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

Today we've got an extra special guest for you: Erick Rheam. Erick is a student of our Booked and Paid to Speak program, and he has been wildly successful in his speaking career since signing up for the course. He joined us in December of 2015 and in the 15 months between then and our recording of this episode, he has made over $80,000 in speaking gigs!On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Erick joins us to talk about his success and how he decided who to speak to and what to speak about, why it's important to have a good web site and demo and how he gets referrals.Because Erick is still relatively new to the speaking world his story is relatable, as his resulting success. You'll want to tune in to hear more about what's next for him on episode 126 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What was he making in his speaking business before joining Booked and Paid to Speak?Why agreements and contracts have been critical to his financial growth as a speaker.What does Erick say you have to lov

As a speaker or an aspiring speaker you know the importance of a demo video. But what about other forms of video content like a YouTube channel or Facebook Live? Could those help you build your speaking career? Absolutely says our guest for this episode! Josh Drean is here to tell us how.Josh's primary gig is as a youth motivational speaker but he's also a father and a part-time student at Harvard University in Boston where he is studying business management. As if that wasn't enough, he is also a street performer who does almost daily videos for his YouTube channel.On today's edition of The Speaker Lab, he shares how to leverage video content as a speaker, how he uses content to get gigs and promote those gigs, as well as what to talk about on your video. His insights on those topics and more will get you off the fence about video and in front of the camera! Hear it here on episode 125 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  By 2020 what percentage of all content will be video?Your fee

Have you ever considered that how to set yourself apart as a speaker may be to embrace what is uniquely you? Maybe it's an accent you have or your above-average height, whatever it is it may be the key to standing out in our crowded speaking marketplace.On today's edition of The Speaker Lab, I've got a guest who has used her unique voice and stature to create a thriving speaking career. Neen James stands a petite 4'10 (and 1/2!) and hails from Australia. With her tiny height and self-professed Disney princess voice she was told by many no one was going to book her or take her seriously as speaker.But with her undeniable sass, drive and determination she has proven them wrong! Listen to this episode to hear how she accidentally became a professional speaker, how she pivoted from productivity to her current topic today, and how's she built her reputation in the corporate business world. You'll hear that and more on episode 124 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What's the trick to ha

Episode 123 of The Speaker Lab is unlike any other episode we've done before! In essence today's show is a one-on-one coaching call I had with a listener who emailed me.I wanted to share our conversation with you because his story is common: he has done a number of free speaking gigs but wasn't sure about how to move into the paid realm. He also wasn't sure how to narrow down his list of potential audiences and topics.On today's edition of The Speaker Lab, Chris Field joins me to gain clarity on those topics and more. Listen in to hear his stories (including his run for mayor at the age of 19!), and our brainstorming session on this coaching call. You'll hear how all of that applies to you wherever you are in your speaking journey on episode 123 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How do you know if your speaking plan makes financial sense?Why is the audience you speak to a variable in what you can charge?What are the 5 components of the speaker success roadmap?What are the 7 major

Buckle up buttercups! We've got our sassy friend back in the saddle with us today: Ms. Carrie Wilkerson and she is in rare form on episode 122 of the Speaker Lab. If you missed her previous visit to the show you can listen in here.I wanted Carrie to return to the show because she's proven how to turn one speaking gig into many, and I wanted her to share that with you. Specifically on this show she will explain how she creates and structures valuable long-term offerings for her clients, and how she turns those offerings into a consistent monthly revenue stream.This is one episode you don't want to miss! Get out your pen and paper and get ready for some actionable insights from the one and only Carrie Wilkerson on episode 122 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is the "hit and run" approach and why doesn't Carrie like it?What questions does she ask to create a 100% closing rate?At what point does she pitch a package deal to clients?Why serving first is the best approach, and how

Would you struggle for five years as a speaker if you knew it was going to pay off? Would you be willing to travel 220 days a year if that's what it took to one day share the stage with Simon Sinek and Gary Vaynerchuk? That's exactly what our guest for episode 121 of The Speaker Lab has done and continues to do presently.John Spence spends anywhere from 170 to 220 days a year giving speeches around the world. He speaks on leadership, high performance teams, culture, strategy, strategic thinking, and business excellence, and has been for 23 years.His speeches are never canned, each one is unique. That coupled with the tremendous value he brings to every speaking engagement has allowed him to build a business that is based almost entirely on referrals. Today he outlines his strategic approach to generating repeat business and referrals, how he got through the struggle of his first five years and why he enjoys being a road warrior.On this edition of The Speaker Lab, you'll also hear how he helps charities rather

What makes a speech a memorable one? Our guest for today knows! He says there are 5 keys you must include to make your speech memorable. Joining us for episode 120 is our repeat visitor and friend, Hugh Culver.He was previously here for episode 10, which feels like an eternity ago! If you missed his first visit, Hugh is an adventurer turned speaker. He started out in the adventure travel industry and later became a speaker. For the last dozen years or so, he's been speaking to corporate audiences about productivity.On today's show, Hugh tells us about the 5 things he's learned along the way that are needed to give a memorable speech. They are: solve a problem, warm up the audience, make the audience work, teach with stories and make your speech about them. Listen in for that and more on episode 119 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why is your speech your best marketing tool?What type of speeches don't pay and how can you avoid giving them?What are the variables that go into makin

