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

If there's one thing I've learned in my time as a professional speaker, it is the importance of the follow up.A listener called in and asked about how to properly and effectively follow up with potential clients, so that topic is the focus of this solo episode of The Speaker Lab.You'll hear me answer his question by laying out the different phases and stages of follow up, including how to make initial contact with an organization, and what to say when they are close to making a decision about their speaker lineup.I'll also cover how to find the right person to contact within a company and why it's always your goal to get a potential client on the phone. You'll hear that and much more on episode 104 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What has been the "secret sauce" for me in my career?The strategic yet simple method to use for your follow ups.Why clients might be interested in you, even if they don't call you back.How far in advance should you reach out prior to an event you'd like

Have you ever considered adding Master of Ceremonies (MC) to your speaking offerings? Our guest for today's show is a talented keynote, MC and overall great speaker.Thom Singer, otherwise known as the Conference Catalyst, joins us to talk about what it takes to be a great MC, as well as a keynote/MC.On episode 103 of The Speaker Lab, Thom shares his background and how he got into the speaking world, including how he grew his MC career.We also dig into what a Master of Ceremonies actually does, how to structure your pricing, and the basics of getting started as an MC. You'll hear all of that and so much more on this edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Who sets the tone for the entire event?Why you should see yourself as an event professional, not just a speaker or MC.Is an extrovert or introvert better suited to the role of Master of Ceremonies?How does he structure his pricing as Master of Ceremonies?Why you have to play "bad cop" if you're an MC.What are call backs and why

When someone says motivational speaker, what do you think? Chris Farley's character on Saturday Night Live, or someone who actually helps people move their lives where they want to go? Our guest, Kyle Scheele, is a motivational speaker who does the latter!Kyle is also an entrepreneur and one of the most creative guys I know. We've been friends for a few years, and I've watched him grow from his career from a fledgling state to a full-time, profitable business.On episode 102 of The Speaker Lab, Kyle joins us to share how he the faith he had to have when making the leap to a full-time speaker, his speaking topics for youth audiences, why he's a motivational speaker with an asterisk and much more. Kyle brings the goods on today's show, tune in and check it out! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How has his message evolved over time?What were his early steps to get traction as a speaker?How he kept himself on track when things were tough.How were other speakers instrumental to building his business?Why h

The question of how to make a career out of speaking to college audiences is a common one, so I decided to bring my friend, Adam Carroll, on the show to give you the answer.Adam has been a speaker on over 650 college campuses as well as countless local and regional events for college students. He knows that market like the back of his hand!On episode 101 of The Speaker Lab, he's sharing that knowledge with you. We talk about the different markets within the college community, how to know what group, committee or department to contact when you're looking for speaking gigs and how to set yourself to get repeat gigs with the same university.He's got some great tricks up his sleeve, and you'll get to peek at them on today's show. Listen in for all of that and more on episode 101 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What were the two big factors that started his college speaking career?Why knowing your content is critical for continued success.What is a strong interest form and how do you

(HUGE Giveaway: in honor of our 100th episode, we’re doing a big giveaway including lifetime access to The Speaker Lab Community + a 30 minute Skype call with me to help with your speaking business. It’s free to enter. Get all the details here.To celebrate the 100th episode of The Speaker Lab podcast, we decided to compile a list of 100 tips on how to become a motivational speaker (note: if you read ‘motivational speaker’ and immediately think of Matt Foley from SNL, just know these tips apply to all speakers. But how great was Chris Farley as that character?

If you've ever struggled to come up with ideas for a speech you won't after today's episode! Today I've brought in one of my friends, Jeremy Johnson. He is simply one of the best speakers I've ever heard, and I had to share him with you.On episode 99 of The Speaker Lab, Jeremy talks about his yearly, monthly and weekly process for content creation. He's the pastor of a large church in Missouri and generates different messages every week for that congregation.Whether you speak to church organizations, youth or any other groups, Jeremy's wisdom can be applied to every situation. Listen in for all of that and more on episode 99 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How does he come up with 45 different talks a year?How to have your radar up for content ideas.What is his "bucket" process for mapping out his talks?How far in advance does he plan his Sunday sermon?Why you must spend time bringing credibility to your topic.What does he do when a talk doesn't go over well?What is the biggest

Have you emailed potential clients about speaking gigs only to hear crickets? If you aren't getting the response you want (or any response at all), today's show is just your cup of tea. Ed Gandia is the master of using email for prospecting.On episode 97 of The Speaker Lab, Ed and I talk about his previous life as an IT services sales person, as well as how he discovered the proper way to use email as a prospecting tool and later built a career from it.Today Ed has pearls of wisdom on everything from the importance of interrupting the email status quo, the role snail mail plays as a connecting tool, and the different components your initial email must have to be successful. Check it out on episode 97 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How can you make your email stand out?Advanced Google search techniques you can use to find an email address.Why you should make your first email 125 words or less.What are Ed's four meaningful connections to use in your emails?What are the two reason

