---
title: Why Your Keynote Speech Should Fail, With Grant Baldwin
description: Nearly 500,000 people have heard Grant Baldwin speak from the stage. If you'd like to get paid to reach your key prospects listen to this episode.
image: https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Grant%20Baldwin-the-sales-podcast-wes-schaeffer.jpg
---
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Jun 13, 2025
# Why Your Keynote Speech Should Fail, With Grant Baldwin
 [Wes Schaeffer](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/author/wes-schaeffer)
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## The 5 Steps To Becoming a Paid Speaker
***[\[ LISTEN NOW ON APPLE PODCASTS \]](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sales-whisperer-wes-schaeffer-hosts-the-sales-podcast/id655310847?mt=2)***
## [Sales Tips](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/daily) you'll learn today on [The Sales Podcast](https://www.thesaleswhisperer.com/podcast)...
- How to get more paid speaking gigs
- [Hopium](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/hopium-not-best-inbound-sales-tips/) is not a strategy
- The 5 steps to get paid speaking gigs
- **S**elect a Problem to Solve
- **P**repare and Deliver Your Talk
- **E**stablish Your Expertise
- **A**cquire Paid Speaking Gigs
- **K**now When to Scale
- Be the steakhouse, not the buffet
- Get your website and demo reel up
- Reach out and speak to people who already put on events
[](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJ8ZlOcHKGNt5Nb9XboDJtrI9ryH%2FiTf3iMlFoVDcrZllMgbPTpdke1TynvaV6tpLOQ2FDHKRMKqIp6ylFvaDn7xKl0zuwKXZtjlbH46ueyK41qZyeYyoVCfK9f1UQp27A%2B5hQsiktOHlOQVE8uITQS2Kirw3IlN8UEBTTlesmbRXgVC3MupUqvj%2B45uQ%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=121509080418&portalId=443614)
- What are your speaking goals?
- Wanna speak 75 times a year? You better have a broad talk.
- Wanna speak a few times a year? You can be more focused.
- What's the market demand/interest?
- See if there are other speakers in your niche/industry and at the same stage/level in their careers/life
- You need to see other speakers in the area. It proves there is need/want/demand.
- You'll never be sure so get started. You can evolve your talk. "It's not a tattoo."
- Give the same talk with "modules" but unique points/examples for the audience
- If you're having to create a brand new talk each time you speak...you're in trouble
- You need the feedback to make your talk better so have a standard speech
- When you should speak for free. Know why you're doing it.
- How to know your fees
- When to use slides
- Slides should be an enhancement, not a replacement for your talk
- The audience takes their cues from you
- Why Grant hopes you fail in your talk
## Links Mentioned In [The Sales Podcast](https://www.thesaleswhisperer.com/podcast)
- Get Grant Baldwin's book, "[The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform](https://amzn.to/35c8OcH)"
- Get his free bonuses if you [pre-order before Feb 2020 here](http://thespeakerlab.com/book)
- Visit [The Speaker Lab](http://www.thespeakerlab.com/)
- Determine your speaker fee at [My Speaker Fee](https://thespeakerlab.typeform.com/to/mKgF8q)
[](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIQxkeywG99dsB6sr1hb30kRLl4i9KhhfaLYmw%2FIGmrempJKmNIz4AVHt0o5ZIEOmXRqIUiCjZpWCuwaXNnIgWzwtIE0Vts2Uz2O4jJWGpIYJ5JgDiPZg9sJbursG1WO7qgLLsCduGdslBM3I2DOd0tBVX3WzEaETsQqEM4Dz0lXayGWOFF1aqXERvtcEIhJhms&webInteractiveContentId=125028529934&portalId=443614)
[The Sales Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/the-sales-podcast)
## Related posts
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## [Master Virtual Summits With Liam Austin](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/liam-austin)
 [Wes Schaeffer](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/author/wes-schaeffer)
May 27, 2019
Launch Your Virtual Summit In 90 Days .
[Read more](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/liam-austin)
[](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/linkdra-crm-sushi-podcast)
[The Sales Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/the-sales-podcast), [CRM Sushi Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/crm-sushi-podcast)
## [Prospect On LinkedIn Better With Linkdra: The CRM Sushi Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/linkdra-crm-sushi-podcast)
 [Wes Schaeffer](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/author/wes-schaeffer)
Jun 13, 2025
Not quite the "voodoo" of Custom Audiences Started because as a startup he was low on funds and low...
[Read more](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/linkdra-crm-sushi-podcast)
[](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/deb-calvert)
[The Sales Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/the-sales-podcast)
## [Follow This Blueprint To Stop Selling Start Leading: Deb Calvert](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/deb-calvert)
 [Wes Schaeffer](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/author/wes-schaeffer)
Apr 30, 2018
The #1 rule of marketing is DON'T BE BORING!
[Read more](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/deb-calvert)
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