đ€ THE 8 STEP TRANSFORMATIONAL SPEAKING FRAMEWORK

đ€ MASTER YOUR MESSAGE: Attracting Your First Paid Speaking Gig
đ„ Introduction: You Have a Voice Worth Paying For
You donât need 100,000 followers, a TEDx stage, or a polished speaker reel to get paid to speak.
What you do need is this:
- A clear message that solves a problem.
- A personal story that builds trust.
- And the courage to ask for the mic.
If youâve lived through something, overcome something, or created a solution to somethingâyou have value to share. Paid speaking is not reserved for the elite. Itâs for those who serve through story, lead with truth, and speak from embodied wisdom.
This is your permission slip to stop waiting and start sharing. The world is listening.
The 8 Step Framework
1. Captivating Story (The Hook)
Start with a personal moment that captures attention and evokes emotion.
- Use a real-life story that reveals vulnerability, challenge, or a turning point.
- Open with tension, contrast, or an unexpected event.
- Make the audience feel something immediately.
Example: âI was 26 and had everything on paperâsuccess, title, income. But one morning, I couldnât move. My body said no. That moment changed everything.â
2. Iâd Like to Invite You to the Possibility That⊠(The Big Idea)
Plant a seed of transformationâa new lens through which to see the world.
- Invite the audience into a new paradigm, belief, or opportunity.
- Frame it as an invitation, not an instruction.
Example: âIâd like to invite you to consider that burnout isnât a failureâitâs a signal that your soul is calling for a new way to live.â
3. Hereâs Who I Am / My Story (The Human Connection)
Briefly introduce your identity, your âwhy,â and what shaped you.
- Build credibility through relatability, not resume.
- Share what matters most to you, not just what you do.
Example: âIâm not here as a health expert. Iâm here as someone who learned the hard way what it means to truly care for myselfâand others.â
4. Hereâs How I Connected to This (The Turning Point)
Share the moment or realization that helped you see things differently.
- Create a bridge between your old self and who youâve become.
- This is the âAha!â that led to change.
Example: âI realized I was serving from an empty cup, chasing success that was costing me my health, my joy, and my presence.â
5. Hereâs What I Learned (The Gift or Framework)
Deliver the core lesson, insight, or framework that changed your life.
- Be clear, simple, and actionable.
- If relevant, share a model, acronym, or key principle.
Example: âWhat I learned is this: self-care isnât selfishâitâs foundational. I now live by what I call the â12 Medicines of Life.ââ
6. Hereâs Whatâs Possible for You / The World (The Vision)
Paint a picture of transformationâfor the individual, team, or humanity.
- Use âyouâ or âweâ language to create a collective vision.
- Make it desirable and tangible.
Example: âImagine a world where leaders serve from overflow, not burnout. Where success is measured not just in output, but in wholeness.â
7. Hereâs How You Can Get Started (The First Step)
Ground the inspiration into action with a practical starting point.
- Invite a simple shiftâmindset, habit, or action.
- Make it accessible to all.
Example: âTonight, I invite you to ask yourself one question: âWhat part of me needs the most care right now?â Start there.â
8. My Wish for You / The World (The Blessing)
Close with heartâa personal, universal offering or blessing.
- Speak to their soul, not their strategy.
- Leave them feeling seen, empowered, and connected.
Example: âMy wish is that you rememberâyou are already enough. May you choose a path that nourishes, not depletes. The world needs you whole.â
đ Optional Bonus: The Power Close
One-liner mantra, mic-drop moment, or truth-bomb that lingers.
Example:
âWe donât need fixingâwe need environments that remember who we truly are.â
đ„ Prompt: The Signature Story Alchemist
(Use this in ChatGPT or your favorite AI assistant to extract a world-class origin story tailored to a niche)
PROMPT:
You are a world-class storytelling coach helping me craft a transformational keynote or brand story for the [insert niche/speaking topic] market.
My goal is to deeply connect with this audience, build credibility through lived experience, and clearly position my unique voice, insight, and solutionâusing a story that is emotionally resonant, structured, and compelling.
Please guide me through the 8-Step Signature Story Framework belowâprompting me for each part so we can co-create a magnetic and meaningful story:
âïž 8-Step Signature Story Framework
The Final Wish or Blessing
Ask: âWhat do you want every listener to walk away feeling, knowing, or believing about themselves or life?â
The First Step
Ask: âWhatâs one simple yet powerful first action people can take to begin their own transformation?â
The Vision (Whatâs Possible)
Ask: âWhatâs the world you imagine for this audience or humanity if they embrace this message?â
The Lesson or Framework
Ask: âWhat did you learnâand what clear principle, framework, or insight can you now share to help others?â
Your Turning Point (The Breakdown/Breakthrough)
Ask: âWhat moment connected you emotionally and spiritually to this path? What made it personal?â
Who You Are (Your Identity)
Ask: âWhat personal background, lived experiences, or inner values make you a trusted guide in this space?â
The New Possibility
Ask: âWhat perspective, belief, or deeper truth do you now live by that others in this niche may not yet see?â
The Captivating Moment (Hook)
Ask: âWhat was a pivotal moment, crisis, or experience that forced you to wake up or shift paths in this area?â
Instructions:
Prompt me through each step with thoughtful, open-ended questions. Help me shape this story with emotional depth, strategic structure, and audience resonance. Once all steps are complete, please organize it into a 5â7 minute speech, with optional quote-style lines for social media, and an elevator pitch version at the end.
đĄ Bonus Use Cases:
- Insert niche like: "conscious leadership," "burnout recovery," "women in tech," "mental health for teens," or "purpose-driven entrepreneurship."
- Repurpose for About Pages, TEDx Talks, Workshop Openings, IG Reels, or Sales Pages.
đĄ Summary: What It Takes to Get Paid to Speak (Even Once)
Attracting your first paid speaking opportunity is a blend of clarity, credibility, and connection. Itâs not about being famousâitâs about being valuable to a specific audience.
Hereâs what you need to lock in your first paid gig:
- A signature story and topic that solves a real pain or inspires real transformation.
- A simple one-pager or speaker deck that outlines who you are, what you speak on, and the outcomes you deliver.
- The confidence to reach out (even if you donât feel ready) and pitch with purpose.
Most people never get paid to speak because they never ask.
You're not most people.
â 3-Step Action Plan: Get Your First Paid Speaking Gig
STEP 1: Clarify Your Signature Topic & Outcome
Ask yourself:
âWhat topic could I speak about for 30 minutes, without notes, that solves a real problem or shares a lived transformation?â
Craft a title + subtitle that hooks attention.
Example:
âFrom Burnout to Breakthroughâ
How SelfCare Can Save Your Team Before It's Too Late.
STEP 2: Create a 1-Page Speaker Sheet
Include:
- A compelling bio (100â150 words)
- Your signature topic(s) with short summaries
- Key takeaways and value for the audience
- Your photo + contact info
Use Canva or Google Docs to make it clean and clear.
STEP 3: Pitch to 10 Aligned Opportunities
Reach out to:
- Podcasts in your niche
- Local businesses, co-working spaces, or events
- Industry meetups, wellness hubs, schools, clubs, masterminds
Your pitch:
âHi [Name], Iâm a [topic] speaker passionate about [result]. Iâd love to bring value to your audience through a session on [title]. Would you be open to a conversation?â
Offer a free or low-cost session first (if needed)âthen leverage testimonials to charge for the next.
âš Conclusion: Speak From Embodied TruthâNot Perfection
Your first paid speaking gig wonât come from being âready.â
It will come from being realâand willing to start before you feel perfect.
If your story, insight, or solution can help even one room of people transformâŠ
Then you deserve to be on that stageâand paid for your presence.
Say yes to yourself first.
The world will follow.