The Speaker Lab Podcast

Often, one of the hardest parts of the learning curve of launching a speaking business is being self employed. Many would-be entrepreneurs have longed for a textbook that explains how working for yourself actually works. Fortunately, Jeffrey Shaw, speaker, author, and expert in the unconventional art of being self-employed, has written a book about just that. For Episode 438 of The Speaker Lab podcast, he spoke with TSL founder Grant Baldwin about honing in on your expertise and managing your own business. He also shares his time-tested strategies for mastering the art of storytelling, one of the most important skills in any speaker’s toolkit.Many speakers overextend themselves trying to reach too many audiences. Getting in front of the group who values what you have to offer can be a long process. Jeffrey has done the hard work for you–he cycled through a variety of audiences before finding the place where his expertise could deliver the most value. While it’s not bad to try different things with different people, narrowing your audience helps you focus on your very best content, delivery, and presentation for the people who appreciate it most.Jeffrey’s very first successful business venture was in portrait photography, which as you can imagine lent itself to a great talent for storytelling. His secret? He actually catalogs the stories he thinks will be useful for speaking as they happen to him. We’re big fans of creating and establishing systems within your speaking business, so this is a really important part of the conversation!Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Jeffrey has a lot to say about the good, the bad, and the ugly of working for yourself specifically as a speaker. Constantly traveling, managing the ebb and flow of engagements, and running all the logistical aspects of a business is no joke! Fortunately, Jeffrey really is the expert–he’s never worked for anybody but himself–-and he offers constructive encouragement to those in the trenches.You’ll also hear all about:Why it’s normal for the iterations of your entrepreneurial career to be nonlinear.Which people in your life are well-positioned to help you find your expertise.How to decide if expanding to a particular audience is financially wise.How to deal with feeling like your business barely survives day-to-day.The “trust mantra” that can help you remain resilient in moments of self-doubt.How using stories can make the same talk appealing to wildly different audiences.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJeffrey'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.

Our amazing TSL coaches do a lot of great work helping our students accelerate their speaking careers through our programs. But beyond their great work at TSL, our coaches are people with their own amazing journeys inside and outside of the speaking industry. This week on the Coaches Corner, our director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith interviewed coach Michelle Onuorah about her mission, her speaking career, and how she ended up at The Speaker Lab. Michelle is a faith-filled go-getter with so much passion for life, and Episode 437 gives you just a taste of what you might learn from her if you enroll in one of our programs. Michelle started out as a TSL student before she started coaching for us (a story shared by many of our coaches, like Erick Rheam). Her mission had already fired her up to run a life coaching business and publish a book when she decided to dig deeper into the opportunities afforded by speaking. Michelle is an ideator and innovator with a professional story marked by constantly trying new things. Her experience as a TSL Booked & Paid to Speak student helped her to hone in on her audience, focus on her core mission, and come to terms with not being able to do everything for everyone. Michelle’s story will inspire anybody struggling to stay on top of all their entrepreneurial visions. Prioritizing the most important initiatives in alignment with your goals is no small task when you have a dozen ideas percolating at once! Michelle and Maryalice also offer some much-needed insight into how to develop and pitch services (like coaching) and educational resources (like books and courses) that help your audience follow the solutions you speak about all the way through. This episode offers some great lessons in how a business based on a powerful mission can evolve over time, especially if you want to expand your impact.You’ll also learn all about: How to form a mission statement connected to the impact you want to createThe relationship between heritage, spirituality, and your missionWhat Prophetic Listening is and how Michelle built a business around itWhy TSL is such a powerful community when you’re facing rejectionHow to make it as easy as possible for your audience to buy your products after a talkHow keeping your website up-to-date affects your lead generationStrategies for pivoting your business when you’re suffering from burnout…and so much more!Episode resources:Michelle'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.

Every year, The Speaker Lab founder Grant Baldwin and coach Erick Rheam come onto the TSL show for an episode we call “The State of the Speaking Industry.” Grant and Erick use this time to zoom out and examine shifts in the last year and trends for the next year that affect speakers working on building their business this year. This is a chance to really dig deep into what’s going on in a variety of different industries and how that changes things up for all speakers, from aspiring to advanced. In episode 436 of The Speaker Lab podcast, we’re looking at the state of the speaking industry for 2023. Exciting things are happening as the world emerges from the COVID-impacted era of virtual events into a new hybrid era. Some organizations are eager to get back to classic conferences with lots of personal interactions and face-to-face communication, while others are enjoying the efficiency afforded by shifting everything to zoom. At the same time, many sectors are hurting due to the economy, and speakers in those industries are hurting as a result. More than ever, it’s vital to get clear on some of the core tenets of our SPEAK framework: solving one specific problem for one specific audience. Whether you’re a beginner, emerging, or experienced speaker, 2023 is bound to bring changes. With all this in mind, Grant and Erick share advice in this episode for every stage of launching and growing a speaking business. Let this episode put your fears at rest and energize your business plan for the upcoming year!You’ll learn about…Which audiences are showing potential for growth in 2023. What virtual speaking can offer industries with continuing education requirements.How to leverage gigs into partnerships that get you regular engagements.How to manage and maintain momentum so it doesn’t overwhelm you.How pivoting audiences can help you weather the economic storm.Why the solutions you offer are more important than the story you tell.Why clarity, consistency, and mentorship are must-haves for every speaker in 2023.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESThe Master Speaker ProgramGet 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.

