Who do you speak to, and what do you speak about?
I speak about burnout—specifically burnout prevention and burnout recovery, and I focus on healthcare professionals. When I was getting into the speaking business, I did some research and found that the healthcare industry leads the burnout rate. If you’re curious, the top four are healthcare, education, social services, and emergency services. That’s why I chose to focus on healthcare—I wanted to speak where the need is greatest.
What led you to seek out The Speaker Lab? What was happening—or not happening—in your business at the time?
I’ve been in business for myself for five years but had never really invested in myself. I started a consulting firm that did a little of everything: consulting, speaking, training, coaching; it was kind of a hodgepodge. But at the beginning of this year, I decided to go all-in on speaking. It’s my passion, it’s my skill, and I get a lot of affirmation from others that this is what I should be doing. It aligns with my purpose: to inspire, encourage, and motivate people.
To build that business seriously, I knew I needed some structure and support. That’s where The Speaker Lab came in. It gave me a roadmap. But more than that, I realized I needed a community, and The Speaker Lab has delivered that in a big way. I’ve connected with so many other speakers and had great conversations on Zoom. It’s been invaluable.
Did you have any fears or apprehensions at the start?
Honestly, I did. The Speaker Lab isn’t cheap, and when I was first learning about the program, I loved what I was hearing, but I also thought, “That’s a lot of money.” My biggest fear was whether I’d see a return on that investment. Financially, the full ROI might still be in progress, but in terms of value? It’s already paid off. I’ve gained confidence, clarity, and structure for building my business. And again, the community has been a huge bonus.
What’s been one of your biggest “aha” moments from the SPEAK Framework?
This was actually kind of a shock for me. I’ve been speaking for 30 years, all over the country, on hundreds of different topics. So when I joined The Speaker Lab, I thought the more topics I could speak on, the more marketable I would be.
But the Framework taught me the opposite: that you need a niche, a specific industry, and a focused topic. You need to be seen as the expert in that one area. It reminded me of how actors get typecast; those who are known for comedy or drama tend to get more consistent roles. I used to think being typecast was a disadvantage, but I’ve come to understand that people want to hire experts. That was a major mindset shift for me.
Let’s talk results. How has the program been working for you so far?
It’s a lot of work – lots of emails, phone calls, and networking. In fact, right after this call I’m heading to a networking event that’ll last all afternoon. But I enjoy the work.
I’ve already booked seven speaking engagements. Last weekend, I spoke at an event called Cascade of Empowerment. I also landed one of my biggest opportunities coming up in August in Utah…it’s a PIO (Public Information Officer) conference, and that’s a $5,000 gig. A few months ago, I spoke at a church in Louisiana and earned another $5,000 there.
My bookings now stretch from August through February of next year. One thing I’ve learned: event planners book six months to a year in advance. So when people join The Speaker Lab and expect to get booked in a couple of weeks, that’s just not how it works. But if you put in the effort, the results will come. And I’m seeing that play out in real time.
I’m really happy about that. It’s amazing to be so early in your journey. You’ve been speaking for so long, so $5,000 per gig sounds right, but it must be really exciting to get checks of that amount just four months into joining The Speaker Lab.
Yes, four months in.
That’s incredible. I love when I see submissions come through and it’s someone’s first gig, and they’re putting that kind of price tag on it. It makes me happy because we believe you’re worth it—but it’s even better to see people owning that compensation and allowing themselves to receive it. Especially when you’ve pivoted from doing free gigs, low-fee gigs, or saying, “Whatever you can afford.”
Being able to say, “This is my price. This is what I want.”
Yes! And knowing that your pricing will grow over time is really exciting.
It’s a little scary too. Sometimes you know your value, but you think, “Okay… but I really want this gig.”
Totally. There’s that temptation to lower your fee.
But I think it just comes down to knowing your value. There’s room for flexibility, but you really want to put your value out there.
Absolutely. I love that. How does it feel to be making the impact you’re making? Can you take us into those moments when you’re on stage sharing your message? What’s that experience like for you?
Well, my life purpose is to inspire, encourage, and motivate people to reach their full potential. When I speak, I really try to speak to the heart. I’m very authentic, vulnerable, and transparent. I do use my life as a reference, but I’m intentional about being genuine.
I used to try to be “professional” but that’s not my goal anymore. Now, I focus on being authentic.
For example, last Sunday I spoke at Cascade of Empowerment, a group of widows, single moms, and women who’ve experienced hardship. I talked about resilience, and so many women came up afterward to share how much it meant to them. That means more to me than any accolades. Compliments are nice, but hearing that your talk changed someone’s life? That’s what I value most.
I get energized just hearing those kinds of testimonials. I remember you posted about that in the community, and I can just imagine how rewarding it is to have people come up afterward and tell you how your message impacted them.
So what’s your new normal like these days? Maybe it’s a mindset shift or a new routine. How has your life changed as you’ve been building your speaking business?
I never thought I was a salesperson, but I’ve become a pretty good one. For 30 years, I had a traditional job with a steady paycheck and benefits. Now it’s a hustle. In the beginning, I was working in the business more than on the business – probably 80% of my time was delivering work.
Now that I’ve shifted to being an exclusive speaker, I spend more time on the business: networking, prospecting, making calls, sending emails, trying to land that next gig. The focus of my work has changed, but my diligence and commitment are still the same. I’ve just shifted how I show up.
That makes perfect sense, and it sounds like you’re doing the hard work and seeing results. I’m throwing you a curveball here, but since you’ve mentioned your kids, I’m curious: how has your family responded to this new chapter?
They’ve been amazingly supportive. My family has always been my priority over career, always. You hear stories about people choosing work over family and ending up with broken relationships, but that was never me. My kids are proud of me. My daughters are the first to like my social media posts. They’re really proud of their dad.
And my wife – who was used to 30 years of steady income – is surprisingly supportive. As you know, in the speaking world, income can fluctuate. But she’s okay with that and encourages me when I hit low revenue months or feel discouraged. I couldn’t do this without their support.
That’s so great to hear. I can just imagine how proud they are of you. Thank you for sharing that.
As we wrap up, who would you recommend The Speaker Lab to, and what would you say to someone who’s on the fence about joining?
Anyone who’s an aspiring speaker. I really don’t think you can do this the right way without guidance. The coaches at The Speaker Lab are top-notch. I’ve gained so many insights, so much encouragement, and real direction. Whether you’ve been speaking for years or have never given a talk before, you need this community.
Honestly, you learn as much from the community as you do from the program itself. The education, the resources, the tools – they’re all essential. I couldn’t have done it without you guys.
That’s so encouraging to hear. As the Community Manager, it means a lot to hear that the community aspect has been so valuable for you. We really do work hard to cultivate a space where people can share resources, wins, and encouragement.
And we hope you’ll take those relationships beyond the program. Stay connected, keep cheering each other on, and maybe even meet up out on the speaking trail someday.
I think I’ve made lifelong friends in the program.
Wow.
Yeah, truly lifelong friends.
That’s awesome! Have you had any Zoom calls outside the program with folks?
Yes, definitely. It’s been really fun.
Are those mostly accountability calls or more informal?
They’re super organic. Sometimes I’ll see someone’s bio and think, “Wow, this person is interesting.” I’ll comment on their posts, and we realize we have a lot in common, so we hop on a Zoom call. Other times, people reach out to me because they see where I’m at in the program and want advice or encouragement. I love that part—being able to help people and build genuine connections.
That must feel really good.
It does. I love helping people and want to see everyone be successful. It’s cool to build these kinds of networks and relationships.
Thank you for being so generous with your time and wisdom. I know you’re working hard on your own goals, so it means a lot that you’re also helping others along the way.
Thank you. I love it.
It’s been so great talking with you and finally “meeting” you, even if it’s just on Zoom. I see you all the time in the community, and this has been such a joy.
Same here!