Do you remember when you decided you wanted to speak?

Maybe you saw some inspiring or motivating presentation…

Maybe you presented somewhere and someone gave you a compliment on your speaking abilities….

Maybe you came across info on this email course and something clicked and you thought...

I could do that.

You know you want to speak, but you’re probably wondering...

• Where do I even begin?
• How do I connect with decision makers?
• How do I find gigs?
• What should I speak about?
• How do I get paid?
• How do I market myself?

Stop me if this sounds familiar

I know, because I’ve been there. When I first got started as a speaker, I asked all these same questions plus a thousand more.

I felt like I could be a speaker if someone would just show me the way.

Know the feeling?

I really wrestled with confidence. I wondered...

Am I good enough to be a speaker?

Can I be a speaker even though I don’t have some tragic life story?

I know I can do this. I just need a plan.

But I got started and largely figured it out as I went. In my 8 years as a speaker, I’ve...

• Earned over $1.3 million in speaking fees,
• Spoken at 400+ paid events
• Give 700+ presentations
• Presented to 350k+ people live
• Sold 30,000+ physical copies of my self-published book.

I don’t say that as a pat on the back, but to say, I know what it’s like to go from being brand new and trying to figure it out to being a successful speaker running a multiple 6-figure business and having the freedom and control to create the life I want to live.

My goal with this course is to help you get started as a speaker...

…And it’s totally doable.

You've got the potential...I've got the plan. We're going to make a great team

Over the next few days, I’m going to give you a ton of tactical and practical advice that will help you get started as a speaker.

But before we get too deep in the trenches, I want you to think about why you want to speak.

This is a critically foundational question you must answer that most speakers (and entrepreneurs) tend to overlook.

Without answering this question, so many speakers get several months down the road and aren’t seeing the results as quick as they’d like, so they quit. They forgot why they got into this in the first place.

I don’t want that to be you.

There are audiences out there that need to hear your message. There are individuals who need to be encouraged and inspired by your story. You may not realize it yet (and neither do they), but they need to hear your talk.

Can I be honest?

When I got started as a speaker 8 years ago, I knew I wanted to make a difference but I wanted to make something else too...

Money

I’m guessing if you’re anything like me, you like to eat and live indoors. Those things are important to me.

You too? Shocking!

But far too many speakers I knew were constantly speaking for free and just barely scraping by. Last time I checked, “free” didn’t pay the grocery bill.

I knew I wanted to do both.

I wanted to make a difference, but I wanted to make a great living for my family too (spoiler alert…I’m actually married to my high school sweetheart and we have 3 little girls, but I’ll tell you more about my crew later

So again, I ask…why do you want to speak?

If you know your motivation for speaking, then it becomes easier to know what events and opportunities make the most sense for you.

Here are some reasons why maybe you want to speak...

• Money
• Build Credibility
• Grow Audience (offline and/or online)
• Promote or Sell your Product
• Travel
• Attend Conferences
• Networking
• Share Expertise
• Fame & Notoriety
• Build Authority
• Make a Difference
• Be on Stage

I’ve received all this and more from speaking, but speaking has given me one big benefit that isn’t on that list but encompasses everything from that list...

Freedom.

I have the freedom of choice. I can choose what events to speak at or not speak at.

I can choose when and where I work. I can choose what to do with my time rather than having someone dictate what I should do.

I have the freedom to take my family on trips we only dreamed about.

I’m actually in control of my life.

Getting ultra clear on why you want to speak will help when you inevitably question yourself on why you’re pursuing this in the first place or wondering if it’s worth it.

So here’s your first assignment:

Lesson 1 Worksheet: Why do you want to speak?

Once you fill out the worksheet, I’ll send you a copy of your answers, and I’ll also get a copy. Don’t be surprised if you hear from me personally

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In the next lesson, we'll look at why most speakers never get paid (and how you can avoid letting that happen to you).

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