Foreword

Much has changed in the world of speaking since the first edition of Speak for a Living was released. Social media has become essential for business, online training programs like webinars are commonplace, and YouTube training videos are a must-have on your website. What hasn’t changed, though, is that professional speaking is a tough and competitive business. Sure, the folks onstage make it look easy, but the truth of the matter is they do hours of research, travel, self-marketing, and refining their presentations before you even sit in the audience.

We’ve been in this business long enough to know it’s both mentally and physically hard work. But having a passion for what you do makes the hard work worth it.

What also hasn’t changed in this book’s second edition is the wisdom between its covers. Anne Bruce has joined forces with the unflappable Sardék Love to bring you even more truths about building a career as a professional speaker. You still need to know what drives you to become a speaker, and you still need an excellent support system to back you up at home. And of course, you still need to make money doing it.

What’s new is how you do it. This is a profession of “here today, gone tomorrow,” so staying power is a must if you want to grow a scalable business and be a long-lasting success. How do you keep your message fresh, front, and center, and how do you deliver it? Why must you establish a social media presence? And most important, why can’t you just speak for a living? All these questions—and even those you didn’t know you needed to ask—are answered in this book.

Anne and Sardék share their personal victories—and their downfalls—in this no-holds-barred guide. They’ve interviewed other speakers who share the same so you don’t have to repeat their mistakes. The common denominator for speakers today is that they’re not just speakers—they’re so much more. They’re trainers. They’re coaches. They’re authors of blogs, books, seminars, and e-books. They host webinars, workshops, prestigious retreats, and podcasts. Pros in this business all hustle in one way or another to sell themselves and keep their messages relevant. They depend on repeats and referrals to make a living doing what they love. And following the guidance in this book, you can too.

Anne and Sardék have distilled their knowledge of more than 35 years’ combined experience as professional speakers to give you the tools, tips, and advice you need. Learn from them, do the assessment, use the tools, and heed the wisdom they share so you can avoid making rookie mistakes as you begin your own speaking career. It will mean the difference between doing a job or working to create a career you love and will be passionate about for a very long time.

—Betty Garrett
President and CEO, Garrett Speakers International

—Michele Lucia
Owner, ADL Speaker Management LLC