The Speaker Lab Podcast

A lot of coaches become speakers, and a lot of speakers become coaches. It’s not a simple 2+2=4 formula, but there’s a few reasons why these professions complement each other so well! One of our recent program alumni, Kyle Cofer, came onto episode 455 of The Speaker Lab podcast to discuss her path from life coaching to speaking. In this student highlight, Kyla shares how our program helped her amplify her message about overcoming burnout. 

Going from aspiring to professional speaker requires tailored guidance and mentorship. As Kyla testifies, even an expert at coaching other people can have trouble overcoming a few nagging insecurities. Kyla and our director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith discuss the trickle down effect she experienced from her experienced TSL mentors and the breakthroughs she achieved using our five-module SPEAK framework.

Kyla is more than an entrepreneur and speaker–she’s also a devoted homeschooling mom. Juggling motherhood and the fast-paced speaker life is no joke and requires a few iron-clad priorities balanced by flexible routines. When it comes to childcare and splitting parental responsibilities, Kyla offers some “real talk” and encouragement for any speaker trying to give their best self to their kids and their business.

The truth is, nobody can be perfect to everybody all the time, and despite your best ambitions you will fall short at speaking, parenting, and everything in between! But like any good life coach, Kyla has words of wisdom for handling failure: it all comes down to gratitude and acknowledgement of what makes us human. If this episode doesn’t have you dying to hire Kyla as your life coach, it will definitely have you feeling better equipped to handle your flaws!

You’ll also learn all about: 

• Why striving for perfection gets in the way of creativity. 
• How to readjust your goals without compromising. 
• How to move on without baggage from even the most epic flops. 
• The value of letting go when it comes to negative feedback.
• Tips for composing and practicing your talk. 
• The relationship between self-care and successful speaking.
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Kyla's Website
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
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Dan Irvin was laid off of his C-suite position just as COVID started taking off. He took it as a sign to start the speaking career he had long been considering. Between pandemic-induced chaos and his own inexperience with the speaking industry, his first efforts were, in his own words, “dismal.” Fortunately, he discovered The Speaker Lab, which helped him systematize his business to the point where he is now speaking over 50 times a year on top of working as a member of the TSL team. Dan joined us for episode 454 of the TSL podcast to discuss the step-by-step processes that help him succeed.

To really succeed as a speaker, you need a plan. Having a plan will get your family and friends in your corner when you first launch your business as well as showing future clients that you are serious about what you do. Dan has used careful strategy and repeatable systems to turn his speaking business into a well-oiled machine. From time management to email followups, putting systems in place will set you apart from the many wannabe speakers who are fueled by enthusiasm that lacks consistency. Furthermore, automated systems that work for you when you’re not even paying attention help you free up valuable time to spend with your loved ones. 

One of Dan’s systems that will interest many speakers is how he evaluates whether to take on unpaid gigs. Many clients with tight budgets can still offer value that can’t be quantified in monetary terms. At the same time, if you get a reputation for speaking for free, nobody will want to pay you! This is a question that boggles many speakers…after all, at the start of your career, you have very few options! Dan and Grant have all the answers for you on this episode, from how to decide if an audience is the perfect fit to tough conversations with clients who can’t pay you. 

You’ll also learn all about: 

• Dan’s tried-and-true contact strategy that connects him with the best leads.
• Why quality of leads matters more than quantity.  
• Why you should start with one signature talk rather than a suite of talks.
• How to use your time if you have just 30 minutes a day for your speaking business.
• How to balance your love of travel with missing your family at home.
• Which parts of your speaking business should and shouldn’t be outsourced.
• How to decide on software tools to automate your tasks.
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Dan Irvin's Website
• Dan's Email Templates
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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Brittany Richmond is an experienced volleyball coach and counselor. She’s also an uplifting speaker and influencer who inspires teens to manage their anxiety and overcome stigma around mental illness. Our favorite part? She’s a coach for us here at The Speaker Lab. This week on Episode 453 of The Speaker Lab podcast, she shares how she speaks about incredibly vulnerable topics in a relatable and sensitive way.

Brittany already had a lot of experience working with students, so her story offers great insight into knowing when you can make a more impact as a speaker than one-on-one. Her own experience as a youth with crippling anxiety that was invisible to even her closest loved ones informs her message about proactively evolving through mental illness to live a thriving and fulfilled life. While she normally shares her message with teens, today she’s sharing it with you too–if you’re an aspiring speaker who struggles with anxiety, Brittany’s story is sure to give you a confidence boost.

