Well, think before you leap and quit your job to become a motivational speaker. And I do mean think.

Although I didn’t have kids when I started, I still had to pay my bills and eat. I couldn’t quit my job cold turkey not knowing when and where the next paycheck would come from. You can call me coward or chicken if you want. But you are not going to call me stupid.

I never forgot this lady with a beaming smile on her face. She came to announce to me that she quit her job to pursue her speaking. I mean… She was so excited. She felt like it was the best decision (more…)

Please Understand Me

I do want you to arrive at your events in style when you are speaking in town. After all, you have to reflect the success you talk about. But starting out, you should resist living beyond your means.

Listen, if you stay with it, you are bound to make a lot of money. It’s insane how much money we get paid for a one-hour keynote. (more…)

Rethink Your Current Lifestyle Before You Jump.

If you are going to launch your speaking career or you want to start any business, now is NOT the time to buy that big house. You shouldn’t go for the fancy car, or the toys either.

Now, I’m not really telling you what to do. It’s your life. It’s your money. Do as you please. (more…)

Living Beyond Your Means

If I ruffle some feathers here, it’s not by accident. I intend to. But don’t worry. I’ll be gentle.

First, let me tell you this. So many people have a twisted notion of starting a business.

I have had this conversation many times with entrepreneurs while coaching or consulting with them. I’m sure you have heard the statistic that 9 out of 10 businesses fail within the first year. Haven’t you? (more…)

Stories Are More Important Than Facts

You instantly connect with your audience the moment you engage them in a story.

Having multiple stories and vignettes throughout your speech is like subtly putting your audience in and out of hypnotic trances. (more…)

You Gotta Tell Your Story

You probably, at one point or another, say to yourself you don’t have a story to tell. This is a very common concern for beginning speakers. And it’s even more so for those that are born in the US.

Listen, if you think you can connect with your audiences without a story, think again. Stories are what bond us to our audiences. They are what give us leverage to last in the business. And that goes for any business. (more…)

Think Business Instead of Speaking Gigs.

I’ve heard this one over and over. Yet, for whatever reason, my mind got stuck on standing ovations, accolades, the check, and more gigs. I completely overlooked the fact that speaking is not a business in and of itself.

It’s a means to an end. It’s a pillar of your business.

If you go out to give a speech then come home and wait for the next one, you are in for a rude awakening. You gotta keep turning your marketing wheel to get your business going. (more…)

I often resist talking about money when it comes to speaking. I just don’t want to send the wrong signal. You see, if money is the only motivation that brings us to speaking, we are doomed to fail.

There’s no doubt that there is a lot of money to be made. I’m making a of of money as a motivational speaker. But my primary motive is to make an impact. (more…)

How to become a motivational speaker. Please do NOT set your speaking fees too low. I know it’s tempting… But don’t.

“How much should I charge when starting out?” That’s the question I get a lot. I will not attempt to answer it in details here. It’s a bit too complex. And it depends on your level of credibility as well as your qualifications.

But I can assure you most emerging speakers always inadvertently set their fees too low. The main reason is because they lack of self-confidence.

Here’s a hint about fees: (more…)

Learn From Those Who Are Living Your Dream.

Alright, we talked about not taking advice from people who are out of touch with reality. But you should also avoid taking advice from people who are not in the trenches.

Simply put, seek out advice from people who are living your dreams versus those who still dreaming and trying to sell that dream. (more…)