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

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!

When you started speaking did you give much consideration into how it would serve your business? If you didn't, you are not alone! Often, people begin speaking without thinking about how it will fit into their business model.Whether your career is successfully underway or you'll still getting started, you should give some thought as to why you want to speak.You should also ponder how it fits into your overall business, both brand and long-term goals, as well as what type of speaking engagements you enjoy most.On episode 84 of The Speaker Lab, you'll hear why these three questions are important to answer. You'll also hear what the four revenue models for speakers are and you can decide for yourself which fits you best. Tune in for all of that and more on today's show! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are the 4 revenue models for speakers?How can you speak less, and charge more?The two most common reasons people want to speak.What other revenue sources can you tie to your speaking engagement

What if you could travel to Australia for free? Or take your family to Hawaii for next to nothing? Our guest on today's show, Travis Sherry, knows how and he's built a business by helping others with his knowledge.Travis was teaching English in Japan a few years ago and wanted to travel more and spend less. That led him to Google which led him down a virtual rabbit hole.To help him better understand what he was learning, and to share it with other people, he started a site called Extra Pack of Peanuts. It began as a blog to chronicle journey into the world of free travel including hacks, airlines points, frequent flier miles. Today it has grown to much more!On episode 83 of The Speaker Lab, Travis shares what he's learned along the way, his best travel tips, and how to accumulate miles and points so you can get free travel for yourself and your loved ones. Check it out on today's edition of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  One of Travis' top tips for making travel as enjoyable

Have you considered creating a lifelong speaking career? Whether you've pondered your speaking longevity or you just want to break into the speaking world, you'll hear about both topics from Harriet Turk, our guest on today's show.Harriet has been speaking in the youth and education areas for nearly two and a half decades, earning her stars and stripes along the way.On episode 82 of The Speaker Lab, Harriet Turk joins us to talk about her lengthy career as a speaker, how she got started and what it's like to be a female speaker then versus today. She explains why relationships and connections with other speakers are so vital to your career.You'll get to hear the wisdom she's earned, and so much more on today's edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why it's so important to learn the art of storytelling.Can your audience really only handle 3-5 points?What is the market like for female speakers today?What would Harriet do differently if she were building her business now?Can you

Have you ever wanted to speak to college students or collegiate staff? If you have but weren't sure where to start this is the show for you!Recently a listener named Eric wrote in wanting to know how to get booked for speaking gigs at colleges. To answer his question, we'll talk about how to get started speaking at colleges, and where there are the most opportunities in this market.On episode 81 of The Speaker Lab, I share my personal experiences and insights gleaned from speaking on the collegiate circuit. I'll also share the 9 potential markets that exist within almost any university. You'll hear about all of that and much more on the 81st edition of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  The 3 foundational questions to ask and answer before speaking in any market.What questions do you need to answer to define your marketing to colleges?What are the 9 potential markets you could speak to on most campuses?What are the APCA and NACA, and why should you know?What is block booking and how do

Can you imagine speaking for 3 days? What if it meant making 7 figures a year - can you imagine it then? Our guest for today, Cole Hatter, doesn't imagine it - he lives it.Cole began as a multi-million dollar real estate investor who continues to run several companies in that industry today, as well as speaking from the stage around the world.On episode 80 of The Speaker Lab, Cole is here to talk about how he got into speaking, how he uses his own successes and failures as examples for his audience and what it's like to speak on stage for 72 hours! He shares all of that and more on today's show. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What were some of his earliest steps he took to start speaking?How speaking for free - and even losing money on gigs - helped build his career.What's it like to speak for three days at a seminar?How and why you must earn the right to be on stage.Why honesty is the best policy when selling on stage, and elsewhere.What does it mean to sell at 90 degrees?What are open loops and

Do you think your niche is ready for a conference or other major event? How would you know if there's enough interest, before booking a venue, speakers, etc?Our guest today is here to answer those questions. He is Phillip Taylor and is the founder of FinCon, the world's largest Financial Content Expo.Not only will PT talk about how and when it's the right time to create an event for your particular area of expertise, and he also shares what works and what doesn't work when connecting with the event hosts of conferences you want to speak at.On episode 79 of The Speaker Lab, PT explains where the idea for FinCon came from, how he grew it to a profitable enterprise over the years and what criteria event organizers look for from their potential speakers. Whether you've spoken at a large conference or simply want to soon, you'll want to hear all of those details on today's show! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What should you do before you decide to create an event?What were the two tipping points that

One of the surest ways to excel as a speaker is to find someone who is a success, and then follow their early steps. It's true in speaking, it's true in business and it's true in other avenues of life.A man who has done just that is Bob Burg. Bob is the best-selling author of The Go-Giver and Endless Referrals. After picking up audio cassette tapes at a Zig Ziglar event and enrolling in their speaking program, Bob's speaking career took off.On today's show, Bob shares how the National Speakers Association also had an impact on his speaking career, and why you're better off following in the footsteps of successful giants than trying to go it on your own. It's all here on episode 78 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How did he get his first bookings?How can you prepare for the inevitable rejections?The follow up process to help you build on your successesWhy discipline and sweat equity are so vital to growing your speaking career.What knocks many people out of the speaking business

Today Scott Stratten is a world-renowned keynote speaker, best-selling author and all-around awesome guy who is known by nearly everyone in the speaking community.But did you know that in the early days of his career he flew around North America training people to sell bubble wrap?! As our guest on episode 77 of The Speaker Lab he shares that amazing story, and much more.Scott also shares his earliest experiences as a corporate trainer after college, and why he chose that path. He explains the origin story of the video that catapulted him to speaker stardom and led to receiving 97 speaker invitations in two weeks!Whether or not you ever create a viral video to aid your speaking career, Scott gives specific suggestions on how to get your start on this episode. We go into the how and when of leveling up your speaking career, once you've got your feet wet as a speaker. He is equal parts hilarious and wise today! Listen in to laugh along with us, and get a little wiser on episode 77 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER