I’ve been hearing your name since you started the program. People were like, “Keep an eye on her.” And now we’re here for your testimonial interview! From the concierge to the coaches, everyone’s been saying, “You gotta talk to Melanie.” I can already see why. So let’s jump into your story.
Who do you speak to, and what do you speak about?
My expert positioning statement, which I have on my website now, is: I dare driven professionals into their massive untapped potential. It’s really about reaching people who are already high-achieving but know there’s more for them. I tend to work with people in corporate and association spaces – folks who are inspired when they see others being intense, driven, ambitious, and lit up about their growth.
I love that you use the word “dare.” It’s such a bold, activating verb. So what led you to seek out The Speaker Lab? What were you looking for when you signed up?
I’ve actually been speaking for a long time. The first time I got hired as a speaker was back in 2009. I’m a professional skydiver and now a keynote speaker and life coach. I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, but I never really understood that speaking could be a real career. I didn’t get that it was a billion-dollar industry where you could actually make speaking your main thing.
For a long time, I had “coach, speaker” on my website, and over the last five or six years, I started leaning into the speaking side more, but I was blocked. I had some real resistance. Even though I did podcasts and speaking gigs, I didn’t enjoy content creation. I decided to work with Kindra Hall for a full year on storytelling because I absolutely loathed the content creation piece and knew I needed help getting out of my own way. She is a very successful keynote speaker herself, is someone I hugely respect and helped me so much even though I still was hugely resistant every time I sat down at my laptop to write.
Then I had this moment in a café. I was editing a keynote draft and it hit me, Enough. My intuition was crystal clear that I needed to pursue speaking seriously. Right then, in my own head, I said to myself, “There’s no way you’re NOT doing this, so we’re done with the resistance. You’re going to get really good at this, if you still hate it then you can decide to do something else.” Haha, ever since that moment, I have been freed from that resistance and in much more intentional action.
After that I found The Speaker Lab, my intuition fired again that it was the exact right next step for me to get help building the actual business side of speaking. It’s a big price tag and I didn’t even hesitate. I do think people need to be ready to take on the bigness of the TSL program, be ready to work hard and bring their grit because it is a lot of work. But it also clearly works if you do the work. I got booked within weeks of starting the program and as of today I’m just shy of already fully paying off the program and know so much more is coming my way too. I truly couldn’t be more grateful I found The Speaker Lab when I did.
The entrepreneur journey is never a straight line, right?
Exactly.
Did you have any fears or hesitations when you joined The Speaker Lab? Or were you already unblocked and just ready to go?
Good question. There’s always that little voice asking, “What if it doesn’t work?” But I’m a pretty spiritual person, and I could feel that something had shifted. I was in a different mindset, and fully committed to the work.
Impact is baked into everything I do. It’s a given. So for me, it was all about focusing on the business – building systems, having a CRM, doing the work The Speaker Lab coaches guide us through. Sure, I still feel anxiety before gigs because I want to perform well and not look foolish. But I’m not questioning my ability. I know I can do this. It’s just about time and execution.
That confidence is so inspiring. What were some of your key takeaways from the SPEAK Framework?
Honestly, even just Module 1 helped me get really clear. I’ve spent a lot of my career talking about myself – through skydiving, coaching, and entrepreneurship – so I thought I already knew my message. But going through the process helped me get precise about who I want to serve.
It pushed me to shift my social media messaging and start asking: What does a $25,000 keynote speaker talk about online? What does she say to her ideal audience? That clarity has been amazing. And as someone who’s run businesses for 20 years, it genuinely feels like launching a brand-new one, and I find that really exciting.
And you mentioned the CRM earlier…that was a new thing for you too?
Yeah. I’ve had a business my whole adult life, and I never had a CRM! Total comedy. I always worked very organically and was actually resistant to tech like that. I think it was partly because my energy and attention were being used elsewhere.
But once I got unblocked, I was all in. If that’s what it takes to build this speaking business, then let’s go. And The SPEAK Framework helped me reconnect to my dream – having a home with a big beautiful porch for my family. That image drives me. I want to sit on that porch and make memories with the people I love.
Yes! I remember you mentioning the porch in Circle. I love that.
It’s such a motivator. We have a home now, but I’m looking forward to having more space and that peaceful outdoor experience.
I love a porch, I totally get it. Okay, shifting gears a little—you mentioned you had a gig in Brooklyn last night and also brought up the $25,000 keynote. I’m ready to hear about your results!
