What Tier Level Speaker Are You?

Fortune 500 executives are famous for referring to vendors in what they call ‘Tier Levels’. They take pride in only hiring “Tier 1 speakers”, which is another way of saying “the best of the best”. After all, they can afford it. When you’re spending five million dollars on a national convention, what difference does it make...

Will Toastmasters Lead to Paid Public Speaking?

Toastmasters International is the largest public speaking organization in the world with over 250,000 members. I love Toastmasters and have been an active member since 1996. I co-founded the Bill Gove Toastmasters Club in Florida, and I’ve keynoted their regional and international events for free to show my support. The problem is there’s a myth...

Free Professional Speaking Course

I’m excited to offer you the opportunity to take a 10-day professional speaking training course online…for FREE!  I’m offering this course as a way to offset some of the misinformation being perpetuated all over the internet about the paid public speaking business. This is a LIMITED TIME OFFER, so please take advantage of this before...

Public Speaking Fees

Most speakers guess when they’re setting fees. The amount of bad information about how to determine your fee is staggering. I’ve attended sessions at NSA where the presenter tells the audience that there is no formula for setting fees. This is ridiculous, and it shows why so few people make money in this business. Meanwhile,...

Best Novel for Public Speakers

Og Mandino, one of the most popular authors of all-time, wrote one of his last books about a fictional thought-leader/public speaker. Bill Gove, Og Mandino’s speaking coach and mentor, told me back in 1996 that I had to read this book. As usual, Bill was right. I’ve never forgotten this book. It’s a must-read for...

Keynote Speakers Become Rockstars

One of the most misunderstood aspects of professional speaking is the power of the keynote speech. Teachers and trainers call our office every day and ask why they should focus on becoming a keynote speaker. Many people believe it’s because of the fee’s keynoters receive, but the truth is that’s only the beginning of why...

Bob Proctor’s Advice to Speakers

Bob Proctor is one of the most successful professional speakers of all-time. I’ve had the honor of speaking at dozens of conventions with Bob all over the world. I can tell you from first hand experience why he’s so successful: he’s really good. More specifically, he’s a very exciting, content rich, entertaining performer. Millions of...

Professional Speakers Beware: End of an Era

The great recession/correction of 2008-2010 marks the end of an era for professional speakers. The days of thousands of motivational speakers regurgitating think and grow rich are over. Thousands of speakers have been forced out the business in the last two years because companies are demanding tens time the value they were 24 months ago....

When Oprah Called

A few years ago I got a call from an executive at Oprah Winfrey’s company, Harpo Productions. She was interested in having their executives attend the Bill Gove Speech Workshop. It was an unsolicted call from one of the best possible clients. We’ve had similar calls from Dear Abby, John McCain, (the senators cousin) and...

Bill Gove: The Master of Keynote Speaking

I’m often asked what made Bill Gove, the father of professional speaking, so successful as a keynote speaker and coach of more million dollar speakers than anyone in history. After spending five years on the road with Bill, I think I know the answer. Listen to this post and copy the habits of the great...