Thought Leadership
Why Thought Leaders Get Paid More as Speakers
Thought leadership can help you make a stronger case for your speaking fee when you can explain how your perspective will help the audience understand something differently or work through a problem they care about. Your expertise gives you material to draw from. The value of the talk also depends on what you help people…
Read MoreWhat Are Event Organizers Actually Paying You For? with Carol Cox: Podcast Ep. 495
When someone hires you to speak, what are they actually buying? Your expertise is part of it. But the person planning the event also needs your talk to accomplish something for the people in the room. How clearly can you explain what that something is? In this final episode of our Bookable Speaker series, I’m…
Read MoreWhat Makes Speaking Your Brand’s VIP Day Different From Other Speaking Coaching?
If you’ve ever finished a coaching call with good advice and a fresh list of things to do, you know what can happen next. You open a blank document and all your ideas are still in your head. Which story goes first? What can you leave out? How do you make a room full of…
Read MoreThought Leader Academy vs. Our In-Person Retreat: Which One Is Right for You
You may be wondering: “What’s the difference between Thought Leader Academy and the retreat? And which one do I need?” Fair question. So let me walk you through it. I like to think about it like music. First you write the song. Then get up to perform it, and ideally get it on video so…
Read MoreMaking the Invisible Visible: Live Signature Talks from Our Thought Leader Academy Grads with Diane Diaz: Podcast Ep. 490
How do you turn an overlooked pattern or experience into a thought leadership message that changes how your audience sees themselves and the world around them? One of the most powerful things a speaker can do is make the invisible visible. In this Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand live show, our lead speaking coach…
Read MoreIntegrating Both Thought Leadership and Lead Generation Into One Talk: Carol Cox on the Sales Maven Podcast
Carol Cox was recently a guest on the Sales Maven podcast, hosted by Nikki Rausch, in episode 338.(opens in new tab) Carol and Nikki talk about: Why today’s audiences don’t need more information. They need leadership. The difference between expertise and thought leadership. How to integrate lead generation into a presentation without sounding promotional. Why…
Read MoreYou Don’t Need More Speaking Topics. You Need a Clearer Idea.
If you want more speaking referrals and bookings, you need more than a broad subject or a list of possible presentation topics. You need a clear idea: a specific, supportable point of view that another person can understand, remember, and repeat. I’ve been reviewing my recent consultation calls, and the same challenge keeps coming up.…
Read MoreHow an I.D.E.A., Not a Topic, Makes You Easier to Refer, Pitch, and Book with Carol Cox: Podcast Ep. 483
When someone asks what you speak about, do you give them one clear answer – or a list that includes a bunch of keywords like leadership, communication, resilience, confidence, and change? I understand the temptation to include everything. When you’ve had a long career, narrowing your message can feel like leaving out valuable parts of…
Read MoreThe Questions Experts Stop Asking and Why Their Talks Need Them
The more expertise you have, the easier it is to stop being curious about your own topic. You know the common questions, the expected answers, and the examples people in your industry usually give. You may be able to explain the subject clearly and still miss the part that would make an audience lean in.…
Read MoreWhat Makes a Talk Worth Hearing? Hint: Are You Curious? with Carol Cox & Diane Diaz: Podcast Ep. 482
AI can give you an answer. But it can’t be genuinely curious about you. In this episode, I’m joined by our lead speaking coach, Diane Diaz, to explore why curiosity is essential for developing a compelling thought leadership message and signature talk, especially in an age when AI can quickly produce polished but often predictable…
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