Technically Speaking

For as long as SpeakerFlow's existed, one of the most common questions we've heard from clients and connections alike is a simple one: "What's working for other people?"

In other words, "Which business systems are other thought leaders using to produce consistent, reliable results?"

So, without further ado, this episode is all about the best of the best: the systems we see used most frequently, the sys...

When you hear the word "accountability," if you're like most people, you probably think of something similar to "responsibility."

You might think of your job description, the projects you accomplish as part of that job, and the tasks that make up your day-to-day working routine.

In reality, though, "accountability" is all about your core values and acting in a way that not only produces results in line...

Running a business is no picnic – On that much, we can all agree – but it's even harder when you're drowning in the day-to-day operations.

Put simply, no entrepreneur wants to run a business that sucks. They want one that's well organized, speed-optimized, and creates the lifestyle they've always wanted.

With this in mind, this episode is all about removing the parts of running your business that fall ...

Every business owner wants to know, with certainty, that they're offering something valuable, something their clients will definitely want.

But how do you find that "something"? How do you take as much uncertainty out of innovation as you can?

Here is discuss that with us is the pioneer of Jobs-To-Be-Done Theory, the inventor of the Outcome-Driven Innovation (ODI) process, and the founder and CEO of St...

We've covered Search Engine Optimization (or SEO) on this podcast a fair number of times, but we've rarely gotten into the details.

In this episode, we're changing that and diving right into the podcast equivalent of the beginner's guide to SEO for thought leaders.

Joining us is Brandon Leibowitz from SEO Optimizers, "a digital marketing company that focuses on helping small and medium-sized businesses...

There are a handful of things that automatically give you an air of credibility as a thought leader, one of them being the title of "author."

However, for many speakers, coaches, and consultants, writing and launching a book can seem like a massive hurdle.

We're joined by writer, editor, and the president of Leverage2Market Associates, Linda Popky, to explain why this doesn't have to be the case.

The...

It's a fairly well-known fact among professional speakers that corporate speaking gigs tend to be the most lucrative.

But they also tend to be the most competitive – So how do you branch into corporate speaking if you're currently building a speaking business in another niche?

Here to share his experience is speaker, coach, and the author of "Leading Imperfectly," James Robilotta.

Although he started...

As in any industry, the vast majority of businesses in the speaking industry are looking for the answer to the big question: "How do I make more money?"

Depending on who you ask, you can get a wide range of answers, but the core to all of them remains the same. Put simply, you have to differentiate yourself.

Joining us in this episode is someone who's seen this firsthand through his work in the speakin...

We don't have to tell you that running a modern thought leadership business demands a website.

But what you may not know is just how much work your website can take off your plate, starting with the forms on it.

From collecting contact information to storing that in your customer relationship management system to automating communication with those contacts, your website forms can be the starting point...

Closing a sale is often presented as a logical set of actions. You say these things in this order, you carry yourself in this way, and people will be persuaded to buy from or hire you.

In reality, though, closing a sale starts with emotional decisions, answering questions like "How do I feel interacting with this person?" and "Could I see myself following the same path as their previous clients or custom...

The thought of a million-dollar business is an enticing one, but, as you likely know already, building a business comes with its share of challenges.

To create a business of this caliber, you don't just have to master the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. You also have to get comfortable "in the weeds" and become an expert on the ways in which your business runs.

Here to break down this process is spea...

Booking your own keynotes as a professional speaker is all well and good, but what's even better is trusting someone else to handle the sales process for you. That's where speaker agents come in.

Joining us to talk all things speaking is the founder and president of See Agency, Christa Haberstock.

With more than 25 years of experience selling for speakers, Christa knows firsthand what it takes to not o...

In recent years, especially, keynote speaking has exploded. After all, what could be more glamorous than jet-setting around the world, getting paid and recognized for your expertise?

To answer that question, we're joined by motivational keynote speaker and charity adventurer Josh Stinton.

Josh is known, first and foremost, for his extensive "challenges" for children's charities including a bicycle trip...

As a consumer, fending off salespeople can be exhausting, but, on the flip side, most business owners don't love the act of selling either. It can feel "grimy," like you're chasing after potential clients to take their money.

According to sales and marketing expert David Newman, this typically happens when business owners don't give anything away until after people become clients., but it doesn't have to...

We've talked a LOT about business systems on this podcast, but for many thought leaders, the challenge remains: how to get past the fear and overwhelm of restructuring the tech and processes that make your business run.

This is especially true if you're starting from ground zero or if you have a lot of old systems to clean up first.

One thought leader that knows this journey firsthand is speaker, sales...

Building a sales process is a mammoth task to tackle, so in this episode, we're focusing on the inside scoop of sales for experts who speak professionally.

Joining us is speaker, author, and the creator of the Speaker Intel Engine Sam Richter.

A member of the National Speaker Hall of Fame, Sam is considered one of the world's foremost sales intelligence experts and was named one of the Top 50 Sales Key...

Thought leadership, as an industry, in an undeniably glamorous one, and what better way to showcase your business than killer photos?

With the right photographer, your action and headshots can elevate your perception and make you stand out from the crowd. Plus, they're great to have on hand for social posts or media kits.

That said, for aspiring or new thought leaders, a professional photographer isn't...

Perhaps the biggest goal among professional speakers is to build a referral engine. When this happens, past and existing clients consistently refer new leads to you, making the booking process like shooting fish in a barrel.

Unfortunately, many speakers aren't yet in this position. You may not be there yourself, and that's totally fine!

To help you get there, we're joined by author, speaker, coach, and...

For many thought leaders, the transition to owning their own business doesn't happen overnight. It's a slower process where working as an expert is more like freelancing, at least until that work can support a full-time salary.

So how do you speed this process up? How do you make the jump from part-time to full-time thought leadership?

Answering this is marketing expert, business coach, agency owner, a...