Inside the episode
Two words that changed everything
Elliot Kay was told he would never make it as a dancer. At 21, with long hair and big glasses, he auditioned anyway. He won a scholarship and danced professionally for years.
Those two words, watch me, have followed him ever since. Today he runs ProSpeakers, the team behind The Speaker Awards and the Speaker Summit.
What really stops people speaking
Lots of experts would love to speak on stage. What holds them back is rarely a lack of knowledge. It is fear, self-worth and not wanting to charge.
Elliot's tip is small but mighty. Public speaking is often unpaid. Calling yourself an expert or professional speaker tells bookers there is a budget for you.
Earn it, then charge for it
Elliot shares the story of a speaker who can charge half a million for one talk. His secret? He did 250 free gigs first and built his reputation one stage at a time.
You can set out as a paid speaker from day one, but you must be relevant. What you say has to solve a real problem for the people in the room.
Imperfect beats polished
Talks get cut short. Slides stop working. Your slot gets doubled at the last minute. The speakers who shine are not the perfect ones, they are the ones who can adapt.
Build a bank of stories you know inside out. Then you can think on your feet and still land your message, whatever the room throws at you.
