349: Becoming a Paid Speaker with Lauren Ready

Hey movers, it's Sally Z with Be Moved. Let's go create some talks that will move this world. We're gonna talk with amazing speakers, share tips, tricks, resources, and we are going to be moved so that our audience can be moved.

This moved me.

What is moving You. Hello everybody. In a moment, Lauren Reedy is joining us and Lauren is a delight and I have known Lauren for a long time. We're gonna talk about Lauren's story of becoming a paid speaker as a business owner, how she did that. So let's— so excited. Lauren. Is on a road trip right now, currently traveling.

Hey, hey, hey, can you believe this is my first Instagram Live?

What?

Yeah, I know, it's weird. It's weird. Decades, a decade of reporting live television and I've never done Instagram Live.

Okay, how are we doing so far from your point of view?

Great. I can see and hear you. That's great. I'm currently at a rest stop in Missouri, just outside of St. Louis. It's headed to speak.

It looks absolutely beautiful.

Yeah.

So you are on the road to speak.

Yeah. Right. That, uh, when you asked me, I said, I don't know if I can do that. And then I thought, no, this is perfect. This is exactly what we're going to talk about. I'm headed to speak.

We are going to talk about you becoming a speaker and the long road. Longer, I don't know. Would you say now, now that you have sort of arrived, how do you— I mean, we're, we're never really— we haven't arrived, but you've come a really long ways. So, so when you look back at where you were before all of this, bring us all into kind of who you are and how you started to shift your focus and thinking towards Speaking.

Sure. Well, I said at the top of this that I was a reporter for 10 years and went live all the time. And so when I left the TV business, I sort of left this, I left the face, I left the, like, I'm here and I'm talking to you. I just, I wouldn't say I went into hiding, but kind of, I needed to, for a lot of reasons, just really find who I was and, and who I was outside of your television or whatever you watch, whatever devices you were watching. So I, I now run a video production company based in Memphis and Chicago. So we work in the Midwest and the Mid-South. We work all over really. And we get to tell really cool stories primarily for nonprofits. And if you work with nonprofits, I know you spoke to nonprofit leaders this morning. They have amazing stories to tell, and I do it from a video perspective. And I felt like I was experiencing all these really neat moments and I had some transformative moments that led me to that. And I thought I would really like to tell more people about this because it's not just about pressing record and it's not just about, you know, helping a nonprofit. It, it helps me and it helps the world when we tell these stories. So I sort of, you know, dabbled in and out. I spoke for free, did some panels and was frustrated that, that I wasn't, I didn't have a clear reason or message or anything like that. So I found you. And then Facebook stalked you and Instagram stalked you for a while. It makes me sound pretty creepy, doesn't it? And, but what I got, what I got to though is I eventually signed up for this Signature Talk Studio and wrote a signature talk that I have used multiple times. And I got to this point where I realized I could speak about what we do at Forever Ready to audiences with my personal story attached to that. And that that could help draw in awareness of what we do as a company, of our approach, but also business, you know, getting folks at least interested in talking about thinking differently about video. And I didn't see those two things and how they could be married until I started in the Movers Lab. In fact, when I joined, I was like, is this really gonna work, Sally? Is this really gonna be a thing? Like, is it gonna make sense? And I, I believe it's been, geez, we started in January, so whatever month it is, And, and since then I've been incorporating a lot of the work that we do at Forever Ready into my speaking engagements. And, and they sort of now talk to each other, pun intended, in a really beautiful way that I, I didn't fully understand until we started diving into some of the why behind all of it. So there's my story in a nutshell.

I love it. So making that connection, and it takes a while to find the clarity between who you are as an individual, as the speaker, right? As the leader, your story, right? Authentically really living in that space and also speaking to your business. Finding that connection sometimes takes a while. And if I'm hearing you right, you're saying for a while you were like, does this even, does this exist? Like, tell me about what it took to see that connection and really find it and what that's done for your business.

