How Stories Happen How to (actually) grow your paid speaking
Mar 23, 2026
Practical advice on turning speaking into real revenue, focusing on the right early investments. A clear critique of glossy reels and bureaus and what to prioritize instead. The episode breaks down the must-have traits of sustainable speakers and how to create one signature talk plus a pipeline gig. Tips on generating fast, high-value stage-side leads and scaling outward from a single talk.
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Speaking Relies On Your Game Not Fame
- Paid speaking success relies on your expertise, packaged raw material, and existing traction rather than celebrity fame.
- Jay distinguishes real practitioners from hype by requiring depth, packaged IP, and some revenue or audience traction.
Don't Buy A Glossy Reel Too Early
- Avoid buying a glossy speaker reel early; clips of you speaking are sufficient to win bookings and build trust with event planners.
- Jay built steady paid income for two years using clips before investing in a full reel once fees and scale justified it.
Wait To Use Speaker Bureaus
- Don't lean on speaker bureaus until you have consistent scale and fees because they operate as sales organizations that take a commission.
- Bureaus batch-sell and may add 20%+; they're best for managing existing momentum, not generating it.