I've had the best job in the world for over 10 years now - where I have the privilege of speaking on stages and in training rooms to groups of leaders around the world about how to increase their influence, focus strategically, and make a positive impact at work and in life.

When I stepped out on my own in 2010 to start my business, I had a little bit of experience, a healthy dose of confidence, and a whole lot of hope that I could build the relationships, and create impactful presentations that would result in a successful speaking business.

But like a lot of things in my life where I tend to jump off the cliff first, and then think about my parachute later, I wasn't fully prepared for what it would take to find my lane, to determine how to set my speaking fees, or how to become a recognized expert.

So, queue admission into the school of hard knocks, where I've gained quite an education along the way, and as a result, have ultimately managed to build a business and life that I truly love.

Last year, my friend Dr. Daniel Crosby - who is a great public speaker himself, and was a also my guest on episode 14 of the Impact Makers Podcast, where he talked about understanding human behavior to do well, do good and do you - asked if I would join him on his Standard Deviations podcast to talk about what it takes to create great presentations -- and if you're into that kind of thing, how to actually get paid to speak, which is one of the most frequently asked questions we both receive.

Over a year later, the content of our conversation is still accurate and timely, and I continue to hear from people in Dr. Crosby's audience who have found it helpful. So I asked him if I could share it with you today, and if you're interested in crafting great presentations, and/or getting paid to speak, I think you'll find it helpful.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

My path from HR executive to professional speaker, and why I felt like I needed at least 20 years of work experience before starting.
How giving away 10% of my time to help others helped me to get started as a speaker, and discover the work that I truly loved.
My personal recipe for crafting a great presentation.
What comedians and preachers can teach us about giving great presentations.
What adult learning theory tells us about what makes for a good speech.
Strategies for determining your speaking fee, what can happen if your price is too low, and how to get paid more.
Three books that I recommend for speakers to help with picking a lane, determining your pricing strategy, and building a memorable brand.
What Dr. Crosby did that 10x'd his speaking revenue.
3 concrete steps to take to build a profitable speaking business.

People & Resources Mentioned In This episode:

FREE RESOURCE: 10 Tips To BUILD YOUR BRAND and LAND Gigs as a Speaker!

Dr. Daniel Crosby LinkedIn

Dr. Daniel Crosby Twitter

Standard Deviations Podcast

Impact Makers Podcast Episode 014: Understanding Human Behavior to Do Well, Do Good and Do You with Dr. Daniel Crosby

Standard Deviations Podcast Episode 14: Jennifer McClure - On Becoming a Public Speaker

Centennial, Inc.

Mike Sipple, Sr.

Michelle Cushatt

Million Dollar Speaking: The Professional's Guide to Building Your Platform by Alan Weiss

Million Dollar Consulting: The Professional's Guide to Growing a Practice by Alan Weiss

Ryan Estis

Jane Atkinson

The Wealthy Speaker 2.0: The Proven Formula for Building Your Successful Speaking Business by Jane Atkinson

Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt

Laurie Ruettimann

Jon Acuff

Toastmasters International

Connect with Jennifer:

Send her a message: https://jennifermcclure.net/contact

On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcclure

On Twitter https://twitter.com/JenniferMcClure

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_mcclure/

On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcClureSpeaker

***

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.