How do I niche down and figure out my area of expertise, make it specific and still resonate but not abandon the wealth of knowledge and experience I can bring to the table? How do I make hard decisions in my business?

These are some of the questions I hear most often. It's a constant battle most budding entrepreneurs are grappling with often early on in their business and even my students inside my program, Speak Up to Level Up, struggle with this too.

Today's theme that will become our mantra is this phrase: 

It's for now, not forever. 

We have this deep feeling that we're meant to do something bigger — a realization of how gifted and incredibly skilled we are and that we could help other people. 

But there comes a point where we doubt ourselves, get a little dramatic at times and think everything is important and feel permanent leaving us second guessing all our decisions. 

Chances are it’s likely you’ve felt this before. 

But what if we...

Confidence. It’s the word that I hear most when people tell me their goals related to speaking. People often consider it a feeling that you either have or must fake it until you magically do. How is it that we can be so confident in some areas, but insecure in others?

Today I’m sharing with you where confidence comes from and how you can consistently grow it for yourself. So if you’re struggling with confidence because you're venturing into something new or struggling with self doubt, this message today is for you. 

LISTEN to the full AUDIO of this episode:

Subscribe to Heather’s YouTube Channel here.

Links mentioned:

The original video Heather linked to no longer exists, but check out this version: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=581039669500146

Previous episode mentioned:

3 Ways to Monetize Free Speaking Gigs (without selling from the stage) - Ep #116

FULL TRANSCRIPT BELOW

Well, hey friend, welcome back to another episode. I am...

Hooray! You’ve booked yourself on a podcast, virtual summit or other speaking event! Most likely you’re not collecting a fee for this work, instead hoping the visibility will pay off on the back end.

Today, I’m sharing three specific ways you can monetize (aka get paid) from that free speaking gig without feeling like a slimy sales schmuck.

Inside this episode you’ll learn:

• Getting more visible doesn’t necessarily equate with growing your audience
• Being an INTENTIONAL entrepreneur 
• Three specific things on how you can monetize your free speaking (without selling from the stage) plus quick tips you can adopt for your business.

Episode Highlights

Getting more visible doesn’t necessarily equate with growing your audience

We know theoretically that the more we get visible, the more we get eyes on our business and with this whole case around us we kind of operate with this belief that if we get on stages, be guests on podcasts, if...

It is often said that practice is the key to attaining high levels of skills in any discipline. And while true, if spend all your time practicing without ever actually putting the skill into real situations— you won’t grow. This is particularly important when it comes to your voice. 

So today, I’m sharing with you exactly how to get results from practicing your speaking skills. 

Inside this episode you’ll learn:

• Why practicing on your own isn’t going to cut it
• The big challenge that happens when you’re practicing in a vacuum
• What are the benefits of starting to speaking now even before you’re ready
• How does one get better
• Building the resiliency in your speaking ‘muscle’ and trusting your own voice

Episode Highlights

Practice alone does not make perfect

It is often said that practice is the key to attaining high levels of skills in any discipline. We hear people say that the secret is you just need to practice...

A lot of times as we're growing in our businesses or in our careers, we have a tendency to shy Have you ever felt uncomfortable calling yourself an “expert”? On one hand, you have incredible experience and knowledge with your topic, but on the other, it feels there are so many more people who are qualified. Leaving you with the question, who am I to… 

...speak on that stage. 

… Post that video. 

… Create that program.

… call myself an expert.

It’s likely you’ve felt this before. You know that you have a great deal of expertise and know that your experience is valuable that it can help and teach others, BUT you still second guess yourself at almost every turn. 

So the question is, do true “experts” feel this way? Is it possible to own your authority AND feel like you’re not qualified enough?

We dive into this today in a real, unscripted conversation where I share my perspective on why calling...

Your style is something that makes you unique. A big part of this is how you show up, what you're wearing and how you're styled. They all come together and create a story. That’s why I brought in this week's guest, Trish Taylor, a stylist and a brand embodiment coach who helps online entrepreneurs grow their brand and confidence and show up authentically.

We talk about practical styling tips and how your style can help bring your brand to life in photos and video. We also take a little woo woo turn and talk about how to move past mental blocks when it comes to being seen using tools like meditation and journaling and even EFT tapping.

Not into the woo? No sweat, we approach this in a way that will fuel your soul to help you confidently show up for your brand, whether you're nervous getting on video or terrified of putting yourself out there on podcasts. So if you've ever struggled with that a bit, this episode is definitely for you. 

Episode Highlights

• How Trish...

As we think about entering this next quarter with the end of the year coming into view, it might feel tempting to coast for the next few months. Today is a reminder that you have big goals and NOW is the time to make them happen.

Today's guest, business coach Katie Wussow will help you create a strategic plan for the fourth quarter and will share some mistakes people make when it comes to the planning process, specifically goal setting and how you could avoid them (hint: if you’re a dreamer who loves coming up with the ideas, but falls short on following through with the actual steps to make it happen, pay close attention). This conversation is a must-listen if you want to level up your approach in your business and to create more flexibility and freedom to do the things you want.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• If your current plan is actually a plan or a glorified “to-do” list
• How to set a strategic priority for the quarter (and why it will be a...

So you’d like to start charging (or charge more) for speaking gigs, but aren’t feeling confident with how to approach this with potential clients.

Today I’ll walk you through the main factors to consider when choosing your speaking fees plus tips for confidently presenting on speaking inquiry calls.

Inside this episode (or check out the full transcript below), you’ll learn:

• Whether or not to charge for speaking
• Factors that influence your speaking fee
• How to confidently choose a rate you’re excited about
• Tips to navigating an effective speaking inquiry call 
• What to do when they say no to your rate

Episode Highlights

How much should I charge? 

This is one of the most common questions I get. The truth is that there is no rule around it and obviously there are many value factors you have to consider for choosing your fee. 

A good rule of thumb for appropriate pricing

 Dorie Clark, author and pro speaker has written a...

Are masterminds all hype or all help? Are they really that transformational? What’s the difference between a coaching program and a mastermind? Why do they cost so dang much??

These questions and more will be discussed in this episode featuring my guest, Jen Argue, CEO and head mastermind facilitator. Find out exactly what a mastermind is, what it’s not and decide if this kind of community just might be what you’re missing in your business.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• What is a mastermind and the difference does it make?
• Do you actually need a mastermind for your type of business?
• When's the right time to invest in a mastermind and where should you start?
• What you should be looking for if you're going to invest your time and money for a mastermind?
• What’s the difference between a free and paid mastermind?
• How do you get the most value in a peer mastermind?  

LISTEN to the full AUDIO of this episode:

Subscribe to ...

How do I find opportunities to speak? How do I get noticed and chosen to be a guest on the right podcasts and events?

These are some of the questions I hear most often, entrepreneurs who understand that guest speaking on other people’s platforms is one of the best ways to quickly grow an engaged audience.

But the question is, is it really about finding MORE opportunities?

Sometimes yes, but what I find is that many business owners grossly underutilize the opportunities they already have, missing out on previous connections (and results).

Maybe you’re here because you’ve been doing the work to put yourself out there.

You’ve identified a topic or two that you’re pitching to podcast hosts. You’ve most likely already taught a workshop or webinar, you’ve pushed past the fear or speaking in front of groups (mostly) because you’ve accepted that getting visible and putting yourself out there is part of growing your online business.

You are...