It's interesting because I've always thought incorrectly that if you were speaking, you were selling something. And sometimes you are, but sometimes you're sharing stories that compel people to do something. Sometimes that do something is to come to your company, and sometimes it's just to do something, to tell their story differently, to think differently, to to leave that moment and go do something. And I started to realize that like the thing that I feel after we do an interview and edit a story and air, you know, a run at an event, there was so much deeper to that. If I, if I told people the story about how it happened and how we got there and what it felt like. What I realized is it seems ordinary to me, but it's not when I share it with other folks. And that's something that I tell people all the time. What, you know, the thing that's right in front of you is probably the story you should tell. And so I realized my identity's always been around, around the work that I do and sharing how it makes me feel and the transformation that occurred in me through the work is impactful to other folks. It's not ordinary, even if it feels like it to us. People are often, as, as you say, so moved by our personal stories that they, they relate. Or they find their own in the process. It's funny, a lot of folks are like, Lauren, you're a storyteller. Why did you hire a speaker? A speaker coach? Like, you know how to tell stories. And I'm like, yeah, I do, but not my own. And I think that that's, that's the piece. The work I do and the work a lot of us do, we forget that there's a story in that too. And then it's not selfish to share that. And as a journalist, you never shared about you personally. I think there was also that breakthrough of. It's okay to talk about how things have impacted me because that's a big part of we, you know? Yeah.

No, it's, it's very twofold in my mind, becoming a paid speaker, right? That it's, it's content, right? It's, it's getting better at the skill of it. It's the strategy, really placing your speaking thoughtfully in your business, which I know has been huge for you that you were like, yeah. I guess for free, I don't know how to, how do I even, especially working in the nonprofit or more mission-driven field, right? Is there really a way for me to make money with this or to drive business towards my business as a speaker, speaking for you, right? So there's, there's some technical things that are so important, of course, when you're becoming a paid speaker. But you said a little something that I want to dig into, and that was just the self-belief part of it. This, yeah, the shifts that you have internally, which I think in some ways is harder, right? Because I, we can give you all the strategies. I can say, well, try this and do this and put that in place, la la la. You can do all that, but if you don't have the internal shift, it doesn't really matter. So could you share with us a little bit of what that has looked like for you?

Sure. I have a Post-it note. It's a shame I'm not at my desk, but it's also not a shame because I'm headed to speak. I have a Post-it note on my desk that says being visible is not selfish. And that's what I was telling myself. That's what I was believing because I thought, well, if I'm not reporting the news and giving you facts about what happened in the day, then, then coming on here is just selfish. It's all about me and you're just gonna look at me and you're gonna think, what does she have to say? Why is that relevant? So I really had to shift in myself this mindset of it's not selfish for me to share my experiences with the world, which is so funny because I literally do that in video for other people all the time. You know, like that, that, why is that so difficult? But it's different when it's you.

Yeah.

And so many of us think that what we have to say or, or what we wanna say, people won't listen to.

Mm-hmm.

And so I really had to get outta my own head around this idea that I'm not being selfish by sharing with you. Or anyone else, the things that make me feel passionate and get me up every day. And that by doing so, even if just 1 or 2 or 3 people see it and it makes a difference, then that's, then that's made a difference. It's made me feel empowered and it's empowered other people. But that's a lot of, that's a lot of mindset work and it's scary. I think we use the word brave quite a bit. It's scarier more than it is brave. Like I can be brave all day. Sally, I'm not worried about being brave. It's the scary part of like, what if they think that's not that cool? Or what if they hear that wrong? Or what if that comes back to bite me? You know, there's a vulnerability there and understanding that it's okay to step out and speak. Absolutely. So yeah, it's a, it's the Post-it note. I remind myself every day, Sally, when I do Instagram, I'm like, oh, there's the Post-it note right there. He's telling me this is not selfish.