Our Student Highlight series continues with a student who came to us after years of success as a therapist and academic. Dr. David Palmiter knew how to fill in the gaps between scientific research and common knowledge, specifically on the topic of achieving happiness. He had three decades of speaking experience and regularly trained other therapists. He was a hit with his audience every time he went onstage. He had a good handle on content, delivery, and performance. But something was missing. He hadn’t turned speaking into a real business. Fortunately, the Virtual VIP program with Erick Rheam helped him do just that and find the magic key (literally!) to differentiate himself from his competition. David does indeed do magic tricks to illustrate his points, but the magic he works for his audience goes much further. In this episode, he shares how Erick opened the world of possibilities available once he streamlined his prospecting process by utilizing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. This conversation with Maryalice Goldsmith, our director of student success, is full of information about how our virtual VIP course provides the foundational tools for taking your business to the next level and refining your message. Because of his background in therapy, David takes connecting with his audience members very seriously. He and Maryalice discuss some of the important steps to finding your audience’s pain points and providing them with solutions. Directly addressing your audience’s needs and pivoting when the market shifts is a challenge for every speaker, but you’ll learn some important strategies from this episode.You’ll also hear all about:How The Speaker Lab can help you discover your top strengthsHow prospecting leads can be meaningful instead of miserable.How to use your CRM to automate tasks for your speaking business.The transformation that comes when you add value in your lead outreach. The advantages of integrating magic into your talk (no experience necessary)!Why spirituality is the key to happiness, regardless of your religious beliefs.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESDr. David Palmiter's WebsiteThe Master Speaker ProgramGet 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.

On The Speaker Lab podcast, we feature guests who find their way to the speaking industry via myriad paths. Sometimes their path is linear, and sometimes the story of how they got to speaking is just as interesting as what they speak about. In Episode 434, you’ll get to hear from one of those speakers–someone who has really done it all! Lou Diamond has worked in marketing, technology, finance, and professional services. He’s a speaker, author, consultant, and expert podcaster, and he has a lot to share.Lou’s journey to speaking involves a lot of the lessons we love to emphasize at The Speaker Lab. Discovering his unique ability for connecting with people allowed him to find an organic niche that suited his message and his experience–one of the most important steps to launching your speaking business. As demand for his speaking services increased, he had to make a lot of tough decisions about where to put his time and energy to further his career. These days, he splits his time three ways, between sales and leadership consulting, speaking, and podcasting. His story is full of tips for taking your speaking material and turning it into a new product, like a book, course, or podcast. Not only does he run his own podcast, Thrive LouD, which recently featured our very own Grant Baldwin as a guest, but he teaches others how to maximize business opportunities through podcasting. In this episode, Lou will walk you through how to make podcasting work for your speaking business, as both a guest and a host. Speakers have a lot of unique traits that are well-suited to podcasting, so if this isn’t a marketing avenue you’ve considered, today’s show is well worth the listen.You’ll also learn all about: When it’s time to write a book.How to pick the right lane for your podcast.How to leverage social media toward getting invited onto podcasts.Why you should prepare for podcast appearances like you would for a keynote.How to deliver your message in a way that resonates the most.What monetization techniques can turn podcasting into passive income.Why it’s ok if people don’t listen to your podcast. …and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESLou Diamond's WebsiteThe Master Speaker ProgramGet 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.

Do you have executive presence? It’s not just for CEOs. According to TSL coaches Maryalice Goldsmith and Katherine Johnson, executive presence actually refers to the constellation of cues that people use to evaluate whether we have credibility, whether they see us as a leader, and how they perceive our capabilities. Most people default to trusting nonverbal messaging when there’s a cognitive dissonance–even if your words are telling the truth. You can have all the expertise and authority in the world, but it won’t help if your clothes, your body language, and your branding send the wrong message.Executive presence solves that dissonance. It helps you create a clear and intentional first impression that communicates your message and your business with warmth and confidence. The last thing you want to do is scare people off, but the many speakers who struggle with executive presence are doing just that!In today’s episode, Maryalice and Katherine go through strategies for elevating trust with your clients and audience, from cold-calls with strangers to performance on stage. You’ll come away with new confidence in your personal brand–and the ability to give other people confidence in you. Let’s be real, after three years of virtual interactions, a lot of us are getting rusty at our “people skills”! But as today’s Coaches Corner episode reveals, elevating your presence to the executive level will help you win over clients without feeling like a salesperson.You’ll also learn:How executive presence combats imposter syndrome.How to set up your “virtual stage” so people get the right first impression. Tricks for updating your visual presence to get more sales.Why your clothing should “frame” you–and how to find out if it isn’t!How to ask for feedback in a way that gets you constructive results.How to coordinate your online brand with the persona you bring to networking events.…and so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESThe Master Speaker ProgramGet 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.