If you're looking to connect with a highly targeted group of prospects to help you grow and advance your speaking career, you'll want to hear today's guest! Josh Turner is a LinkedIn guru, as well as the founder and creator of LinkedSelling.On episode 97 of The Speaker Lab, Josh and I discuss how he became interested in LinkedIn, how he helped his first client generate $20 million from a campaign on the networking site and the proper ways to connect and grow your network with LinkedIn (and why so many people are using it wrong).I decided to bring on Josh because many people have asked me how to use LinkedIn to grow their speaking careers. Not only is he a friend, but he's a wealth of information. He'll help you figure out the best way to tap into the LinkedIn scene and much more on today's show! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How Josh knew he had something special with his LinkedIn business.What is Linked University and who is it for?How NOT to use LinkedIn and why it's gotten a bad rap in many ci

Do you think starting a podcast can help you reach your target audience and land more speaking gigs? Our guest for episode 96 says yes, and he's got the history to prove it.Cliff Ravenscraft, known as the Podcast Answer Man, joins us to talk about the connection between podcasting and public speaking.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Cliff shares how he got started as a podcaster, how he's helped people start 40,000 podcasts (!), why podcasting is still relevant today, and the main ways podcasting will grow your speaking career.Listen in for all of that and so much more on today's show! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why was 2008 a financial disaster but the best year of Cliff's life and his marriage?How Dan Miller helped his career trajectory.How did he initially generate revenue when he started podcasting full-time?Why are his free speaking gigs the most profitable ones?How can a podcast help your speaking career?The two ways to choose your podcast topic to get more speaking gigs.How has podca

Whether you're a business owner, self-employed or work for a company, you know today's marketplace isn't like the past. It's no longer about getting a good job and staying with a company for 40 or 50 years until you retire.Today it's about pivoting, and here to share just how to pivot in your career is Jenny Blake.Jenny is the best-selling author beyond Life After College and her upcoming book, Pivot. She's also an entrepreneur and well-known speaker who formerly worked at Google honing her skills as a coach and speaker.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Jenny explains why she left Google to move to New York City and start her own business. She also details how speaking fits into her overall business and career goals, as well as the four stages to pivoting from what you're doing now to what you want to do in the future. Listen in for all of that and so much more on today's show! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why did she wear turtlenecks when speaking for 5 years?What one keynote topic brought in

Do you think you could learn from 40 of the best, brightest and most successful speakers on the planet today? I thought you could so I gathered them all in The Speaker Lab Summit.To give you a sample of what you'll be hearing when you join the summit, I've brought two of those 40 speakers to you for today's show: Dan Miller and Andy Andrews.Dan Miller is an author, speaker and coach who shares his 48 days message around the globe through numerous channels. He shares how his message began as a Sunday school class. He also digs into how you can find and hone in on your core message and how you can take that core message to the masses on numerous platforms while creating multiple sources of revenue for your business.Andy Andrews is a comedian turned professional speaker. His primary focus is on getting results and he shares that message with numerous industries from churches to corporations to the military. Today Andy talks about how to avoid being watered down by your clients' requests, and why it's so importan

What if you could learn from 40 super successful speakers and you could learn from them all in one place? That's what you'll get in my latest course, The Speaker Lab Summit.To give you a taste of what is in store for you in the summit, I'm bringing two of those 40 speakers to you today: Pat Flynn and Tim Sanders.Pat Flynn is an author, international keynote speaker, blogger, entrepreneur and founder of Smart Passive Income. Tim Sanders primarily makes his living as professional speaker and is also a noted author and equally good guy like Pat!Today they both explore what it takes to make it as a professional speaker, why it fits into their business models. Pat explains what his preparation process is, while Tim explains the three reasons anyone gets paid to speak. They both have immense wisdom they share on this episode, as well as in The Speaker Lab Summit! Hear them first on episode 93 of The Speaker Lab.EPISODE RESOURCESGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoi

 Different speakers dress differently. I'm sure you've seen speakers come on stage in everything from jeans to a suit. So what should you wear?On episode 92 of The Speaker Lab, I share my thoughts on what attire is appropriate and when. While I don't claim to be a fashionista, I do know how important what you wear is when speaking to an audience!I'll be digging into that specific topic on this special solo edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When should you wear business casual attire?Can you dress like Scott Stratten if you aren't Scott Stratten?Why you should ask about the audience's dress code before the event.Why I don't like speaking in a suit.Are there certain things to avoid wearing if you are going to be on video?What Tommy Boy can teach you about dressing for your speaking engagement.Why to pack a back up shirt/outfit.What are the three things to check right before you go on stage?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESGrant Baldwin on TwitterGet Free Speaker Resour

