Why TSL?
As a speaker and storytelling consultant, I help B2B SaaS sales teams, largely across North America, sell more through story. Ultimately, they want to ditch “feature selling” and build authentic trust with their prospects so they can win larger deals, in less time and without being compared to the competition. Storytelling is their key to doing exactly that!
When I came to The Speaker Lab, my business was focused around speaking, workshops and my flagship coaching program. The “engine” was running, but I knew I needed to tighten the nuts and bolts of what I was currently doing. Especially when it came to restructuring my message, repackaging my offers and systematizing my efforts. “In-person” events were also coming back into fashion so I wanted to hit the ground running as this trend continued to unfold!
Having stumbled upon Grant some time ago, I felt aligned with his approach, system and values, whilst knowing The Virtual VIP & Elite Program was exactly what I needed at this stage in my speaking career. These days, you don’t see many coaching programs offering 1:1 mentorship alongside their group coaching offers…so this was a huge factor in me making my decision to partner with TSL!
What were some A-ha’s and takeaways from your experience with TSL?
Well, I did the Virtual Cohort with Erick Rheam and I worked through the Elite program with Maryalice as my main coach.
Firstly – Erick is fantastic because he’s both a teacher and a practitioner. This hybrid is rare and because of that, I was able to learn through his successes and mistakes in real-time. As you’ll know, this can help anybody collapse time in their own business…fast! This level of proximity is priceless!
Secondly – Maryalice was incredible as my 1:1 coach! Chatting with her on a weekly basis gave me so much energy and propelled me forward with bulletproof confidence. Here’s the thing, finding a coach who’s tactical, truly listens and is asking you the right questions to guide you towards your highest outcome is rare..I found that person in Maryalice!
There were many golden nuggets for me throughout my time partnering with TSL, however, let me hit you with a learning that will serve me for life…
Your relationship with the person who hired you, company or event doesn’t end the moment you put down the mic.
Remember, your goal is to be unique, memorable and be seen as a world class speaker.
For example, try the below steps if you want to stand out from the masses;
- Craft a personalized attendee survey PRE & POST your speaking gig. Both surveys help you craft impactful content for the present moment and the future.
- Collate survey findings and schedule a “Wrap up call” with the person who hired you 7-14 days after the event.
- On this call, have a meaningful conversation about whether you met their expectations, what could have been done to improve the experience and whether they know of anybody who would benefit from your expertise.
These 3 simple steps could change the game for you!
Remember, there’s a difference between speaking and the business of speaking. In order to be a true professional you need to ensure your talk, presentation or workshop solves a BIG problem for your audience AND the decision maker who hired you!
What is your new normal as a professional speaker?
Well, I just finished up a speaking gig over in Vegas for a SaaS sales team at their annual sales kickoff! It was so much fun, the energy was insane and it feels incredible to be speaking in-person again given the pandemic.
When it comes down to virtual gigs, the production value of my keynotes and workshops have truly been 10x’d! One of the most valuable sessions inside of the Virtual VIP Cohort is with an amazing dude called Craigery who walks you through the exact equipment and steps you need to take to deliver a memorable experience for anybody that attends your virtual speaking gigs. 2020 was the year of the amateur as people were getting used to the remote first world that we now live in, however, in 2022…you need to bring the heat! The program covers everything from audio, microphones, cameras, lighting and more…everything you realistically need to create a rockstar virtual setup without breaking the bank!
I regularly have people asking me about my virtual setup and the exact tools I use to create this experience. The truth is, if you want to be a premium speaker, your personal brand, your marketing assets and how you show up (both online and offline) needs to be congruent with your pricing. Whether we like it or not, people are making a subconscious or conscious judgment about us within the first few seconds of meeting us!
If you’re awful with technology just like me – have no fear…I actually hired Craigery shortly after to give me some personalized coaching and it was the best money I’ve spent in a long time! Today, when I’m speaking with sales teams across the US & UK, they’re engaged because I’ve simply taken the time to show up as a professional when speaking virtually.
Who would you recommend to The Speaker Lab?
The beauty about The Speaker Lab’s program is regardless of where you’re at in your speaking career, you will get a ton of value out of it if you put in the work!
Whether you’re just starting out, a seasoned pro or simply looking to make adjustments to your business in a post-pandemic world, you will feel right at home!
Here’s the cool thing, in today’s market conditions it can be hard to answer questions like;
- How should I price a virtual gig?
- What info regarding COVID-19 should be in my contract to protect myself as a speaker?
The community, your peers and coaches are always a Voxxer message away from giving you the help you need!
In reality…
TSL might not be a fit for you right now and that’s totally cool!
But if you believe you have a message to share, a skillset that solves a BIG problem for the people you can truly help and simply need the mentorship and accountabiltiy to get you there…then this might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
The truth is, nobody knows the answer to this other than you!
It won’t be easy. It will take relentless action and moving forward even when things get tough…but damn is it worth it!
Good luck whatever decision you make.
I’ll see you on the other side!
Learn more about Ravi Rajani here.