Speaking to the youth market is a difficult task–making money, finding your niche, and marketing yourself all come with a special set of challenges. Brittany has really mastered the delicate balance of relatability and relevance. While she offers hope, she also offers tactical steps that leave her listeners feeling better equipped to deal with her struggles. On the show, you’ll hear how she keeps her niche narrow so she can better serve her audience. Perhaps most powerfully, Brittany explains why she tailors her message to the person she once was–the anxious teen who just needed to hear “you’re not alone.”

You’ll also learn all about:

• How to be vulnerable without oversharing
• Strategies for connection and engagement with a younger audience
• How TSL’s SPEAK framework gave Brittany her roadmap to speaking success
• Why COVID has resulted in a greater demand for mental health speakers
• How alignment with your purpose defeats insecurity about your speaker qualifications
• When it’s time to let your intuition guide what you say onstage
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Brittany Richmond's Website
• Brittany Richmond's Instagram
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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Our system here at The Speaker Lab includes establishing non-negotiable elements of a successful speaking business early. Once you establish these fundamentals, you get to move on to the “fun” stuff like preparing your talk and creating snazzy marketing materials. While our coaches can only personally guide you through creating these steps in our coaching programs, they also come on the podcast to introduce some of the most important pieces of the great puzzle that is your speaking business. One of those fundamental pieces is your Expert Positioning Statement (EPS). This week, TSL coach Michelle Onuorah joined our director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith for Episode 452 of The Speaker Lab Podcast to dig into what an EPS is and why it’s so important. 

If your speaking business is a pyramid, your EPS is the foundation. If that sounds like a big deal, it is! At the core of every good speaking platform is solving a problem for a particular audience. In your EPS, the solutions you offer, the people you serve, and the transformation you hope to effect all come together into one statement. Discovering your EPS is all about getting clear on the vision toward which your entire speaking business is oriented. This process isn’t just helpful to building out your business strategy–it will also empower you to act more boldly in the speaker marketplace. Accurately communicating and the value you bring to the table helps you recognize your own worth and promote your business accordingly. 

Michelle and Maryalice share great tips for how your EPS keeps you on track by emphasizing what you’re best at. It reflects who you are and the types of people you want to attract. It acts as the compass for your personal branding journey so that your clients and audience know exactly what they’re getting when they hire you or see you walk on stage. While formulating your EPS can be an intimidating challenge, our coaches will walk you through how it’s actually an incredible opportunity to focus on yourself and your brand.

You’ll also learn all about:

• Why your EPS matters even before your speaking business gets off the ground. 
• How formulating your EPS can help you avoid the toxic comparison trap.
• When to adapt or expand your EPS.
• How your demeanor and exterior affect the clients you attract. 
• Why clarity breeds confidence in the speaking world. 
• How to align the elements of your brand in the direction you want your business to go.
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Our Coaches
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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Some entrepreneurs spend their whole lives hustling, allowing burnout to gradually erode their overall quality of life. Others prioritize work-life harmony early on, allowing them to pursue their passions, keep creating, and enjoy life.

That’s what Tina Wells has done, with her signature “Elevation Approach,” a system for entrepreneurs which lies at the heart of her book, online course, and upcoming podcast. On Episode 451 of The Speaker Lab podcast, Tina shared the wisdom she has learned along a journey that has led her from market research, to brand strategy, to content and product creation. The core of her mission is helping other entrepreneurs put their energy into activities and initiatives that make the most sense for where they want to be in life. No more hustling and grinding just because everybody else is doing it–get ready to elevate your approach!

Tina started her entrepreneurship journey at age 16 researching youth and fashion trends. Despite the many evolutions of her professional career, she hasn’t lost sight of the things that originally set her on fire! Today, you can find her snazzy collection of office supplies on the shelves at Target as well as her children’s series and her new book The Elevation Approach. This episode offers an incredibly refreshing perspective on maintaining your business momentum without sacrificing your quality of life. If you’re a multi-passionate creative, a mom balancing career, kids, and aging parents, or a marketer who wants to shift into the product space, there are special tips for you too.

As speakers, choosing which channels to leverage for your personal brand and organic marketing can be quite overwhelming. Tina offers guidance for choosing the channel best suited to your target audience and adapting your message to different settings.