If you built several successful businesses and sold them, what would you do next? Would you write books and become a speaker? That's what our guest for today's episode of The Speaker Lab has done!Mike Michalowicz (listen in and he'll help you pronounce his name) is a well-known international speaker and best-selling author who made a lot of money in previous endeavors, and started over as a speaker and author.On episode 119 of The Speaker Lab, he shares why he has gone down this particular road and several hacks that have helped him continue to level up his success. We also discuss how to pronounce his name and why his web site makes fun of the various mispronunciations he's heard over the years, how much of his time is devoted to speaking versus writing and so much more on today's show! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is a domain name hack you can use if your name is hard to spell and pronounce?What should you do with your biggest weakness?Why he became an author and speaker when he star

Is giving a TED Talk or a TEDx Talk on your bucket list? If it is then today is your lucky day! Joining us for this episode of The Speaker Lab is Tamsen Webster. Tamsen is a keynote business speaker and strategist who helps people find the power of their ideas and share those ideas with the world.She also happens to be the Executive Producer of TEDx Cambridge, the oldest TEDx in the country. In her role, she decides who speaks at their events and she oversees all coaching and designs the coaching process for those speakers.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, she shares the differences between TED and TEDx Talks and why giving either one is a great feather in anyone's cap. She tells us how she helps her speakers prepare for their TEDx talks, how you can get your foot in the door with your local TEDx and how to know if your idea is interesting enough to be considered for a TEDx talk. Listen in for that and more on the 118th edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is the oldes

Have you given both keynotes and taught workshops? Some speakers prefer one over the other, while some enjoy both.Marcus Sheridan of The Sales Lion is an interactive and engaging speaker who likes doing both. On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Marcus is here to talk about his journey from a missionary in Chile to running a successful pool company to commanding audiences around the globe today. He also shares how that journey led to the creation of latest book, They Ask You Answer.You'll hear about all of that plus the importance of video today, why it's only going to continue to become even more vital and what he learned from his worst speaking moment ever. Check it out on episode 117 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Are good keynote speakers always good at teaching workshops too?What did being a missionary in Chile teach him about speaking?The lesson you can learn from how he landed his first speaking gig.How he made the leap from workshop speaker to keynote speaker at Content

Speakers often come from diverse backgrounds, and today's guest is no exception! Brian Fanzo began his career in Computer Science working for the United States Department of Defense on issues like cybersecurity.Today he is a change evangelist who helps people embrace change in their businesses, and grow their presence in the process. And it's something he's been widely recognized for: in 2014, The Economist named him one of the Top 25 Social Business Leaders of The Future. He's also spoken in 11 countries at over 50 events.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Brian shares the light bulb moment that led to his leap into entrepreneurship a few years ago, what social media platforms you should be using to grow your speaking career and his reverse engineering that creates more speaking gigs for himself. You're going to learn all of that and so much more on the 116th edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How Brian landed his first speaking gig ever - at The Pentagon.When did he make

Can you imagine doing 800 gigs in 5 years? Our guest for this edition of The Speaker Lab did just that and she's here to share exactly how she successfully managed such a feat!Chantelle Adams got her start as a speaker in the education and corporate markets before making a name for herself in the entrepreneurial field.On today's podcast she explains why she started where she did, how she structured her offerings and her schedule to fit 800 gigs into five years and how she now spends her days helping the change-making women of the world step into their own and shine.When you join us for episode 115 of The Speaker Lab you'll hear Chantelle talk about all of that plus her worst speaking gig ever (and how she turned it into a positive experience). Listen in for all of that and more on today's show! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What did she do prior to becoming a speaker?Why did she decide to become a speaker in the education field?How to add more value to your speaking gig so you stand out and land

Many speakers' businesses rely solely on getting paid to speak. But how can you build a business in addition to your speaking roles? Is it possible to have a successful speaking career and a thriving business?It is! Here to tell us how he's done it is Jay Baer. Jay is the best-selling author of multiple books, and he's an international keynote speaker. Jay also runs Convince and Convert, his fifth business endeavor.Today he talks about how Convince and Convert is set up as three solid divisions, how he's created a business that can run without him, and how he's gone from speaking to Kiwanis Clubs to connecting with audiences around the globe. Listen in for all of that and more on episode 114 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How many live keynotes and webinars did he do in 2016?Why he became a speaker who consults versus a consultant who speaks, and what the difference is.What was the mental shift he made to feel confident in his speaking content?How can you tell a true keynote sp