This is the way that you are serving, right? And it's powerful and worthy and worth your time, but also you are worthy of this role. You of course have earned it with so many accolades, but also like, of course you have a, you have something of value and worth in your experience and your story that can benefit other people. So What our, one of our fellow members in the lab, Kevin Jennings, has shared with us many times that your words can be medicine for people. And if, if, if they need your medicine, why are you withholding it? That's really the selfish thing, is not actually showing up and sharing your words and ideas. That's the selfish thing. It's, but it's a, it's a battle. It's a battle.

Oh, it's a daily battle. And I do wanna touch on something else that I think is really important here. You know, everybody has a different relationship with money. Yeah. I would do, I would do things for free. I just really would. In fact, I did and sometimes still do maybe too much. I think I'm a very generous heart, mission-filled person. But I think that there's also some real value when you get a paid speaking gig to recognize, oh, I'm worth I'm getting paid to do this. Like what I have to say, somebody wants to pay for. And not only does that do a lot of, um, work with helping you realize that you are meant to be on the stage in that way, but it also reinforces me. I always, I always had like a TV look. I was like, oh, I got all TV ready. And then this is, this is the sweatshirt driving 9 hours to a speaking event look. But you know, it, it does force me to step it up a notch too, because I'm realizing, oh, not only am I worthy of getting paid to do this work, but now I've got to really show up as the right me. And I think that's something that people don't realize, Sally. You know, the first time I got that gig, and I think I had a coaching session with you the week before, and we walked through what I would do that day, the day of the talk, and we walked through how I would I would, you know, posture myself the morning I got up and what I would walk, you know, what the walk looked like to the room, what the room looked like before I got there. All these things that we visualize in our conversation because I'm getting paid to do this, it steps it up a notch because I realize this, I'm here and this is my job right now. Yeah.

That's a little note for event planners.

Yes. Yes. Important.

Is there is a difference when you, when you are paying someone to show up and provide something. Okay. Not that it's like a, you know, uh, quid pro quo. That's right. Right. Like you pay me and then I'll do just that. You know, that, that's not the way in which we do this. It's really not. But when somebody's paying you, you're like, okay. Okay, think I'm a professional. You, I want to deliver for you. It just helps us fine tune and show up and really turn it on so that make good on that, on that commitment and that expectation. And we of course want to like blow people out of the water. Wow, that was so, so valuable and worth it. And being paid is, does communicate, communicates value and asking for money communicates the level with which you show up. And so sometimes people are like, oh, I'm afraid to make people uncomfortable when I ask for money. And I'm like, people might turn you down if you don't ask for a certain level of money because they must be just starting out or not that good or blah, blah, blah. So. That little flip of the switch can be a big moment, but I'm curious for you, what was the moment? Because you, like you said, you spend a lot of time in the speaking for free zone, which is an absolutely okay thing to do if you're leveraging it, if it's the right audience, or if you just really want to. Great. But we also want you to make money with your speaking. So how did you, what was it for you that helped you start shifting into, I'm worth this, I'm gonna start asking for money, I'm gonna pitch myself, and I'm gonna bring in leads and revenue? Like, tell me about that shift.

