Why TSL?
I help overworked and jaded professionals fall in love with their profession again. Since the dawn of COVID we’re seeing a lot of professionals feel burned out. Where do I come in? I speak to them about their wellness, about financial independence, and I try to get them out of that lackluster energetic hole.
I remember very clearly it was at the end of October of 2021, I was on my computer trying to figure out how to make a website. In addition to my job as an emergency room doctor and through word of mouth I was speaking to my community and sharing my knowledge on COVID, but I knew if I wanted to take speaking seriously and get booked and paid to speak I needed a professional website. So, I did what anyone would do and I Googled “How to make a professional speaker website.”
Lo and behold, guess who popped up… The Speaker Lab! To be honest, I was incredibly skeptical. I feared losing money by investing in the Virtual VIP program which I think many potential students can relate to. However, my fear of losing my dream of becoming a professional speaker far outweighed the fear of investing. I knew if I didn’t take this seriously I would never give it the chance it deserves.
What were some a-ha and takeaways?
I made the decision to go all-in on the Virtual VIP program and just like that Omicron hit in December of 2021. As an emergency doctor, I had to go back to the frontlines. I had no time personally and definitely no time for my speaking business.
Believe it or not, it allowed me to have a big a-ha moment. As I watched my fellow cohorts excelling I was celebrating them from afar. Watching them succeed I knew I too could do this. I knew when I had the time to give I would be successful too. I reached out to my mentor Erick Rheam in January of 2022 because I truly did not want to let him down. He is an incredible mentor but equally a great human. His support and encouragement really helped me put into perspective that one of the advantages of this program is everything is recorded, so I could watch the replays when needed and then reach out to Erick with any questions I may have. The flexibility to make it work when it works for you was priceless for me.
Another takeaway was Erick encouraged me to 1) go at my own pace and 2) never let it fall off my to-do list. Consistency is key! This looks different for us all. Some days that may mean you can give 5-minutes and another 5 hours toward your speaking business. Regardless of the amount, it must be an item on your to-do list. I can’t tell you how helpful that was for me, especially in this time of high stress and time commitment to my career as a doctor.
The way I was taught through The Speaker Lab how to network and send proper prospecting emails and the ability to use your templates on emails and contracts really helped give me the confidence to get myself out there as a professional speaker.
What is your new normal as a professional speaker?
My new normal is I was just in Switzerland speaking about three weeks ago. I was invited to an emergency medicine conference where I spoke about a combination of both my speaking passion and my career as well. And they invited me again to speak to their group of very burnt out doctors in October of 2022.
Also, my normal right now is prospecting on the daily as much as I can. It is always on my to-do list. I simply remove the pressure of the amount of time. I do it for however long I can and I call that a win. I now realize the importance of having a mindset of if I just take it slow and keep at it, regardless of how busy I am, it’s going to work and it will all fall into place.
I have a professional photo shoot coming up which is exciting. I will be speaking at Microsoft in a few weeks and I was invited to one of the top emergency medicine conferences in North America to speak. So, honestly my new normal is I am a professional speaker!
Who would you recommend for The Virtual VIP program with The Speaker Lab?
Anyone who has the slightest inkling that speaking might be for them. Whether it be to professionally shift or to enhance your current profession. For me, it wasn’t about switching careers it was more about complementing my current career. Which has helped make me a better person and doctor because I fulfilled a passion and dream of mine.
I highly recommend it to anyone Googling right now “how to make a speaker website?” you will save yourself a lot of time and a lot of effort all while building the speaking business of your dreams.
Finally, the money you will save is something you should consider. Had I not signed up when I did, I wouldn’t have spoken in Switzerland or speaking at Microsoft in a few weeks, I wouldn’t be clear on my topic, and I wouldn’t have the confidence I have as the professional speaker I am. In all honesty, I probably would still be stuck in the same place I was in October of 2021. I would be nowhere right now. I would still be Googling how to make a website.
I would encourage people to say yes to their passion and trust you’re in very good hands with Erick and the entire Speaker Lab team. If you don’t give your speaking dream your best shot, then is it really a passion you want to fulfill or simply a fleeting thought?