The Speaker Lab With Grant Baldwin // Public Speaking / Motivational Speaking / Entrepreneurship

If the idea of selling yourself as a speaker is your least favorite aspect of speaking then we have the solution for you!On this edition of The Speaker Lab, we are joined by my co-host, Mr. Eric Rheam. Eric is a successful speaker in his own right, and he's also a coach from our Booked and Paid to Speak.Today, Eric and I give you tips and strategies on how to develop the mindset of selling yourself as a speaker, how to organize your marketing assets and ways to experiment with what works and what doesn't work. You'll hear us dig into those topics and more on episode 247 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are the most common challenges speakers face when selling themselves?Does selling come naturally to people?Rejection is part of the game: how to get used to it.Does the mental hurdle of quoting your fees ever go away?Why it's important to develop a consistent work habit.What is the priority of work and how do you use it?There are three key marketing assets you need as a speaker

What could you accomplish if you were truly free to focus on the things you love most? A man who will help you find out is our guest today, the one and only Michael Hyatt.Michael is an amazing, successful speaker, author, and entrepreneur, as well as a husband and father.On today's edition of The Speaker Lab, Michael and I cover a lot of ground including his evolution as a speaker, and specific elements of his book Free to Focus that relate to your speaking journey. We talk about the freedom compass and the weekly and daily three, and more.This is an exceptionally insightful episode you won't want to miss so join us for number 246 of The Speaker Lab with Michael Hyatt.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What's the hustle fallacy?What does the power of constraints mean?How can you include your family in your side hustle dreams?Why he recommends having someone else with you on the road.What is a weekly preview and how do you do it?How do we apply the Pareto Principle?How many goals should you set per qua

What event planners look for in a speaker may seem like a mystery, but today's guest is going to reveal all the secrets!Josh McGhee is an event planner who books professional speakers with fees ranging from a few thousand dollars up to $40,000.Today he'll tell us how he and his team choose those speakers, including the one thing they all must have or he won't book them, and what you can do to be a better partner with your clients and grow your referrals.Join us for those great insights from the other side of the table on the 245th episode of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How many speakers does his organization hire annually?What are the three tiers of speaker fees in their non-profit?How can you be pro-active without being irritating?What specific details in your videos are important to event planners?Why does he talk with the potential speaker before hiring them?What role does post-event communication play in your referability?How does his organization determine if a speaker prov

How to leverage YouTube for more speaking gigs may be a question you've asked yourself. If so your answer is on today's episode of The Speaker Lab, and you'll definitely want to hear!Joining us to talk about leveraging YouTube to build and grow your speaking business is Amy Landino. Amy has a YouTube following over 300k subscribers, and she's leveraged her success there to become an author and grow her speaking business.Today we talk all things YouTube, but we also dig into the broad topics she speaks on, the details of her recent speaking agency experience: why she signed exclusively with Vayner Speakers and the pros and cons of signing with any agency.You'll hear all of that and more during our conversation with Amy Landino on episode 244 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is good content marketing at its core?How do you know you've hit your stride?Why you should not use your YouTube content in your demo video.What is the biggest mistake she sees people making in their speake

Do you know how to make a good first impression? Have you thought about it? You will after you listen to this episode!On The Speaker Lab today, Sylvie di Giusto talks with us about how to make a good first impression, something she speaks about in the corporate world. Specifically, she tells us the four people to consider when choosing what to wear, the 3 S's to picking out your onstage outfit and the ABCDs of your personal brand.There's a lot of great content she brings to the show so join us and hear it all on episode 243 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is confirmation bias and how does it work?How did she land on the topic of first impressions?Why your speaking topic evolves over time.Why accents can be an asset and not a hindrance.What are the first steps to making a good impression?How do you find your signature style?How does branding impact our everyday life?What is your reputation based on?And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESSylvie de Giusto's web siteSylvie de G

What's the current state of the speaking market like right now? Our guest, Brandon Edmonson, has the answers and he is telling all on episode 242 of The Speaker Lab!Brandon is the Vice-President of Premiere Speakers Bureau and today he'll share what they are seeing in the marketplace right now. We'll get into details like how far out clients are booking, what the fee range is and the different topics clients are booking.That's just a small slice of what we cover so join us and listen in to episode 242 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What do all speakers need to have in their speaking video right now?Brandon's rule of thumb for how much should you spend on your video.How important is SEO for speakers today?Where are their primary lead sources coming from?Why being local is a value add for event planners and booking agents.How far out are most events booking right now?What's the financial outlook for the speaking industry?How to manage the mental game of the speaking cycle.And so m

How much does branding matter to a speaker's career? Quite a bit, and here to talk about creating your speaking brand is industry expert, Rick Clemons.Rick is a former student now coach with our Booked and Paid to Speak program who worked in branding for several decades. He shares his personal as well as professional experiences on the topic today.We also talk about branding: what elements go into making a brand, what it means to have your own personal speaking brand and what questions to ask if you are creating your brand. You'll hear us weigh in on those topics and more on today's The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why branding is more than just your logo and your color scheme.How is a brand like a person?What do you need to think through when creating your brand?How much of branding is you defining the brand versus the market defining it for you?What is the umbrella of your brand?Do you need a company name?How do values fit into your branding?Why simplicity makes the sal

