“There’s this beautiful thread between all of the speakers that come to us, which is typically a desire to help people ultimately. And so what a community to be a part of?” — Emily Arnold
Emily Arnold, our incredible elite concierge, recently joined Maryalice on the podcast to chat about how to best prepare yourself for the program, get onboarded, and build a successful speaking business.
Here are the top 3 takeaways from their conversation:
Prep your calendar and your mindset.
When you’re getting ready to onboard, it’s essential to consider the investment you’ve made.
People often sign up for things half-heartedly, but to accelerate your business, it’s important to clear your mind and set intentions for the experience you want.
Determine how you want to show up. Then, make time in your calendar to prioritize this investment. You don’t want it to slip through the cracks. The idea here is to show up often in the community and on calls and to be fully present when you’re there.
Embrace personal branding.
Many people get a little weird about having their faces put on things! Students struggle with the idea of building visual websites and having a part in creating great demo reels.
While it can be challenging to want to put your face out there, start spending some time looking at yourself on video or in pictures to sort of “desensitize” the way it feels to see yourself on the internet.
As you make your way through the program, discuss the processes you’re working through to build your business online! Build a personal brand by showing up and learning out loud. This will also help you get more comfortable putting yourself and your story out online.
Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker
Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person!
Leverage the community.
When you step into the program, you’re getting lifetime access to this community of people who are out there at different stages, building their own speaking businesses. Our community is exclusive. It’s made for you to have a safe space to give and take advice and feedback, bounce ideas around, celebrate wins, brainstorm issues, etc.
Start investing in the community when you can. Celebrate with others. Build authentic connections and relationships. When you need help, we promise it will be there from the TSL team or from a student who is out there doing the work, just like you!
Ready to hear more? Check out Episode 465 of The Speaker Lab podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts.
