The Speaker Lab Podcast

“I might not be world class ever, ever, but I’m definitely gonna be way better than I was on my own, and without the reps.”Josh Shipp has had a brilliant career providing knowledge to thousands of people. Today, he joins us to talk about the hard work of making it as a speaker, how to find your strengths, and what you should know at the start of your journey.Josh has frequently worked in the education space with parents, teachers, and students. In fact, he even founded a company dedicated to this training called Youth Speaker University. Josh is here to talk about how to break into this space and why what you do matters on and off stage.Josh also has some great insights to share about drawing inspiration, the great thing about individualism, and learning from your failures. Thoughtfully targeting your niche and your goals is something you have to learn, and Josh is here to walk you through it.You’ll learn:The common denominator of successful speakersWhy endurance & self reflection mattersHow there are negatives and positives with innovationWhat you can learn from criticismHow to identify your main topic to speak aboutAnd so much more!“You can learn a ton from those 3 out of 4 that don’t book you.”Episode Resources: Topyouthspeakers.comJosh's LinkedinGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“That type of belief is what carries you through when everybody else is dropping like flies. When you know for a fact this is what you’re made for, then there’s nothing else you can do.” The journey to professional speaking is not always a simple one, and our guest this week knows this all too well. Ken Hartley spent over 20 years serving as a worship pastor (and also worked as a magician!) on the way to becoming a full-time professional speaker. This week, Ken is here to break down how he found his new career in speaking and made the leap of faith that led to this point. With a background in ministry, music, and magic, Ken was no stranger to the stage. However, making the switch to speaking wasn't an easy one. He found himself struggling with the commitment both financially and personally to take the leap, but was encouraged and supported by many family members. In fact, his mom gave him the money to get the training, and 19 months later, he got a gig paying the same amount as the kind gift he was given.It can be difficult to overcome self-doubt, and fear, but Ken will discuss how he worked through those moments, and learned to trust himself and his talent. Plus, his participation in The Speaker Lab as a student shaped the way he works in the business for the better. Each opportunity or gig has led him to new spin offs, and he is the perfect person to learn why showing up for yourself and committing can help you grow for the better.You’ll learn:The secret to taking risksWhere to find the right resources for youHow to overcome imposter syndromeWhy you should consider The Speaker Lab for trainingHow to build momentum in your businessAnd so much more!“The only way to get good on stage is to be on stage.”Episode Resources:Ken's WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nathan Barry, creator of Kit, a platform empowering creators, talks about leveraging content to grow your speaking business. He emphasizes the power of building an email list, which can lead to more gigs and higher fees. Automation and segmentation are key for engaging your audience effectively. Nathan also shares practical tips on tailoring content, creating impressive demo videos, and the unique benefits of email communication over social media. Dive into how aligning your interests with content creation can amplify your visibility and bookings!