We have big news: we’re launching a new program at The Speaker Lab. In this podcast episode, Grant is joined by Erick Rheam to tell you all about our Master Speaker Program: what it entails, who it’s for, and how it can help you scale your speaking business. This program is our first ever offering for established speakers. If you’re not sure whether that describes you, Erick and Grant give a quick overview of the phases of a speaking business (beginner, emerging, and established). As Erick and Grant explain in detail, established speakers are those who have a good handle on the speaking industry, but are struggling to scale, systematize, and prioritize. Maybe you’ve been speaking for a year or more, but struggle knowing when to say “no” to gigs that aren’t quite in your preferred niche. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the financial and accounting side of speaking and don’t know how to plan for a more profitable year. Maybe you make a lot of money speaking, but are tired of all the travel and want to channel your message into new sources of passive income so you can spend more time with your family. If that sounds like you, this episode includes some great information about strategies for optimizing your speaking business moving forward! And if that piques your interest, our new Master Speaker program will help you accomplish those strategies with the help of community, mentorship, and accountability.You’ll also hear all about:Four pillars of success that will help you master the third phase of your speaking business.How to improve your initial communication with prospects so you can land gigs earlier in the pipeline.How to manage your cash flow so you don’t feel like you’re swinging on a pendulum between profit and loss each month.The benefits that live coaching, mentorship, and community offer established speakers. And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESThe Master Speaker ProgramGet 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.

When we say our programs get you results, Anne Marie Anderson is what we mean. After decades of experience in sports broadcasting, Anne Marie realized that the speaking gigs she landed here and there could become a career. She joined the Speaker Lab Virtual VIP program with Erick Rheam in the fall and just three months later, her speaking business is booming! She shares her success story on today’s podcast with TSL director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith. If you struggle knowing when and how to make your next best professional move, Anne Marie’s story will fill you with the confidence you need.In this episode, Maryalice and Anne Marie dig deep into what it takes to turn your speaking business from “one of the things you do” into “what you do”. From locker room pep talks to celebrity sideline interviews, Anne Marie’s career has taught her a lot about how to take opportunity by the horns. For her, The Speaker Lab was the obvious choice to maximize her opportunities. Giving us a taste of her signature keynote, she delves into how she confronted the obstacles that held her back and how you can do the same!You’ll also hear all about:The tragedy that taught Anne Marie you can’t wait on chasing your dreamsHer mental hack that turns “no” into “not yet”Questions to ask yourself if your outreach is failing to get you speaking gigsHow The Speaker Lab can help you gather data and turn it into strategyHow the accountability of the TSL cohort empowered her to outstrip her speaking goals in less than 3 monthsWhen to start saying “I’m a professional speaker” (hint: the answer is NOW)!And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESAnne Marie Anderson'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.

We love bragging about the success of our TSL students on the podcast. Today’s guest is a real gem — he speaks straight from the heart and you can hear it in his voice! Ryan Botner has tried his hand at several different industries with great success. Despite bringing in multi-million dollar revenues, he wasn’t in love with the results. Coaching and speaking (with the help of The Speaker Lab) turned out to be his passion. What drives him, on and off the stage? Intentionality. In today’s student highlight podcast with TSL coach Maryalice Goldsmith, Ryan talks about how intentionality should drive your business and your life. His inspiring advice for staying aligned with your purpose, facing your fears, and choosing mentors wisely will leave you burning with excitement for your speaking business’s future. In addition, he offers some great tips for coaches who aren’t sure how to integrate speaking into their business. If you’ve been feeling lackluster about your speaking goals, Ryan will fire you up to keep pushing ahead with his enthusiasm and energy.You'll also hear all about:Why the “can’t see” choices you make every day have to be the most intentional. How to avoid the dreaded analysis paralysis that stops you in your tracks.The dangers of skipping steps and building your business too quickly. What voices you should and shouldn’t let into your head.Why speaking is basically “getting paid to market”.How to leverage your CRM and why you need one.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESRyan'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’ve probably heard from us before that a good website is one of your two most important assets as a speaker (the other is your demo video). At the same time, once you build your website you can’t just set it and forget it! Along with that great importance comes great responsibility. You might be surprised how much your menu organization matters to potential clients, or how your font choices and pop-up timing influence first-time visitors!In this episode of The Speaker Lab podcast, Rick Clemons and Maryalice Goldsmith bring some much-needed nuance to the topic of speaker websites. They’re digging deep into what really matters on your website, as well as what isn’t worth your time (when it comes to websites, the perfect is sometimes the enemy of the good)! Have you been trying to coordinate your social media, email marketing, and personal branding with your website? Today’s show covers some incredibly helpful metrics for figuring out if all that effort is paying off.Here's what you'll learn from this episode:Why you should visit your own website every dayWhen to ask for feedback (and the best sources of feedback)The two raving fans your website should create (and which one you should prioritize)!How to showcase all aspects of your business without overwhelming visitorsSimple updates to your headline that will get you more speaking gigsTips for showing up in google search resultsHow to let your authentic self shine through onlineAnd so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESGet 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.