You’ll also learn all about: 

• How to balance your creative side with practical business considerations.
• The difference that a good market researcher can make as a speaker.   
• Why a “podcast tour” is a great strategy for brand exposure.
• How to choose a good podcast agency. 
• Why you should expand the horizons for your target audience. 
• Why starting an email newsletter will be a huge asset decades down the road.
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Tina Wells' Website
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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You can’t solve all your audience’s problems with one short keynote — often, you barely scratch the surface. So how do you offer your audience the next steps toward solutions? That’s what our very own coaches Maryalice Goldsmith and Jeremy Rochford cover on Episode 450 of The Speaker Lab podcast. Building your talk out into a coaching program is an incredible way to add streams of income and diversify your speaking business. Our TSL coaches have helped thousands of speakers succeed in this venture without burning out or losing sight of their core message, and today they’re helping you do the same. On the show, Maryalice and Jeremy go through the process of adding a coaching branch to your business with copious examples to help you get started designing your very first coaching program. 

Your signature keynote probably leaves your audience inspired with solutions, but unsure how to implement them beyond the first few action items. A coaching program expands on the substance of your talk in a structured setting geared toward knowledge retention. Since most coaching programs are eight to twelve weeks long, you have ample room to amplify all your most important points and dig deeper with explanations that will have more staying power than an exhilarating but all-too-brief talk. And as our students in The Speaker Lab programs already know, there are many different formats and variations of content you can utilize to help pass along all that valuable knowledge. 

Once you’re really clear on the problem you solve and the audience you serve, it’s probably time to start building out other branches of your speaking business. Designing a coaching program is an incredible way to grow your fanbase and your income. As you’ll hear from Maryalice and Jeremy in this episode, you can scale a well-designed coaching program and take on even more clients by hiring certified coaches to follow your system.

You’ll also learn all about: 

• The pros and cons of pre-recorded coursework vs. one-on-one coaching. 
• How to stop coaching from crowding out your speaking. 
• How to price your coaching program.
• When to hire more coaches to lead your program.
• Whether coaching certifications matter. 
• Why your unique voice is so needed in the world of coaching.
• …and so much more! 

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Our Coaches
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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Amy Porterfield describes herself as an “ex-corporate girl turned accidental entrepreneur.” It’s hard to believe it was an accident! Amy runs an incredibly successful business teaching other entrepreneurs how to grow their following online. She is an author, podcaster, and occasional speaker with a special knack for building email lists and creating online courses. With that in mind, her appearance on Episode 449 of The Speaker Lab podcast is full of tips for integrating lead magnets into your and other methods for springboarding off of your speaking engagements to maximize your personal brand. 

Whether you’re looking for your first gig or a seasoned speaker already, every potential gig is either an opportunity for furthering your mission or a waste of time. As she explains on the show, Amy doesn’t particularly enjoy speaking–even though it’s an important part of any online entrepreneur’s brand. With that in mind, she takes the process of deciding which gigs to take and which to pass up on very seriously. There is no worse feeling as a speaker than getting on stage and realizing you’re in front of the wrong audience! Even if you’re still in the stage where you take whatever gig you can for exposure, this process of discernment is worth your time and attention. Fortunately Amy has a whole toolkit of questions to ask, research to conduct, and red flags to look for so you end up in front of the right people at the right time. 

Amy’s shares her invaluable wealth of expertise about entrepreneurial audience-building in this episode. Her advice for leveraging course creation, email lists, and social media is sure to leave you ready to hit the ground running!

You’ll also learn all about:

• Why it’s OK to have a love-hate relationship with speaking.  
• How to continue your conversation with your audience off the stage. 
• Why QR codes are the best lead magnets. 
• What to do if your speaking audience isn’t the target market for your other products.
• How to price your online products.
• Using social media for connection instead of superficiality. 
• How an online business acts as a safety net during events like a global pandemic.
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Amy Porterfield's Website
• Two Weeks Notice Book
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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One of the best feelings as a coach at The Speaker Lab is seeing our students turn their visions into reality. In episode 448 of The Speaker Lab podcast, TSL director of Student Success Maryalice Goldsmith is joined by Sara Murray from our VIP cohort. Sara came into our program with a successful sales career under her belt and a vision for her platform: “prospecting on purpose.” Sara’s mission is to introduce salespeople to a mindset shift that helps them exude confidence and build authentic relationships with their prospects. All of this comes down to prioritizing human connection–something unfortunately lost to many sales teams today. 

Sara is an incredibly visionary person and as she entered the world of speaking and entrepreneurship, she knew she needed accountability to help her accomplish her big dreams. That’s why she came to The Speaker Lab, where as she shares with Maryalice, she found accountability for all areas of building her speaking business. She also shares the creative methods she discovered while she was a TSL student for collecting testimonials, video footage, and other fundamental assets for your speaking website. For anybody wondering about the experience of being part of our Booked & Paid to speak VIP cohort, Sara has the details you’ve been dying to hear!

