The speaking industry has grown leaps and bounds to the extent that speakers are now considered entrepreneurs, as they are now personal brands and businesses. But finding work is not as simple as just sending a text or email, and being a successful speaker requires the same hard work and dedication that is necessary for any thriving business. Joining AJ in conversation today is Joe Heaps, the Owner and CMO of eSpeakers, an online platform that connects speakers with their audience. Joe believes that his business is crucial for the industry and credits its established systems and processes as the vehicle behind its prosperity. We learn about the importance of the Audience Benefit statement, how speaking is no different than any other business, how speakers should prepare for their events, and what non-celebrity speakers need to take into account. We also explore Joe's special recipe for connecting speakers with clients, how to set your fees as a speaker, the trending topics that speakers are being hired for, and how speakers can play their part in upholding standards of diversity, equity, and inclusion.