In this episode of the SpeakersU Podcast, James Taylor and Maria Franzoni unpack the power of building a portfolio speaking career. Too many speakers rely solely on keynotes, but the most resilient and profitable speaking businesses diversify their income streams. From workshops and retainers to books, advisory roles, online courses, and even AI-powered products, a portfolio approach helps you weather the feast-or-famine cycle of the industry.

James shares how he applies Ray Dalio’s “All Weather Portfolio” strategy to his speaking business, while Maria explains how to identify client problems and design solutions that add value beyond the keynote. Together, they highlight real-world examples of speakers generating millions through recurring services, and why thinking like an “expert with a product suite” is more powerful than being “just a speaker.”

Whether you’re an established speaker or just starting out, this episode will give you practical ideas to expand your offering, increase client loyalty, and future-proof your career.

 

 

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Think beyond the keynote – Workshops, masterclasses, MCing, advisory roles, and retainers all create additional value.

• Adopt an “All Weather” model – Spread your business across different products and services to survive seasonal slumps.

• Fall in love with client problems – The best portfolio ideas come from understanding what your clients need most.

• Leverage recurring revenue – Subscriptions, memberships, or video libraries can generate predictable income.

• Books as business tools – Sell bulk copies, personalise editions for clients, and use books to deepen relationships.

• AI and digital products – From AI assistants to online training, technology creates new ways to scale expertise.

• Be a triple threat – Like Judy Garland, combine speaking, training, and MCing to become indispensable to clients.

 

 

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “Speaking is something you do, but it’s not who you are.” – Maria Franzoni

• “Don’t fall in love with your product—fall in love with your customer’s problems.” – James Taylor

• “Cash speeches are great, but continuity products build resilience.” – James Taylor

• “Adding services isn’t being salesy—it’s serving your clients better.” – Maria Franzoni

 

 

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome and catching up: jet lag, oxygen bottles, and Denver events

• 04:26 – Defining a portfolio speaking career

• 06:00 – James on applying Ray Dalio’s “All Weather Portfolio” to speaking

• 08:55 – How COVID forced speakers to diversify their offerings

• 10:46 – Positioning yourself as an expert, not just a speaker

• 13:29 – Examples of portfolio streams: video, retainers, advisory, coaching

• 15:42 – Lessons from “sell-from-stage” speakers and AI products

• 17:12 – Case study: a safety speaker generating $2m+ in recurring revenue

• 20:18 – Boardroom advisory and facilitation as high-value services

• 22:46 – Why being a “triple threat” makes you indispensable

• 24:57 – From keynotes to 16 workshops: extending client relationships

• 27:01 – First steps: talk to clients and identify their real problems

• 27:37 – Maria’s book tips: booking forms, odd-number deliveries, and CEO forewords

• 30:49 – James’ travel tool recommendation: Tripit Pro for managing logistics

• 33:30 – Closing thoughts and listener questions

 

 

👉 Have a question for James and Maria? Email: [email protected]