If becoming a speaker in the international market is something you dream about then you'll love this episode of The Speaker Lab!Our guest today has delivered 90+ plus events every year for the last 11 years, and has spoken in 57 different countries and has been paid to speak over 2500 times.His name is Phil Jones and he spends the bulk of his time helping people sell with more confidence and more credibility while getting better results.You'll hear how he does that along with what the markets are like in South America, Europe, Asia and Australia when you join us on the 240th edition of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Are there budgetary variations in Europe vs. South America vs. Asia?Why you must allow yourself to go through periods of reinvention.What two businesses should every speaker have?If you are outside of the US, what are practical ways to break into that market?The importance of getting clear on why you want to speak internationally.Why should every speaker do simultaneous

Wondering how to transition into speaking full-time? The Speaker Lab guest today, Erick Rheam, has made the leap, and he'll talk about what it's like to turn pro and make your speaking career a reality.Erick is one of our original Booked and Paid to Speak students, and today he's a highly successful speaker. But he only recently left his corporate job to pursue his speaking career on a full-time basis.You'll hear what gave him the confidence to finally leave and so much more on episode 239 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When did he know he had to choose between speaking and his job?What were the two reasons speaking was a good fit for him?What you should do if your boss isn't supportive of your speaking side hustle.What are the two keys to being successful at something?Should your target market and topic evolve throughout your speaking career?What was the tipping point that showed him it was time to leave his job?Why you need mentors in your life.What are the biggest regre

We are back with the history of The Speaker Lab part II! If you missed part one you can hear it here.On episode 238, I am again interviewed by a former Booked and Paid to Speak alum and current coach in the program, Eric Rheam.Today we talk about how this show has evolved over time, where we are going in the next few years and my advice for anyone starting their speaking journey. Join us to hear that and more!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When did I know it was time to retire my first podcast?What failures did I have and what did I learn from them?Why you have to love the process that gets you the gigs.How has my team evolved from 2014 through today.Why not making myself the focus of The Speaker Lab has led to our success.What are common characteristics among the most successful Speaker Lab alums?What's the difference between being interested and being committed?Why you have to be ready for the grind in order to be successful.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeEpiso

Episode 237 of The Speaker Lab is a unique show: we are diving into the history of The Speaker Lab!And we are doing it by flipping the tables: I am going to be interviewed by Eric Rheam. You may recognize him from previous shows, he's a former alum of Booked and Paid to Speak and a current coach with the program.This is the first of a two-part series in which we detail how I got into speaking, what my early years were like as a speaker, and then how and why I created The Speaker Lab. Join us for those goodies and more on today's edition of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What's a great exercise I recommend to other speakers today?How many gigs did I do in my busiest year?How long did it take to go from my first gig to my first $1k gig?Do I still experience insecurities and doubts today?What is the purpose of The Speaker Lab?Why speaking is a high-paying manual labor gig.What are the two primary ways to make more money as a speaker?What does it mean to "sell the sawdust"?And so much

On this episode of The Speaker Lab I have a fireside chat with Jane Atkinson, founder and creator of The Speaker Launcher. The journey to creating this business began with a desire to work for an inspirational speaker. The seed was firmly planted when she saw a Les Brown TV special not long after, and it soon sprouted her first marketing gig.Hear how that gig led her to later work with Peter Legge and Vince Vicente, before she ultimately formed The Speaker Launcher. You'll hear her stories and advice, as well as some of my own experiences when you join us for episode 236 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is one of the most difficult finds in this industry?What it means if you aren't getting referrals.Why being difficult doesn't just mean being a diva.What to do when fear creeps in.Why referring business to other speakers is critical to your own success.What's the difference between speakers who make it and speakers who don't?How becoming known for one thing can be beneficial.W

We are back with another YouTube speech breakdown; this time we are giving you the ins and outs of what works and what doesn't from the venerable Mel Robbins.On today's The Speaker Lab, we are breaking down Mel's very popular Ted Talk called How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over. Mel is a well-known keynote speaker and presenter so you will learn a lot from her speech.Be sure to hear it all by tuning in to episode 235 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What pieces of your speech should be the most tightly scripted?Is there a way to create humor without using words?What types of callbacks should you use in your speech?What lighting is best for you on stage?What is one way to emphasize a powerful moment?Why should you leave the stage and walk among the audience?What works best for slides?How to use call and response in your presentation. EPISODE RESOURCES The Speaker Lab on YouTubeMel Robbins' web siteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate You

