Paid to Speak

The Killer Keynote Conference (September 22-23) and the Paid to Speak Conference (September 24-26) ARE HAPPENING. Locations have been reserved, and we're all set to go! With that said, if something changes and we are unable to meet in a live venue, we will host each conference virtually. Additionally, you will receive a FREE PASS to a future conference. https://paidtospeakconference.com/#register...

Mapping out your speaking business requires a mindset shift. The reason it requires a shift is because of the images that pop into our minds when we hear the word map. We either think of a roadmap, or we envision pulling out our phones and asking Siri to give us directions. But neither of these scenarios work when you are starting a business. When starting a business, it's important to envision a...

Virtual training was growing in popularity before the Coronavirus, but now it is definitely here to stay. In-person keynotes and training will be back, but the validity of virtual workshops and webinars has been cemented during the past few months. While there are similarities between speaking to an audience at a live venue and speaking via a virtual training platform like Zoom or Go To Meeting, t...

I'm a results-oriented, driven person. What's more, a lot of the speakers I've met are the same way. Maybe you are too. Productivity is a good thing. But, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. The reason? A strength taken to an extreme becomes a weakness. While productivity is important for speakers, so is finding inspiration, gaining insights, and cultivating creative ideas. And did yo...

During the past several days, I've had three different conversations with people asking: "Why would anyone want to start a speaking business right now?" The idea behind this question is: If travel is shut down and no one is hiring speakers because of Coronavirus, why would anyone want to start a speaking business right now? As the saying goes, "The best time to start a business is yesterday. The s...

What makes a speaking topic profitable? In this episode, Kent shares 3 questions that will serve as a filter for picking the right speaking topic for you to get booked and paid to speak. An Inside Look at This Episode: Feature Resource: 5 Keys to Crafting and Delivering an Unforgettable Speech 3 Questions to Ask When Picking Your Speaking Topic 1) Am I  PASSIONATE about the topic? This questi...

Every thought you have is NOT your choice, but what you do with every thought IS your choice. Or, as Martin Luther said, "You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair." The plethora of opinions and commentary being shared 24/7 right now is creating so much noise. But we all have a choice. While we cannot control the thoughts th...

Don't Quit Now Near the beginning of every Paid to Speak Conference , I explain how stick-to-it-tiveness is your greatest competitive advantage as a speaker. The reason is simple: most speakers quit too soon. The truth is getting booked and paid as a speaker isn't overly difficult. Sure, it takes time and effort. But when you learn what to do and then consistently work that system, over time that...

If you type "speaking books" in a Google or Amazon search, you'll find a lot of great titles. But in Episode 11, I share 3 great speaking books you've probably never heard of... even if you're a veteran speaker. The reason? These are NOT actually speaking books. Yet each one of them have been key resources for me in growing a successful speaking business. Bottom line, if you want to get paid to sp...

The #1 question I am being asked during the COVID-19 crisis is: what are you doing RIGHT NOW to build your speaking business? The truth is, even in times like this when we are facing the coronavirus pandemic, there are steps you can take to build your speaking business. In fact, as the world slows down, a great question to ask yourself is: what does this make possible? You might discover you've be...

Speaking engagements get canceled. When it happens, the difference between getting paid to speak or not often comes down to what is written in your speaker agreement. In Episode 9, I continue to share how the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic is impacting my speaking business and the speaking industry. Whether you're a brand new speaker or you've been speaking for a while, I encourage you to l...

When you hear the words meeting canceled as a speaker (and you will from time to time), you have the opportunity to set yourself apart in a positive way. In Episode 8, I continue to share how the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic is impacting my speaking business. As of this recording, I have heard the words meeting canceled for 10 speaking engagements so far. Additionally, I expect more cance...

If you're a speaker, you will face challenges. Challenges in marketing your speaking services. AV challenges in the middle of your presentation. Even unexpected challenges in the world like coronavirus. And we all know, the more difficult the challenge, the more stress, anxiety, and fear it can create. How can you build the courage and resiliency you need as a speaker to effectively face your most...

Most speakers start speaking as a side hustle. As any speaker will tell you, speaking as a side hustle isn't easy (what side hustle is?). But it can be done. In this episode, Kent shares 3 steps you can take to make speaking as a side hustle work for you. An Inside Look at This Episode: Final Episode in a 3-Part Series on Starting a Side Hustle in Speaking 1) Episode 4: Why Speaking is a Better Si...

If you want to be a speaker, you'll probably start speaking as a side hustle. What is a side hustle? It's any kind of work you do in addition to your full-time job. It's more than a hobby because a hobby is primarily done for enjoyment. The purpose of a side hustle, in large part, is to create an additional stream of revenue. In this episode, Kent shares 5 reasons you will love speaking as a side...

A side hustle is any kind of work you do in addition to your full-time job. It's more than a hobby because a hobby is primarily done for enjoyment. The purpose of a side hustle, in large part, is to create an additional stream of revenue. There are two primary types of side hustles: Permanent Side Hustle: Many people who start a side hustle are perfectly content with keeping it a side hustle. Thes...

1) Purpose — the opportunity to live out your purpose in a meaningful way 2) Impact people — Kent shares how a speaker positively impacted his life 3) Passion — strong enthusiasm or desire; compelled to action 4) Credibility — as a presenter and thought-leader 5) Professional development — you must be continually learning and growing if you want to stay credible as a speaker 6) Personal developmen...

1) Overview of Kent's current speaking business 2) Kent's story — early life At-risk child Positive impact of hearing a speaker in high school Positive impact of educators College Success 3) Kent's first career track Working with youth via non-profit organizations and coaching Eventually, Kent became the Executive Director of a national youth association Opportunities to speak "on the side" contin...

Welcome to the first episode of the Paid to Speak Podcast! Many people  DREAM  about getting paid to speak, but few see their dreams become reality because they simply don't know what to  DO . The  Paid to Speak Podcast  will help you grow in both the art and business of speaking. You'll discover how to become a great presenter, how to find paid speaking engagements, how t...