“It’s very important that the message bearer who’s up there selling that idea cares very, very deeply about it, and they would give it just as much energy if there were 5 people in the room, as if there were 5,000 people in the room.”Running your own business is extremely challenging, but doing what you love can make it a bit easier. This week, Jack Galloway joined us on the show to talk about the importance of concentrating on what you care about. Jack got his start working with Dave Ramsey for over 22 years, where he received a behind-the-scenes look into how to build a team from the ground up.Throughout his time at Ramsey Solutions, Jack learned countless lessons about running a business, including the significance of criticism, why simplicity matters, the wisdom that comes with repetition, and much, much more! Jack has a ton of wisdom and advice to share, and I know you'll get a lot out of this episode. You’ll learn:The importance of listening to your audience’s needsWhy practice makes perfectHow to be successful as a “solo-preneur”To surround yourself with good workers and friendsWhat can make or break a small businessAnd much more!"Focus on keeping the main thing, the main thing”Episode Resources:Jack's WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Don’t conform to your environment. Everyone else does it, but you need to take that path, that uniqueness that is you, because there is no one like you.”As a former circus clown (yes, an actual circus clown), Dustin Portillo knows a thing or two about showtime. And now as a professional speaker, Dustin has taken that mindset and applied it to delivering value for audiences everywhere. This week, Dustin is here to share the lessons he learned from his wide-ranging career and give you some practical tips on things like mastering stage presence, keeping audiences engaged, and what it takes to leave a corporate job to become a full time speaker.We'll spend time walking through his 5 important principles and why determining what's important to you, really matters. Dustin also talks about some of the most scary moments you can have in the industry and how they can propel you to bigger & better things.You’ll learn:The importance of knowing your audienceWhy your value is more than a job titleHow to always have a "showtime mindset"How being relatable can help you excel as a speakerHow to embrace the value of growth And much more!"Don’t knock on a wall expecting a door to open”Episode Resources:Dustin's WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“You just have to trust that it will work out if you do the right thing. Surround yourself with great people.”There’s no easy days when you’re an entrepreneur, but figuring out how you can divide and conquer for your business is really important. This week, Jay Papasan joins us to talk about how delegation is a powerful tool that frees you up to do what only you can do best.Jay walks through what it looks like to have a core focus and motivation for your speaking business and how that can help you take your speaking career to the next level. There are a ton of practical tips in this episode on a wide range of topics, including how to juggle all of the responsibilities of running a business, how to grow personally and professionally, how to consistently deliver value for your audience, and so much more. You’ll learn:The important difference between your personal brand and your business brandHow to do what you enjoy so you can be at your bestWhat growing your speaking business can look like realisticallyWhen to start leaning on other people to help grow your businessHow delivering consistent value will keep the work comingAnd much more!“We want to be thought-leaders”Episode Resources:Jay Papasan's WebsiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jake Thompson, a successful speaker and facilitator at The Speaker Lab, shares invaluable insights from his speaking career. He discusses how to navigate unexpected challenges, from travel hiccups to contract disputes. Jake emphasizes the importance of maintaining professionalism and open communication with clients. He also highlights strategies for ensuring successful bookings and the value of being amazing both on and off stage. This engaging conversation is packed with practical advice for aspiring speakers to thrive in a competitive industry.

Josie Ann Lee, a speaker focused on the "superpower of service" in leadership, and Kenny Barnwell, a life coach for touring event crews, dive into the challenges of introducing new ideas and scaling their speaking businesses. Josie seeks advice on selling fresh concepts to skeptical event organizers, while Kenny explores how to leverage workshops to boost his income. They discuss the importance of refining messages, getting started without perfection, and establishing themselves as experts in their niches. Valuable insights flow throughout their live coaching session!

Tamsen Webster, a leading message designer and Idea Strategist known for her work with TEDx events, dives into the art of impactful communication. She explains how aligning messages with audience beliefs fosters lasting change. Tamsen shares techniques for simplifying complex ideas and the importance of storytelling in presentations. She also outlines the 'curiosity curve,' offering strategies to keep audiences engaged. Prepare to transform your speaking approach with her insights on creating memorable, resonant messages.

"I think often we confuse strategy with activity, and we can get stuck in this kind of flywheel of just like, well, I feel busy, I look busy. I did a lot of things today, but what did I actually accomplish?"If you really want to build a successful speaking business, you have to follow the right processes — and be consistent in doing the little things well. Everyone wants to book more paid speaking gigs, but what are the simple, practical things that most speakers miss?Dan Irvin knows a thing or two about building processes to scale your speaking business — in just a few years, he's gone from a full time corporate job to 60 paid gigs in 2023. This week, he's sitting down with Grant to share 7 strategies you can use right now in your speaking business to get more gigs.No matter where you are as a speaker or how many gigs you've booked, you'll get something out of this episode to help you move to the next level. "Find what can you do each and every day consistently, even if it's just one tiny little step that you can do every day versus these massive kind of leaps that I think people oftentimes want to create."Looking for the highlights?02:29 How to build long term relationships in the speaking industry08:35 Why having a strategy is more important than being busy 10:39 How to overcome the challenges of building a speaking business11:38 Why consistent lead generation and follow up is the key to success23:33 How to level up your communication with event organizers27:39 Why your audience (and clients) are craving more from you32:26 The power of referrals in building a speaking business36:05 Why you should give yourself grace in the processEpisode Resources:Dan Irvin's WebsiteDan Irvin's New BookGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.