Has a company ever asked to license your material? Whether or not you've ever been approached, it's important to understand the topic of intellectual property for speakers.Here to tell us about IP for speakers is Pamela Slim. Pamela is a successful coach, author, speaker and all-around amazing woman.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Pam explains when and how to license your material, how to protect your IP (intellectual property), as well as how to market it, price it, and leverage it to your greatest advantage.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What qualifies as intellectual property?How can licensing help you leverage your knowledge and tools to reach new markets?When do you know licensing is your best option?Do you need to be famous to license your material?What is essential to intellectual property and brand recognition?What are the best ways to market your licensed material and IP?Why do you need to track how many people use your materials?Why money shouldn't be your sole focus when licensing y

We're doing something different this week on The Speaker Lab: coming straight from our YouTube channel is our play by play breakdown of speeches and popular Ted Talks. We'll talk about what works, what doesn't work and some ideas on areas to improve.Today our speech breakdown is of 2018 Toastmasters Champion Ramona J. Smith.Personally, I have mixed feelings about Toastmasters which I will share on today's episode. So tune in to hear my thoughts on Toastmasters and our speech breakdown of Toastmasters champion Ramona Smith on episode 233 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is one of the ways you get better as a speaker?How does Toastmasters help you improve?Can you ever be too polished as a speaker?What are the drawbacks to Toastmasters?How to use cadence in your speeches for the greatest effect.When does physicality work in your favor and when does it not?How can you create visual representations on stage?How to use strategic pauses to emphasize your points.And so much more...&n

Are you overlooking some simple ways to book more gigs? You'll find out when you listen to today's show!Kris Reece is a professional faith-based speaker who also coaches and writes books for women about reaching their fullest God-given potential.On this episode we talk about some issues she is facing in her speaking business. Specifically, we help Kris find new gigs, leverage connections from previous gigs and evaluate whether it makes sense to pay to speak.Join us to hear insights on those topics and more on the 232nd edition of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are the reasons you should consider speaking for free?Why you send an invoice even if you speak for free.The two things you can do during a speaking gig to generate future gigs.What's the best way you can approach previous clients for referrals?How do you evaluate whether you should buy a sponsorship and pay to speak?What is one of the quickest ways to build a relationship?How do you find the key person who books speaker

Follow up is what separates part-time speakers from full-time professionals.But how do you follow through on your follow up in the most effective way? That's what we are talking about today on The Speaker Lab with Jim Kukral.Jim is an online marketer and serial entrepreneur who wants to grow the speaking aspect of his business. This episode is a one on one coaching call with Jim about what he's been doing for follow up and what he can start doing right now to improve that aspect of his business. You'll hear that topic and more on episode 231 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What does it mean to be "unskippable"?How do you get better as a speaker?Why speaking fees are more than just a check.How often should you follow up?When should you call people you've contacted about potential gigs?How to ensure you have accountability.What do you do when you have a hot lead?Why you need to always be knocking on doors for leads.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESJim Kukral's web siteB

Ever feel like your topic should be heard by everyone? If you said yes today's show is perfect for you. Our guest is facing the same dilemma many speakers have faced: how to narrow your speaking audience.To address this common challenge on today's The Speaker we are joined by Rocco Cozza. Rocco is a successful businessman who wants to do more speaking and today we're going to help him accomplish that goal by narrowing his audience.Join us to hear exactly how to do this and so much more on this edition of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why is kindness the most important thing in business?Why a message for everyone is a message for no one.When you pick a lane does that choice have to be permanent?How to determine if there is a market for your topic.How you can trojan horse your topic into existing speaking needs.What should you do if you have doubts about your speaking fees?How do you determine if a free speaking gig is valuable to you?What is one of your best marketing tools?And so

Hugh is one of our rare 3-peat guests and he's back to tell us how to use blogging to book speaking gigs.On today's edition of The Speaker Lab, Hugh specifically explains why you should blog to grow your speaking business including how often you should blog, what you should blog about, how long your blog posts should be, and where you should promote your blog.In addition to being a keynote speaker and best-selling author, Hugh runs a business called BlogWorks. BlogWorks is a company devoted to helping speakers book more speaking gigs through the art of blogging.Hugh shares his wealth of knowledge and more so join us to hear it all on episode 229 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How often should you post to ensure you're relevant?Why more is not necessarily better.The three steps to take after you write every blog post.Should you write your blog for your audience or people who hire speakers?What are the two ways to know if your blog post resonates with your audience?What should you

Do you know how to network and get more keynote speeches as a result? Our guest is here to find out, and you'll hear too when you listen to today's episode of The Speaker Lab.Lea Pica is part of our elite coaching program and she is looking for ways to turn her existing speaking opportunities into additional paid keynote engagements. Lea is a data storytelling evangelist who teaches digital analysts and internet marketers how to look at the data from their programs, tie it to the success of their organizations or clients and then tell that story.During episode 228, Lea tells us how speaking fits into her current business model, what she is doing right now to garner more gigs and what type of follow has worked and hasn't worked for her. We dive into all of that and more on this edition of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What options is she considering to boost her keynote opportunities?Do you have to be outgoing and extroverted to be a good networker?Why direct conversations translat