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

A lot of speakers want to write books and be recognized as best-selling authors - but not many speakers call themselves a writer who happens to speak. But our guest for episode 136 of The Speaker Lab does!Scott Berkun, author of Confessions of a Public Speaker and his latest book, The Dance of The Possible, joins us to talk about why his books drive his speaking career, how his career has evolved over the years, and how he chooses his book topics.Scott has authored 7 books in the last 12 years and in that time his speaking career has evolved from workshops and consulting gigs to lectures and keynoting conferences. You'll hear how he did this, where his speaking career began and how to develop your expertise in one area. You'll even hear his worst speaking moment! Join us for that and more on today's The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How much of his income is from speaking vs book sales?The two ways he narrowed down his speaking topic and his audience.What does he recommend to speakers

Have you ever listened to someone's speech and immediately taken action as a result? It's rare for a speaker to do this for their audience, and yet it's critical to making a lasting impact.One of the best in the world at this is Noah Kagan. He's here on episode 135 of The Speaker Lab to share how he crafts his speeches so his audience has results during his talk.If you've lived in a cave and don't know Noah, he is the creator of AppSumo and SumoMe. AppSumo is Groupon for geeks and SumoMe is an 8-figure business that provides tools to grow your online traffic. His career began with Intel, Microsoft and Mint; he was also one of the first employees at Facebook!On this edition of The Speaker Lab we also discuss ways he learns from the best, how he decides what to talk about and the importance of content creation. Join us as we dig into that and more on today's The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What can you learn from the first time Noah and I hung out?The two impactful things people respo

Do you think creative types must be starving artists with no hope of real income? Our guest for today's episode of The Speaker Lab is going to change that mindset if you do!Jeff Goins is a published author with five books under his belt, as well as a highly-respected international speaker. And at his core Jeff is an artist.On this show he tells us why it's okay to profit as an artist, and how to overcome the mental barriers of getting paid well for our craft.You'll hear Jeff share his back story and also explain why you don't need to wait until you think you're ready, and why you should stop calling yourself an "aspiring" anything! Jeff gives plenty of sage wisdom on those topics, and much more during the 134th episode of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When can a speaker call themselves a speaker?How John Grisham became a writer, and what his story can teach you.Why doesn't Jeff like the word "aspiring"?How to be okay charging money for what you do.Why is being a starving artist a

If there's one thing nearly all entrepreneurs and business owners have in common it is the desire to live a life of significance. We want to do something that matters, something that makes a positive impact in the world. A great example of this is our guest on today's episode of The Speaker Lab, Mr. Aaron Walker.Aaron has been self-employed and owned a business of some variety since the age of 18; he hasn't worked for anyone else in 38 years! In all of those years he has experienced the full spectrum of the entrepreneurial journey: the highs, the lows and everything in between. On our 133rd edition, he talks candidly about that journey, especially the life-altering experiences.We also talk about his advice for managing the roller coaster ride of being your own boss, and why he came out of retirement to coach (including who encouraged him to do so!). Today Aaron Walker is a coach, best-selling author, podcaster and acclaimed speaker, and he's our guest on this edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF T

It isn't often we have guests come back for a second visit but today's guest is a special one! Tamsen Webster is here for her second conversation on The Speaker Lab.If you missed her first appearance on the show check out episode 118 where we talk all about Ted and TedX Talks. And if you didn't hear that show you probably don't know that Tamsen is the Executive Director of TedX Cambridge, and is also the CEO and Founder of her company, Strategic Speaking.On this edition of The Speaker Lab we're diving deep into how to find your "big idea" for your talks. Tamsen calls herself part idea whisperer, part message strategist and part magpie. You'll hear why when you tune in to this episode of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is the purpose of speaking, according to Tamsen?What is psychological reactance and how do you work with it?Three key components to finding your big idea: what are they?Which of the three components should you start with?What will make your talk 1,000x better tha

What if you'd like speaking to be a complement to other aspects of your business, like consulting? Should you approach speaking differently if so? Today's guest has your answers!Joe Sanok is the founder of Practice of the Practice, a speaking and consulting business that helps counselors in private practice to start, grow and scale their practices. Joe speaks selectively as a keynote and does so in a way that generates consulting leads.On this episode he shares how he generates potential consulting clients from select speaking gigs, and how he's established himself as a keynote in his super specific niche. We also dive into how he and his family made the final leap from full-time employment to full-time self-employment. Listen in to hear that and more on the 131st edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:How does he identify which events are right for him and his business?Why did he start the Most Awesome Conference?How to identify if a niche is big enough to support your business.What'

Have you ever found yourself tongue-tied when a potential client has asked about your speaking fees? If you have today's guest will help you solve that problem in the future!Joy Groblebe is an entrepreneur who helps speakers and other entrepreneurs overcome the chaos of their busy minds, busy businesses and busy lives.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Joy talks about her switch from working for KMOX in St. Louis to becoming an entrepreneur after the birth of her first son. She shares the journey she's been on and how she's created the business she has today.You'll also hear her backstage view of the publishing and speaking world. And you'll learn the steps she takes to get the most out of any potential speaking deal for her clients, and how you can fill your speaking calendar following her guidance. Listen in to hear that and more on today's edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:Why you shouldn't answer your own speaking calls.Should you speak for anyone who asks you to when you're star

Ready for another one?! Today on The Speaker Lab we have two more questions from listeners just like you. Stephanie sent a voicemail asking about the proper strategy for thanking clients after a speaking gig. She wondered if it's okay to send gifts, or what other approaches are acceptable to say thank you to a client.We have a second and equally interesting question from John. He is getting into speaking and starting to build his platform. He has written a book and intends to write more, and he plans to give away some of those books. John asks if he needs to be a non-profit, or if he can still operate as a for-profit business.Listen in to hear the answers to both of those questions and then apply them in your speaking career! It's all here on episode 129 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:The four reasons to give thank yous to your clients after an event.Which should you go after: relationships or gigs?What is something most speakers don't do (but should)?The 5 ways my team and I show apprecia

Welcome back to The Speaker Lab! This week we've got another episode of listener Q&As. We have one question from Cathy about the absolute essentials to pitching yourself.We also have a question from Greg who asks about using past media appearances that are notable but not related to his current line of work. Can he do it and if so, how should he do it?Tune in to hear the answers. And if you'd like to ask a question of your own go to the Ask Grant section here and ask away!A big thank you to Cathy and Greg for chiming in, and thanks to you for listening to episode 128 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:What is the point of a demo video?What is a topic menu and why do you need one?How many different topics and talks should you initially offer?Do you need testimonials and recommendations to pitch yourself?Why it's good to have multiple pricing options for your talks.Why you need a follow up system in place.Can you use media appearances and exposure from different industries?What is topic auth

Have you ever wanted a guide or a road map to help you along your speaking journey? Today I'm giving you exactly that!On this listener Q&A show, Clayton Watson called in to ask what his next steps are to get bookings. Clayton is from Calgary in Alberta, Canada and runs a site called Coaching Caregiver. He also has written a book, and is now wondering what to do next to land paid speaking engagements.When you listen to this episode, you'll hear my answer to Clayton's question as I lay out the five pieces of the speaker road map puzzle. I explain what each step is, why it is important and how to implement it in your journey.Today you'll also hear my answer to another listener's question about whether YouTube videos of your speeches can help or hurt your chances of getting hired as a speaker. Listen in to hear the details on episode 127 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:What are the 5 steps of the speaker success road map?Why you are in the problem-solving business as a speaker and entrepren

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