Something that many professionals with experience in the sales industry might struggle with is feeling defined by the income they bring. Sara addresses this challenge head on and discusses how to shift from an income to an impact mindset. This episode is full of professional development advice, whether you’re a sales professional like Sara or any aspiring speaker with big dreams.

You’ll also learn all about: 

• How to enjoy every stage of the entrepreneurship journey. 
• How to pitch the value of your speaking services when you already create free content.
• What lessons from hostage negotiation tactics apply to speaking.
• Mantras to give yourself confidence as you start your speaking career. 
• How to leverage intentionality to breed success. 
• Ways your personality might influence how you prepare your talk.
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Sara Murray's Website
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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Shane Sams is a man who has taken control of his life. After a scary experience with a supervisor that got in the way of caring for his family, he struck out into entrepreneurship with his wife so they could quit their 9-5s and be more fully present with their kids. The best part is, they have dedicated their lives to helping others do the same thing through their business, Flipped Lifestyle. While Shane started out with podcasting and online courses, his speaking business has gained a lot of momentum recently. Shane is a rare bird in the speaking industry–he delivers both multi-day workshops and 30 minute keynotes. That kind of flexibility requires an incredibly systematized process behind the scenes so In Episode 447 of The Speaker Lab podcast, Shane shares the systems that help him prepare incredible talks for any occasion. 

Before he became an entrepreneur Shane was a teacher, so he came on the show ready to educate. His framework for structuring the overarching story of your keynote will help you keep your audience engaged and anticipating the solutions you offer onstage. Once your structure is in place, you can insert humor, relatability, and “check-ins” with your audience that ensure you all stay on the same page. If you’re struggling with integrating any of those connection points, Shane is a veritable well of inspiration especially when it comes to humor.

Shane has plenty of wisdom to offer on workshops and seminars too–including how to deal with the dreaded scenario where you finish your planned content with hours still to go. Whether you’re a keynote speaker, a workshop leader, or a mix of both, Shane has tips for how to make the most of any speaking opportunity.

You’ll also learn all about: 

• How to use your speaking engagements as a sales funnel.
• What Pixar can teach you about structuring your keynote.
• Tips for rehearsing the morning of your talk.
• How to divide up your workshop into more manageable chunks of content.
• Why the age of your audience matters for holding their attention.
• Using pattern interruptions to keep your audience from getting bored.
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Flipped Lifestyle
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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Speaking is full of surprises. Even if you’re equipped with the best business plan, vision, and work ethic, things don’t always go as planned. Knowing how to handle tricky situations is something that comes with experience, but there are many steps you can take to shore up your speaking business against pitfalls. While there’s no reason to dwell on worst case scenarios, it’s valuable to have a game plan or safety net when it comes to potential problems. Fortunately, our TSL coaches have guided thousands of speakers through these strategies. For episode 446 of The Speaker Lab podcast, our director of student success Maryalice Goldsmith and coach Rick Clemons share how to avert–or at least ameliorate–potential disasters in your speaking business. 

Clients are perhaps the most typical yet unpredictable source of tricky situations. Whether it’s a misunderstanding about the speaking topic, payment timeline, event schedule, or intellectual property, even the most well-meaning client can cause a miscommunication. Once you realize early on which events are a poor fit for your mission and recognize the red flags of a shady contract, you will save yourself and your clients time and energy. Doing your due diligence on potential clients–including reading all the fine print and reviewing your own contract terms–is essential. This can seem like a momentous task, but Rick and Maryalice break it down into manageable action items that you can start implementing today. From designing a contract, to consulting an attorney, to hiring your first employee, our coaches have every step of building your speaking business covered!

As we reiterate time and time again, the key to getting this right is having systems in place. This coaches’ corner show is sure to get you thinking about how you can systematize your speaking business to keep it running smoothly for years and even decades down the line.

You’ll also learn all about: 

• Polite and supportive ways to decline a gig and recommend alternative speakers.
• How to decide if an iffy client is worth compromising for.
• How to roll with the punches when you can’t avoid a last-minute setback.
• How to navigate money conversations and secure deposits early on.
• Why having an attorney look over your contracts is the best investment you’ll ever make.
• Why overcommunication is key (and how it can save your business). 
• Which processes to document before you hire employees (hint: all of them).
• …and so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.