Speaking opportunities don't magically appear—you create them by actively looking for them.

In this episode, we explore one of the most practical skills every speaker, coach, author, healer, and entrepreneur needs: building your own Ultimate Stage Finder.

Many people dream of getting paid to speak, but the reality is that speaking opportunities come in different forms:

• Sometimes you'll pay to speak.
• Sometimes you'll speak for free.
• Sometimes you'll get paid to speak.

The Three Paths to More Speaking Opportunities

1. Pay to Speak

Some festivals, expos, and events charge speaker fees. While this may seem unusual at first, it can be a strategic investment if it places you in front of your ideal audience and helps you grow your visibility, leads, and business.

2. Speak for Free

Many podcasts, summits, community events, and online shows offer exposure rather than payment. These opportunities can help you build credibility, relationships, and momentum.

3. Get Paid to Speak

Organizations, conferences, associations, and companies often pay speakers for their expertise. The more visible and experienced you become, the more these opportunities can open up.

Create Your Own Stage-Finding System

Instead of waiting for invitations, start researching opportunities intentionally.

Use AI or search tools to discover:

• Conferences
• Festivals
• Wellness fairs
• Health expos
• Community events
• Symposiums
• Markets
• Retreats
• Industry conferences
• Women's events
• Professional associations

Search both online opportunities and local events within a two- to three-hour travel radius.

Search by Your Topic

Ask AI questions such as:

"What women's empowerment conferences can I apply to speak at?"

"What wellness festivals happen annually in my region?"

"What conferences focus on grief, healing, mental health, spirituality, or personal development?"

The more specific your niche, the better your results.

Build Your Speaker Pipeline

Once you find opportunities, don't leave them scattered across emails and browser tabs.

Create a simple spreadsheet or document that tracks:

• Event name
• Website
• Application deadline
• Event dates
• Contact information
• Follow-up status
• Speaking outcome

This becomes your personal speaking database and helps you stay organized year after year.

Loved this episode? Then you’re going to love what Elizabeth shares inside UNHUSTLE — a powerful guide for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop overworking and start building wealth with more alignment, freedom, and sustainability.

UNHUSTLE: The New Revenue Rules for Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More Money …and More Freedom

Discover a smarter, more sustainable way to grow your business — without sacrificing your peace, energy, or freedom. Inside, you’ll learn modern revenue strategies designed for women entrepreneurs who are ready for greater success, deeper fulfillment, and true freedom in the next chapter of their business and life.

✨ Download the free guide here: UNHUSTLE by Elizabeth Ocean https://elizabethocean.biz/unhustle

Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Speaking Schedule

Many speakers wait for invitations to appear. Successful speakers create a plan.

A speaking schedule helps you:

• Stay visible consistently
• Build momentum throughout the year
• Promote your offers with intention
• Grow your audience and email list
• Position yourself as an authority in your field

Build Your Own Stage First

Before focusing on speaking opportunities, consider the stages you already control.

Your speaking calendar might include:

• Daily reels, stories, or videos
• A weekly show or livestream
• A monthly workshop or masterclass
• A quarterly series or challenge
• An annual signature event or festival

These platforms become the foundation that supports everything else you do.

Then Add Other People's Stages

Speaking on other people's platforms allows you to reach new audiences and expand your impact.

Consider a schedule such as:

• Weekly podcasts or guest appearances
• Monthly festivals, summits, or community events
• Quarterly conferences or larger industry events
• Annual dream stages, retreats, or international speaking opportunities

The exact schedule doesn't matter as much as having one.

Match Your Speaking to Your Goals

Every speaking opportunity should point toward something meaningful:

• A coaching program
• A retreat
• A book launch
• A course
• A membership
• A growing email list

When your speaking has a purpose, your visibility creates results.

One Thing at a Time

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the opportunities available.

Remember: you don't have to do everything.

One event at a time. One promotion at a time. One conversation at a time.

Consistency beats intensity.

Loved this episode? Then you’re going to love what Elizabeth shares inside UNHUSTLE — a powerful guide for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop overworking and start building wealth with more alignment, freedom, and sustainability.

