A Step-by-Step Process Guide Google AI Certified Keynote Speaker  |  AI Business Strategist  |  Author The Big Picture Most people think writing a book is the hard part. Turns out, publishing one is its own adventure. Here is exactly how I went from raw keynote recordings to a finished book on Amazon, an audiobook on … Read more

Management guru Ken Blanchard often shares a simple truth: “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” If that’s the case, the question becomes: how often – and how well – are you, as a professional speaker, being fed? For many speakers, the honest answer is not enough. And more importantly, not the kind of feedback that … Read more

It’s been a week – a stressful, exciting, and incredibly rewarding week. After five days on the road speaking, I came home for less than 24 hours last Saturday, did a little laundry, repacked my suitcase and headed out for one of the most adventurous trips of my speaking career. I was headed to speak … Read more

Our business is a tricky one. The past 20 years have taught me a few things. For starters, I’ve learned that change is constant. Speaking topic trends and event planner expectations always seem to shift. The contacts you make and the relationships you build continually evolve. In fact, change is so frequent that it is … Read more

Every professional speaker hears it eventually: “We love you… we just don’t have the budget.” It’s tempting to either walk away or cave in to a lower fee. Neither is a great long-term strategy. Discounting your fee without intention erodes your market positioning and creates inequity with clients who do pay full price. But walking … Read more

If you’ve ever said, “I should write a book, or another book,” and then looked at your calendar and laughed, you’re not alone. I’ve written a lot of books, 14 so far, and I know the process. Outlining, writing, rewriting, editing, second-guessing. It’s not a weekend project. Except… this time, it kind of was. Before … Read more

Many speakers believe that getting booked is about visibility, charisma, or having the newest idea. The reality is that speakers who consistently get paying engagements tend to do a few things very well. They communicate clear value, focus on business outcomes, and approach selling their work strategically. Here are five of the most common challenges … Read more

As a speaker, you run a business. You need to attract clients, and in order to do that, you need to be where they are. One of the places where you can get some face-time with potential clients is on the golf course. In addition to being an NSA speaker, I’m also a golf pro … Read more

A lot of speakers look at “MC work” and think, “That sounds fun.” I like being on stage. I can introduce people. Yes, you can. But before you add “Master of Ceremonies” to your speaking business, get clear on two realities. First, it’s a lot of work. The best MCs are doing more than reading … Read more

Twenty years ago, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, Cavett Award Recipient, told me something that changed how I viewed the speaking business. She said, “For every good speech you deliver, you should spin off one or two additional bookings.” That idea stuck with me. If that were true, it meant you shouldn’t have to rely heavily … Read more