"If you can get one paid gig, you can build an empire off that."

Welcome back to The Speaker Lab Podcast! In this episode, Dan Irvin (the newly minted TSL CEO and new host of the TSL podcast!) sits down with Erick Rheam — The Speaker Lab's own resident speaker and lead coach — to unpack one of the most remarkable client stories we've ever told: how Erick turned a single speaking relationship into a three-year, $900,000 contract.

But here's the thing — the $900,000 didn't come from being the best speaker in the room. It came from being the most intentional. Erick breaks down a 12-year journey that started with a chance conversation at a vendor booth, a coaching nudge to lean into his niche, and a decision to consistently deliver more value than any client expected. His story is a masterclass in how speakers who think like business owners — not performers — build something that lasts.

Whether you just landed your first $1,000 gig or you're wondering how to turn a great client relationship into something bigger, this episode is packed with practical wisdom you can use right now.

You'll learn:

• How Erick stumbled into speaking from the utility industry — and why that "detour" made him millions
• Why leaning into your existing niche (instead of running from it) is one of the fastest paths to credibility
• The counterintuitive reason Erick gave away content rights early on — and how it paid off over a decade later
• How to build talks your audience actually wants by listening first and pitching second
• The role Speaker Lab coaching played as a critical inflection point in Erick's career
• How a simple exit interview after every gig opened the door to consulting, workshops, and eventually that $900K contract
• Why $900,000 had much less to do with what Erick did on stage — and everything to do with what he did around it
• The four things Erick would tell his younger self: niche, audience problem, system, and coaching
• How Erick closed $68,000 in gigs in a single week — prospecting just one hour a day
• What to focus on when you land your first $1K–$5K gig so you don't miss the opportunity right in front of you
• And much, much more!

"I think I'm an average speaker at best, maybe above average. I do alright. However, I'm organized, and I follow a system. And the system is not that hard. It's duplicatable. It's scalable."

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"So you can speak to it from a very professional level of here's what I'm seeing right now, grassroots, I'm in it, I'm doing the thing. And that's what makes this transition of you taking over and leading TSL really, really exciting. Because again, you're on the front lines, you're doing the thing."

WE'RE BACK.

Welcome to a very special episode of The Speaker Lab podcast! Today, Grant Baldwin is here to share a massive update about the future of TSL and talk about the future of the speaking industry.

After more than a decade building The Speaker Lab into one of the most trusted resources for aspiring professional speakers, Grant is passing the baton — and today, he's here to talk about it with the person taking the reins: Dan Irvin.

Dan isn't new to the TSL world. He's been with the company for over five years, has hosted hundreds of webinars, and personally enrolled nearly 500 students into the program. But more than that, he's a full time professional speaker himself (who is right now in a stretch of doing ten paid gigs in ten weeks!). He knows this world from the inside out, both as a coach and as someone actively speaking to dozens of audiences every year.

But what's important isn't just the future of TSL — it's also the future of the speaking industry as a whole. Dan and Grant believe that right now is an incredible opportunity for paid speakers, and they're here to tell you why — and how you can take advantage.

In this conversation, Grant and Dan get candid about the transition, reflect on what's made The Speaker Lab work, and tackle the question many speakers are asking right now: what does AI actually mean for this industry?

You’ll learn:

• Why Grant Baldwin is passing the reins of The Speaker Lab after 10+ years — and who's taking over
• How Dan Irvin went from corporate COO to full-time speaker
• Why Dan believes speaking is AI-proof — and the 3 reasons human speakers can't be replaced
• How AI is changing the speaking business (efficiency tools, not stage replacement)
• Why information alone won't grow your speaking career — and what actually will
• How to design your speaking business around your own life and goals
• A sneak peek at a $900,000 speaking partnership story coming in the next episode
• And much, much more!

"The Speaker Lab honestly changed my life. It changed my family's life. We want to continue to be that impact for other individuals and other families. And we know that when we really serve speakers well, they can go out and have a massive impact on audiences all over the place."

Episode Resources

• Calculate Your Speaking Fee (And Join The Email List)
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Sometimes in today’s society, there’s a pressure to do entrepreneurship the right way. Others have the Instagram businesses that everybody makes look good, but I think everyone has their own particular situation and scenarios.”

Welcome to another episode of The Speaker Lab Podcast! In this episode, host Grant Baldwin welcomes speaker and author Velera Wilson, a remarkable leader who candidly shares her journey from corporate executive to building a thriving full-time speaking business.

Velera opens up about the pivotal moments that led her to pursue her passion, from years of speaking in executive roles and nonprofit associations, to leaping into an unexpected corporate layoff. She discusses the behind-the-scenes reality: building her “off ramp” while juggling executive responsibilities, the importance of being selective with dream-sharing, and developing the grit to keep moving forward despite doubts and dry spells.

Through her story, Velera reveals practical strategies for anyone considering a similar path: how to parlay your existing skills and network into new opportunities, why having a book is helpful but not essential to get booked, and the necessity of treating speaking like a business. She also emphasizes the need for community, highlighting the crucial role The Speaker Lab played in providing mentorship, camaraderie, and real-world advice about the unpredictable cycles of this industry.

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or just contemplating your first paid gig, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom on marketing yourself, managing your mindset, and designing a transition that fits your life and goals!

You’ll learn:

• Managing hesitation from financial insecurity
• Analyzing the value of writing a book versus focusing on speaking gigs
• Financial considerations of books versus paid speaking engagements
• How books are “nice to have” for credibility, but not a “must-have”
• Business development tactics: LinkedIn and email outreach
• The importance of daily effort versus waiting passively
• Being intentional with “chunking” time to balance demands
• Building a strategic off-ramp versus jumping into entrepreneurship
• And much, much more!

“I work for a company, but I am my own brand. I’m an individual…I take that with me [when I leave].”

Episode Resources

• Velera’s Website
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.