Have you ever held a question and answer session (a Q&A) after one of your speaking gigs? Do you know what made it successful, or why it wasn't?A Q&A session can be fun, scary and even a little dangerous!! But it can also make a huge difference in how your audience sees you, so it's crucial it is done right. On episode 91 of The Speaker Lab, I explain what it takes to make a successful question and answer session each and every time you speak.Listen in to find out all the details on today's solo episode of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What type of speaking setting is most typical for audience Q&A?Is the size of the audience a factor in whether or not you should do a Q&A?How much time should you allow for a question and answer session?Why you should always repeat the question for your audience.What should you do if you hear the same questions every time you speak?When should you NOT do a Q&A session?What if no one asks questions at multiple Q&As of y

In previous episodes we've talked about the important role a book can have in furthering your career as a speaker. It's a great marketing tool to open more doors and get your foot into and through those doors!Our guest for today's show, Chadwick Cannon, is here to share his publishing experiences working with speakers and helping them spread their messages far and wide.On episode 90 of The Speaker Lab, he explains his history in the publishing world, as well as the upside and drawbacks to working with a publishing house.We also get into what he does with his digital agency today, and the best way to amplify your speaking brand with your book. There's all of that and more on this edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why you have a built-in distribution channel, and may not even know it!What are the pros and cons of self-publishing?What does APE stand for and why should you know?How to be taken seriously as a self-published author.What's the value in a publishing relationship?W

One of the most crucial aspects of a great speaking gig is the audio visual team. If you want to be taken seriously as a speaker and make a great impression every time you're on stage the first step is to work with the A/V team. The people in charge of the lighting and sound for the event literally control how you look and how you sound!On episode 89 of The Speaker Lab, Jeff Douglass of Cybis joins us to talk about the best ways to utilize the A/V team as a speaker. He shares what to do and what not to do with the audio visual crew when setting up for your talk.And Jeff knows the ins and outs of the production world! His company Cybis does everything from cameras to lights to sound to music to stage management. He brings that wealth of knowledge to this edition of The Speaker Lab, listen in to hear it all! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why you should rehearse with the AV team, every single time.How much time should you allot for your walk through before your speech?What's the worst experience Jef

If you've ever spent hours cleaning out your garage or attic or any other space in your home, you will be intrigued by today's guest's story.About eight years ago Joshua Becker decided to clean and organize his garage. He spent hours doing it, while his young son played on a swing set in their yard by himself.When Joshua's neighbor mentioned minimalism to him, a light bulb went off. He realized not only was all his "stuff" not making him happier, it was keeping him from the things in his life that gave him purpose, fulfillment and happiness (ie his family).On episode 88 of The Speaker Lab, Joshua shares how that experience began the odyssey that is today his business, Becoming Minimalist. We talk about his decision to start writing about his minimalist experience, and how he knew people were resonating with his message enough to build a business around it. There's all of that and more on this edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What were the 3 indicators that told him to sha

Now that I've been working as a speaker there are things I wish I had known at the beginning of my career that I know today. On episode 87 of The Speaker Lab, I'm sharing the top 10 items on that list!Whether you're brand new to speaking or have your career in hand, there is something you can learn.Listen in to hear topics like why you shouldn't bother with a speaking bureau or agent, what your best marketing piece is and the importance of investing in yourself and your business. That's all here plus more on today's solo episode of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How to keep a long-term perspective, and why you should.How long does it take most speakers to build a full-time speaking career?Who do people do business with?Why you should be just as good offstage as you are on stage.Should you focus on one talk or many talks?Why finding a speaker to model yourself after is a good strategy.Should your marketing efforts ever stop?Who you are is more important than what?And so much more!E

How do you know when it's the right time to hire someone? Whether you think you need help now or you simply have an eye to the future, today's episode is all about hiring a staff to grow your speaking career.On episode 86 of The Speaker Lab, I'll be sharing my personal staffing journey: who I hired, when I hired them and how I paid them.I'll also answer the most pressing hiring questions we all have as speakers: do we need to hire someone? How do we know if we can trust them? How should they get paid? Can we afford the expense of staff?Listen in for the answers to those questions, and much more on today's solo episode of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How do you know if you even need to hire someone?What is the most valuable resource and commodity we all have?The 3 list exercise to help you figure out what to hire for when you're ready.Cash is king in a new what?Why selling has to be your top priority, and can never be outsourced.Where to find the right person to hire, and how to

Have you ever heard those crazy stories about musicians who would include ridiculous requests in their riders, like Van Halen and their brown M&M clause? Ever wonder exactly what a rider is, and if you need one?While you don't need to go the Van Halen brown M&M route, a speaking rider is still a good idea. On today's solo episode I explain what a rider is, why you should have one, and why sometimes those ridiculous requests have a good reason behind them!You'll hear about all of that and much more on the 85th edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  The important reason Van Halen didn't want brown M&Ms backstage.What I include in my rider, and what you should you include in yours.Can you request a specific seating style at your speaking gig?Should you include your rider as part of the contract, or separate?How to walk the fine line between making requests and being demanding.What is the point of having a rider?Do most clients read and remember riders?And so much more!