the real problem and how to address it, the proximity clause and finding balance, and the importance of self-discovery. Michael also debunks many coaching stigmas by working through the five levels of resistance, and to end he details the habits that all successful coaches need to develop.    

Getting referrals is one of the best ways to grow your client base, and by extension, your business. But how do you go about initiating this process? And where is the best place to start? In today’s recap episode, AJ revisits her conversation with Barb Betts as she shares her top takeaways and breaks down the three most important steps for getting more referrals for your business. Find out what’s holding you back from asking for referrals, how to overcome this, and why it’s worth putting in the work. Be sure to tune in for an informative recap of this thought-provoking conversation along with special insights from AJ herself! 

You might think that, in 2024, the most effective way to grow your business is through your online presence. But you’d be wrong. The truth is that the majority of businesses today still thrive, not through Google searches or social media, but through the undeniable impact of trusted referrals and recommendations. And referrals hinge, more than anything, on the power of relationships. Our conversation today is a near-perfect example of this lesson in action. We are joined by Barb Betts, a sought-after keynote speaker, entrepreneur, educator, and CEO of The RECollective. We were so impressed with the referral training she did with our strategy team here at Brand Builders Group, that we had to have her on the show to share her expertise with all of you! Tuning in, you’ll hear Barb unpack the fundamentals of building your referral-based business, her advice to anyone starting without a client list, and a breakdown of her step-by-step guide to building, nurturing, and maintaining relationships. Discover the power of authentic connections, the importance of learning how to ask for help, and much more. For an eye-opening conversation on the art of building relationships, from a guest who is a living embodiment of what she teaches, be sure to tune in today!

What can you do to increase the likelihood of success? What are the things we do to self-sabotage? In this episode, we recap our main takeaways from our insightful conversation with Erwin McManus. Using our conversation with Erwin as a foundation, we delve into the key mindset shifts needed to build a personal brand, be a successful entrepreneur, and maximize potential. We unpack the power of being your own cheerleader and why approval from others is not an ingredient for success. Discover why you should not measure success by your achievements, the benefits of recognizing your hard work that nobody else sees, and why it is okay to feel like a beginner. Gain insights into how masters ‘pay the rent’ of success every day,   the value of leaning into what makes you unique, common mistakes people make, and much more! To explore the mindset shifts needed to uncover your self-worth and reach your full potential, tune in now! 

Achieving massive success requires more than talent or strategies; it also involves cultivating the right mindset. In today’s episode, we sit down with Erwin McManus, a pastor, author, and speaker known for his inspirational teachings on leadership, creativity, and spirituality. His latest book, Mindset Shifts, guides readers through developing an inner framework to navigate and overcome the internal mental structures preventing success and living a fulfilling life. In our conversation, we unpack the intricate nuances of success and failure, why focusing on yourself rather than your achievements is critical, and why it is essential to approach success as an outcome rather than an intention. We delve into the power of making a mind shift, why success weighs more heavily than failure, preparing for the burden of success, and the transitional loneliness that comes with it. Discover how taking responsibility empowers change, the curse of talent, why you must not be a prisoner of praise, overcoming imposter syndrome, and much more! Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that will leave you inspired to make your own mind shift and embark on a journey toward a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life with Erwin McManus! 

Elizabeth Stephens, a guest from Brand Builders Group, shares insights on building a strong personal brand and business. Emphasizing the importance of taking time and not rushing the process. They discuss the mission-driven approach of Brand Builders Group, the curriculum breakdown, and the key questions every personal brand must answer. Tune in to build a rock-solid foundation!

No matter where you are in your personal brand journey, there are always key questions that you should be asking yourself, like “What should I be working on right now?” and “Where should I be investing my time and resources?” There is perhaps no one better suited to tackle these questions than today's guest, Elizabeth Stephens, who just so happens to be a part of the Brand Builders Group’s founding team, and currently serves as the Vice President of Customer Service! In today’s conversation, you’ll learn about the best ways to navigate your personal brand path, key pain points you need to understand, and the four core customer journeys we’ve identified for our clients. We also unpack the biggest lessons we’ve learned from working closely with hundreds of individuals, before providing guidance for listeners to help them determine the trajectory they should be on. No matter where you are on your journey, today’s conversation has something for everyone. Tune in for key insights and universally applicable lessons on building your personal brand with ease and passion!