Well, as a business owner, my time is very valuable. Everybody's time is valuable, but I mean, when, when you're every minute you're working, you're either revenue generating or not. And I realized I was sharing some really great stories and methods and sort of my secret sauce, so to speak, with people. And that takes time to prep for. It takes time to write these talks. It takes time to put slides together. It takes time to rehearse things. And that was taking a lot of time. And then I would show up and do it and I wouldn't have, like you said, leveraging. I wouldn't leverage it properly and I hadn't thought much about it and I'd get done and kind of feel, um, I wouldn't feel empowered. So whatever the opposite of that is. And I realized some of that. Yeah. Yeah. Some of that was that, you know, what I was sharing was worth something, both my time and prepping it and being there. And I remember the first time I asked to be paid. I was so scared. I was so scared they would say no and guess what they said? Yes. I thought, maybe I should have charged more, you know, like those are scary moments, but I have those same scary moments with video. And what's so funny is with video, I just feel like completely 100% justified in saying it costs this much and this is how much time it's gonna take. And there's something sort of glamorous about, well, you're on stage. That's fun for you, right? Yeah, it's fun and it takes a lot of my time and skill to prep for and to be there and to be present. Like when I'm there, I'm there. I'm not working on whatever. And so that's really where it started to happen for me is I started to think about the hours I spend prepping for this stuff. Yeah. And the knowledge that, that, that the knowledge sharing that occurs. I thought this is, it's time. Yeah. Time that I do something here that, you know, it doesn't have to be solely, and I know some people want it to be solely their income and that's awesome. For me, it's not, but I also shouldn't just do it for free. Like I wouldn't do a video for free.

Right.

I mean, I, I would, you know what I mean? So, yeah, most videos I wouldn't do for free or I wouldn't be here today because I, I still have to make a living and pay my staff.

Business. Business. Your expertise. And, you know, when we talk about speaking and money, it's not totally logical. It doesn't always make sense. Like, why do workshops cost this and keynotes cost that? Like, it, you cannot apply logic to this, but it's really important. And you know this and you have really embraced this so well, and I hear it in your story, is that you're paying for not just this hour of my time, you're paying for the years and years I have worked to build this intellectual property, to create this point of view, and you are getting an inside peek into strategies that other clients pay a lot of money for. And so it's your, it's your IP, it's your stories, it's your life, it's your perspective. And when you find an audience who needs that, that and wants that, it's valuable and it's okay to pay for it and charge for it.

It goes back to the Post-it note on my desk. It's not selfish to ask for money either. It's not selfish. Yay. I mean, I'm just saying that out loud for myself. So if I watch this back, I'm like, it's selfish.

Better than others. Some days I turn on the Instagram and I'm like, wow, I look tired today.

Yeah. Yeah.

Other days I'm like, yeah, rock on, let's go.

Exactly. Exactly. Every day is different, but it's good to remind ourselves of the things we say to other people too.

So we all, we all need the encouragement and the support and the push. It's easier if we do it together. It really is. And I'm so grateful to count you as one of, I get, I get sort of possessive. I'm like Lauren's book picker.

I'll let you claim me. I'll let you claim me. That's fine. I'm happy to be a part of your speakers.

Well, you are a real asset to your community. And I mean that in a, in a, a very tangible way. You are really serving. You're serving Memphis, your community, but you're also serving every client you work with. And every time you show up, I know you pour your whole heart into it. And you take that role seriously. And so it's really fun to coach you because I know you're, you're soaking it up and you're turning it around and you're turning it into action. That's why you've seen results from all the work that you've been putting in for the last 6 months. So kudos to you. I'm really proud of you.

Thank you. Thank you, Sally. I'm getting better at just saying thank you. I appreciate it. I appreciate the compliment. And I, and I love the community that you've built. Because I feel like, you know, we can share the exciting things and we can share the frustrating things and they all empower us, which is what's really fun is I, I don't feel like I'm alone in this. I got a group of people who are also striving to do the same thing and are doing it, and I'm going, okay, well they're doing it. I can do it too. We're doing it together.

You're doing it together.

A lot less lonely that way.

We learn from each other. Well, you are all, it's only up from here, Lauren. Like, I feel like you've kind of unlocked a few really important pieces. Like, the first few times you get paid, you're like, okay, yes, make money from this! This can be a source of revenue. Now you start to identify who you're talking to, what they want, and how to pitch it. Then it's just exciting.

Yep, yep, I'm excited. It's, it, it's empowering. And you know, I'm very about what I talk about. So it's just such an honor to be able to share it with audiences in a way that also fulfills me.

So, amen. Love it. Yeah, you're the best.

Thank you. Awesome. Have a great week, Sally Koering Zimney. Thanks.