Yes! So that $20,000–$25,000 level is my absolute goal. That’s what I’m targeting consistently. I also know that industries like finance and certain corporate gigs pay even more – $40,000 and up – which is a long-term dream for me. But right now, I’m focused on building momentum at that $20–25K tier.
So far, I’ve been getting booked at $5,000, and I’ve been hustling – lots of leads and a full pipeline. It’s still early, but I can feel the trajectory. If you’re willing to play the long game, there’s nothing you can’t do. I haven’t landed a $25K keynote yet, but I’ve pitched them, and I know they’re coming.
Is there a standout gig you’ve landed since joining The Speaker Lab that you could share?
Yeah! A good example is a gig I had booked with the Junior League, which is a women’s leadership organization. I had already lined that up before I joined The Speaker Lab, but the coaching helped me be way more mindful about getting gigs from gigs.
I started thinking, “Okay, this organization hired me, they enjoyed it, I got rave reviews… So what other Junior Leagues could I reach out to?” That gave me a way to line up more reasonable four-figure paydays and get the reps I needed to really sharpen my skills and confidence, so when those five-figure opportunities come, I’ll be more than ready to deliver.
A lot of people say that they used to just do the gig and say, “Thanks for having me!” But now they know how to nurture the relationship and get more value out of it. It feels empowering to approach even just one gig with a different mindset.
Yeah, definitely.
So, what’s your new normal looking like these days? How has your life changed in how you approach your business?
My new normal – hashtag “Church of Erick Rheam” – I’m a total convert to the power hour. I’m highly committed to spending focused time every day, usually Monday through Friday. I allow myself flexibility because I thrive when I have that, but I follow through consistently.
That daily commitment to prospecting, sending outreach, managing tasks, and really working the CRM has been the biggest shift in how I operate. I also got a CRM system that integrates with the rest of my business – not just speaking, but everything I offer. So I’ve been cleaning everything up and streamlining my operations.
I love that. Building the new speaking business on top of your existing business. What are the other things you sell, just out of curiosity?
Yeah, so I’m a coach and an author. I’ve written books, so I sell those. I’ve also done online classes. Now that I’m more clear on my messaging, daring to access your untapped potential, I’m thinking through what framework I teach and what people actually learn from me.
I’m definitely percolating on a new online course. I love the idea of automating it more, so it’s appealing as a passive income stream. The ones I did before, back in the Instant Teleseminar days, they’re probably comically terrible now, but they’re still out there. Some people still buy them, and I hope they get value. It’s a way for folks to access my energy and work affordably. So coaching, books, online classes… and now speaking, added to the mix.
A lot of our students do that – integrate speaking into an existing business. It’s cool to see how it all fits together.
Absolutely.
Who would you recommend The Speaker Lab to and why?
I’d recommend it to people who are actually ready to do the thing. Like, for real. I’m serious – it’s not for the faint of heart. If someone’s hoping it’ll just kind of work by itself, they might get overwhelmed.
You have to be ready to do the hard thing and follow through over the full time period. Use the coaching – don’t just sign up and hope it’s good. It’s for people who are ready to put in real effort, not just sit back and wait for magic.
Yeah, I appreciate that, and I totally agree. Sometimes people come in, see all the lessons and calls, and go, “Oh, I thought this was just going to fix everything.”
Exactly. You’ve got to dig in and do it.
Right. There are a ton of tools, but you’re the one who has to put them into practice.
100%.
Is there anything else you want to share as you reflect on your Speaker Lab experience?
Yeah, for sure. I tell a lot of people! I’m raising the roof for The Speaker Lab, honestly.
I’m kind of an intense person if you can’t tell, and before I ever paid for anything, I probably listened to 50 or 60 hours of the podcast. I got immense value from it. Even now that I’m in the program, I still listen all the time. The podcast is super valuable, and I highly recommend that.
I also did the bootcamp, which was excellent, and that’s what helped me decide: “Okay, I’m ready for this.” So, between the podcast, the bootcamp, and the coaching, it all lined up.
And the coaching? It’s the perfect coaching for me right now. I needed help with the business side – building a professional speaking business, focusing on the financial elements, systems, processes. A lot of people who are doing mission-driven or impact work feel like they shouldn’t talk about money.
But the reality is: the world is better when I have money. Because I’m a good person doing good things. So I want to encourage people to get rid of the shame and be open to talking about the financial and business elements too.
That’s awesome, and I’m going to carry that sentence with me.
“The world is better when I have money.” It’s like my new affirmation. It’s true!
That’s awesome, Melanie. I could talk to you all day and ask a hundred more questions, but we’ll have to have you back on again in a year!
When things have taken off even more. Thank you so much, Emily. It was great to meet you officially.