You've probably heard of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but did you know there is a similar charity that helps adults and kids with life-threatening illnesses? It gives them the opportunity to experience the live event of their dreams from the front row!The charity is called The Front Row Foundation and the co-founder is Jon Vroman, our guest for this show. Jon is also a full-time speaker and the head of his own company, Front Row Factor.Today he shares how his charity was started, and how his speaking career became his full-time pursuit as a result of the lessons his Front Row Foundation's recipients taught him. You'll hear how he shares their inspiration with the college world, and how he is transitioning into the corporate market as well. Dive in with us on episode 113 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How he started speaking at 19.Why he went from a six figure job to spending $90k to be a full-time speaker the next year.How long did it take him to land his first speaking gig

Positioning yourself an authority is a surefire way to be featured in major media outlets and open doors that would otherwise be closed. But how do you do it?Our guest for episode 112 has the answers! Jeff Rose of Good Financial Cents is here to spill the beans on how he became a regular contributor for Forbes. Jeff is a certified financial planner who was named one of the Top 10 Young Advisors to Watch, by Financial Advisor magazine.Today Jeff explains how he developed a relationship with Forbes, why it takes time and a focused niche. He also shares other major media he's been featured in like CNBC, Entrepreneur, and Huffington Post to name a few. Hear it all on episode 112 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why did he start his blog, Good Financial Cents?How could he have gotten more traction quicker?What's the best way to get quoted by the media?How do you know if you should expand or narrow your focus?If he was starting from scratch today would he change anything?What is H

When you try a new restaurant do you read what others have posted about it on Yelp? Or before you buy a new product do you read the Amazon reviews people have written?If you do you understand why I highly recommend getting your own speaking testimonials: your potential clients and potential audiences want to know who you are a speaker and what you bring to the table.On episode 111 of The Speaker Lab, I'll be sharing exactly why these tools are so useful in garnering new clients and new gigs, how to go about securing the best possible testimonials and the keys to making a testimonial great. Listen in for all of that and more on this edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What do testimonials give your potential clients?What are the two key pieces of a good testimonial?Who are the two types of people you should you get testimonials from?An example of how to properly solicit a testimonial.Are recommendation letters beneficial?What are the different ways you can use testimonials?Wh

Today is a Q&A episode highlighting a question asked by listener, Eric Moss. Eric called in with a great question about finding the appropriate contacts within the faith-based market.It's a relatable one for me because I got my start as a speaker in this realm. After college I became a youth pastor and began speaking to my youth group, and from time to time I'd have the opportunity to speak to the "big church". That paved the way for me to create a full-time business as a speaker and a speaking expert.On episode 110 of The Speaker Lab, I share exactly how to find out who you should be contacting at different religious organizations, and much more. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How I got my start in the speaking world, and what it has to do with the faith-based market.Why is the faith/church market a fairly common one for speakers?What is the first thing you want to do when reaching out in the faith-based market?The three questions to answer to determine who to contact within a church.Does the

Do you think speakers are born or can they be made? Is there a checklist of characteristics that make someone a great speaker? Our guest for episode 109 is here to weigh in on those topics, and more!Carrie Wilkerson, my extra sassy friend and founder of The Barefoot Executive, joins us to talk about her background as a trained musician, and how growing up as the pastor's daughter set up her present day speaking career.According to her parents, Carrie has been a talker since birth! In fact she talked so much as a child that her dad once told her if she could find a way to get paid for it she'd have it made. Carrie shares those stories as well as how a transition from performing as a singer in her dad's church to introducing those songs and making them relevant helped her hone the natural cadence she has on stage.She also shares a great lesson she learned firsthand about why it's important to be a fit for for your audience. Hear it all on episode 109 of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW

Whether you are building a speaking business or any other kind of business, you most likely are doing so while still working a full-time job. When you add in the responsibilities of being a spouse, a parent and the other roles in your life, how do you do it while staying sane?One man who knows how it's done is Erik Fisher. Erik is the Social Media Manager for the Social Media Examiner's web site and is also host of the podcast, Beyond The To-Do List.On his show he has conversations with some of the best and brightest successes in the world about their productivity habits, their successes and failures, and how they balance it all with their home life and their loved ones.You'll hear Erik talk about how that show got started, why there is no silver bullet solution to productivity, and so much more on the 108th edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Can you have both a full-time job and a side gig you are working on?The secret to how he started podcasting, while still in his full-

Our guest today is from an exclusive club: he's the proud creator of one of the most viewed videos on YouTube! Judson Laipply is our guest and he is known as "The Evolution Dance" guy.He's here to talk about the video by the same name, as well as how his own speaking career as he evolved through the years.On episode 107 of The Speaker Lab, Judson shares how he started as a speaker in high school, the mentorship that helped him build his career and where his dance video fits into it all.You'll hear all of that and so much more on today's edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Who knocked Judson off the top of the most viewed list on YouTube?What market has the simplest barrier to entry?What can the musical Hamilton teach you about speaking?Why did he start offering "inspirational comedy" as a speaker?What percentage of your speech will audiences remember?The #1 question to ask yourself when speaking to college students.What are the two reasons people hire a speaker?What is his a