You Don't Need 15 Signature Talks
"Jon, here are my talk topics."
I watched the list cascade down the page. Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen topics!
"Whoa, Jeff, are you saying you have a talk already developed for each of these topics?"
"Well, yeah, kinda. Sure."
Not the most convincing response.
After working with close to 1,000 speakers one-on-one over the past seven years, I can assure you this isn't an isolated incident.
Far too many coaches, consultants, and advisors try to jam-pack as many topics as possible into their speaker promo materials.
At one point, I was the senior copywriter working with speakers in a two-day workshop setting.
Attendees would bring their current speaker materials (slide decks, speaker bio, talk topics, headshots, etc.) and it was my job to 'inventory' the materials.
That's where this conversation kept repeating with hundreds and hundreds of speakers.
It's also where I discovered you only need three Signature Talks, at most.
(Side note: You also don't have to create a brand-new talk every time you're booked to speak.)
If you're a brand-new speaker or looking to refresh your stage potential, start with your Mission Talk.
This is your 'here's why I do what I do' talk. Some may call this your Manifesto Talk, Purpose Talk, or Origin Story. Tomato, tomatoe, tomatillo.
You can fill your schedule and your bank account by giving this talk to different audiences every day for the rest of your life. It's that purposeful, fulfilling, and potent.
However, if you want to create another layer of impact, you can develop your Method Talk as the second talk.
This takes your proprietary process—your step-by-step plan for creating consistent, sustainable results for your clients—and layers it into a 30- to 45-minute talk framework.
If you're a seasoned speaker, investing in your Method Talk is a fantastic opportunity to show how you do what you do is different.
Financial advisors tend to see the greatest results giving their Method Talk.
In a sea of sameness, the hard truth is what you do is the least differentiating aspect of your work. How you do what you do is where the real value graces the stage.
Creating an applause-inducing, curiosity-speaking Method Talk is the secret to standing out as a financial advisor on stage.
But, what if you're a real Stage Warrior? You speak in front of 30+ audiences in a single year, you get paid handsomely to speak, and you're a veteran in your industry.
That's where your third talk enters the scene. I call this your Trending Today Talk. What's trending or highly relevant now in your audience's minds that you can speak to with an otherworldly level of precision?
This is where you get to 'geek out' a bit by weaving nuances, hyper-specific details, and the latest data into a trending talk topic. Translation: This talk has a short shelf life, but the appeal makes it jump off the page.
"So, Jon, what's the right type of talk for me to develop next?"
If you're brand-new or looking for a restart as a speaker, work on your Mission Talk.
If you're established but looking to layer up your impact, work on your Method Talk.
If you're a seasoned speaker who's pushing to get at the forefront of what's happening in your industry, invest in your Trending Today Talk.
And as always, if you get stuck or don't know which of those may be best for you, I know a guy.
Whenever you're ready, here are three ways I can help you grow your impact, income, and influence as a coach, consultant, or advisor:
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