The Speaker Lab Podcast

“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.

"You can get rid of that limiting belief that you have to have a talk fully ready before you sell it."One of the hardest things for new and aspiring speakers is putting together a compelling talk. It's hard to move forward until you feel like everything is perfect — but what if you could sell your talk before it even exists?Your best marketing is a great talk — but you don't necessarily need to have that talk fully developed before you pitch it to event organizers.This week, Erick Rheam is back to break down the four main reasons developing your talk first can actually be problematic, along with advice on how to test the market, why prospecting is a superpower for successful speakers, and much, much more!If you're feeling stuck or you're not sure how to get things rolling as a new or aspiring speaker, this is the episode for you."When you're on the phone with an event planner and you're discussing what their needs are, if you're too rigid and you have this talk already developed, and you've got too much time invested in it and too much energy, it's harder to adjust and a little demotivating if you spent all this time building something that the event planner doesn't exactly want."Looking for the highlights?02:58 Four reasons why speakers shouldn't finalize talks before selling them03:54 How to adapt your presentation to meet the event planner's needs.07:00 How to draft a rough idea and adapt it based on feedback10:10 Why you should be flexible with your topic and develop assets around it later13:29 Why it's easier to pivot when you're already in the game18:47 Why you don't need a dramatic story to speak25:51 Why consistent daily prospecting beats sporadic efforts28:05 Why success in speaking requires aligning passion with demand33:01 How deadlines will force preparation and commitmentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mo Bunnell, a relationship-building expert and author of "Give to Grow," shares insights on growing a speaking business through effective networking. He emphasizes the significance of genuine connections with event planners and industry leaders. Mo tackles common obstacles like busy schedules and self-promotion fears, urging speakers to prioritize value and face-to-face interactions. He introduces a four-step framework for engaging with event planners and encourages a mindset shift from selling to being genuinely helpful in fostering relationships.

This week, we’re giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what coaching can do for speakers. Erick Rheam is hosting live coaching sessions this week! These sessions feature TSL students and real problems that speakers face in their businesses.This episode features Molly Kennedy and Theresa Skaar. Molly focuses on shifting her demographics and finding new income sources, while Theresa focuses on overcoming impostor syndrome and selling herself with confidence. A few of their quotes that you might relate to: “I just turned 50 this summer, and I feel like, personally, I'm kind of evolving and growing. I feel like my reach can expand beyond education, although I love teachers. Again, it's kind of an easy space for me, but I also feel like I want to challenge myself to have a broader reach as well." - Molly Kennedy "I don't know if it feels audacious if it feels like so many people position themselves as an expert. And I'm like, you know, I don't know." - Theresa Skaar Want to skim the session? 04:56 Why Molly loves what she does currently08:09 Where she would like to transition into12:52 Erick’s ideas on getting into a new market 15:18 Molly’s final steps to make the shift 18:51 Where Theresa feels like she’s lacking confidence 22:27 How Theresa wishes people felt about aging25:11 What Theresa hopes to accomplish with her work 28:03 Erick advice on how to build confidence and show up as a proEpisode Resources:Connect with Molly on LinkedInFollow Molly on InstagramVisit Molly's WebsiteConnect with Theresa on LinkedInFollow Theresa on InstagramVisit Theresa'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.