Nearly two decades ago, I had the pleasure of hearing a dynamic speaker, Jim Tunney, CPAE, Cavett Award Recipient. Jim was a former NFL referee and spoke on the topic of reinvention and change – it was spectacular. During his presentation he uttered this statement which has become the central theme for how I continue … Read more
“Hello, and thanks, Bob, for that great introduction. Really, I appreciate it. You read it just like I wrote it..ha ha! And good to be here with you tonight. Dinner was really good. Did you enjoy it? If you did, let’s give a round of applause to the chef and servers! (pause, wait for anemic … Read more
You’re not just a speaker. You’re not just a storyteller. You’re not just a subject-matter expert with a killer keynote. You’re also—whether you like it or not—a salesperson. That sentence might make you cringe. For many of us in the speaking profession, “sell” can feel like a four-letter word. Maybe it brings up images of … Read more
People often come up to me after a keynote and say, “I want to do what you do.” Sometimes they’ve done a little public speaking themselves, and they’ll tell me how good they are. That’s usually when I ask, “Tell me about the last time you bombed.” They almost always smile and shake their heads … Read more
In mid-2024, I published what I believed to be my most important book yet. It tackled today’s biggest business buzzwords, including uncertainty, volatility, disruption, and AI, and offered practical frameworks to help people and organizations regain a sense of clarity, stability, and focus. As someone who’s spent decades thinking about innovation and change, it felt … Read more
As professional speakers, we are part of the meetings industry. Not separate from it. Not a side hustle to it. Not an add-on to the agenda. We are in it, fully. But too often, I wonder if we forget that? We get caught up in perfecting our keynotes, crafting our personal brands, and chasing our … Read more
Want to raise your speaking fees? Simple—be more valuable. The more impact you bring, the more you are worth. So, how do you make yourself invaluable on stage? Here are some practical (and slightly funny) ways to add value—both for your audience and your bank account. 1. Are You BORED? (Your Audience … Read more
Commitment is KEY! “When you’re committed, you move and you shake in a whole different way.” — Larry Long Jr. Commitment is the foundation of success. Think about your current level of commitment to your speaker business, and specifically, your sales efforts. On a scale from 1-10, where do you stand? Are you merely interested, … Read more
There’s much more to being a great keynote speaker than simply having on-stage skills that inspire and amaze. It’s about creating moments—those powerful, emotional points that bring an audience to the brink of tears or laughter—and then sending them out the door feeling their time was not just spent but invested in something personally and … Read more
I think the speaking business is one of the toughest ways I have ever chosen to make a living. Making sales calls to land consulting jobs or new coaching clients, I have always found easier than winning a speaking engagement. There are so many reasons this business is hard: The market is crowded – you … Read more