UNHUSTLE: The New Revenue Rules for Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More Money …and More Freedom

Discover a smarter, more sustainable way to grow your business — without sacrificing your peace, energy, or freedom. Inside, you’ll learn modern revenue strategies designed for women entrepreneurs who are ready for greater success, deeper fulfillment, and true freedom in the next chapter of their business and life.

✨ Download the free guide here: UNHUSTLE by Elizabeth Ocean https://elizabethocean.biz/unhustle

What brilliant idea, program, event, or offer have you been holding back because it’s not perfect yet? How many opportunities have slipped by while you waited for everything to be "just right"?

In this episode of The Laws of Holistic Marketing, we explore one of the most important principles for holistic, spiritual, and wellness entrepreneurs:

Law #1: Best Known Beats Best Product

Many entrepreneurs fall into the perfectionism trap—waiting until their course, event, talk, website, or offer is flawless before sharing it with the world. While excellence is valuable, perfection often becomes the reason nothing gets launched.

The truth? The businesses that grow are rarely the ones with the "perfect" product. They're the ones that consistently show up, get visible, and let their work evolve through real-world experience.

Key Takeaways

• Perfection can delay growth and visibility.
• Your first version doesn't have to be your final version.
• Launch the 1.0 version and improve as you go.
• Real feedback comes from being in the marketplace, not from endless planning.
• Visibility creates opportunities that perfection never will.

Work It Out While It's Out

Whether it's a retreat, podcast, course, speaking engagement, program, or event, the message is simple:

Get it out there. Then improve it.

Every successful teacher, speaker, coach, or entrepreneur started with a first version that was less polished than what they offer today. Growth comes through action, not waiting.

You're Given What You Can Handle

One powerful reminder from this discussion is that growth happens in stages. If only a few people join your first event or program, that's okay. Capacity, confidence, and impact grow over time.

The goal isn't to start big.

The goal is to start.

Loved this episode? Then you’re going to love what Elizabeth shares inside UNHUSTLE — a powerful guide for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop overworking and start building wealth with more alignment, freedom, and sustainability.

UNHUSTLE: The New Revenue Rules for Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More Money …and More Freedom

Discover a smarter, more sustainable way to grow your business — without sacrificing your peace, energy, or freedom. Inside, you’ll learn modern revenue strategies designed for women entrepreneurs who are ready for greater success, deeper fulfillment, and true freedom in the next chapter of their business and life.

✨ Download the free guide here: UNHUSTLE by Elizabeth Ocean https://elizabethocean.biz/unhustle

Have you ever found yourself switching directions in your business—changing your niche, your offer, your focus, or your strategy because something new caught your attention?

And what happens to your momentum when you do?

In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful principles of sustainable business growth: Repeat What Works. While creativity and innovation are valuable, constantly changing direction can slow your progress and make it harder to build consistent results.

We'll examine how successful entrepreneurs identify the actions that generate clients, income, visibility, and relationships—and then commit to doing those things consistently. From speaking engagements and workshops to email marketing, events, and authentic relationship-building, you'll learn how repeating proven strategies can create stability, confidence, and momentum in your business.

You'll also be challenged to identify what has worked for you in the past, what actions you need to repeat more often, and what important opportunities you may be avoiding.

Loved this episode? Then you’re going to love what Elizabeth shares inside UNHUSTLE — a powerful guide for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop overworking and start building wealth with more alignment, freedom, and sustainability.

UNHUSTLE: The New Revenue Rules for Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More Money …and More Freedom

Discover a smarter, more sustainable way to grow your business — without sacrificing your peace, energy, or freedom. Inside, you’ll learn modern revenue strategies designed for women entrepreneurs who are ready for greater success, deeper fulfillment, and true freedom in the next chapter of their business and life.

✨ Download the free guide here: UNHUSTLE by Elizabeth Ocean https://elizabethocean.biz/unhustle

How can you get paid to speak—and what are the most effective ways to turn speaking opportunities into a profitable business?

The 3 Main Ways to Get Paid to Speak

1. Build Fame and Authority

The highest-paid speakers are often recognized experts, bestselling authors, celebrities, industry leaders, or influential thought leaders. Event organizers pay premium fees because these speakers attract audiences and increase ticket sales.

2. Build a Large Email List

Event hosts want speakers who can help fill seats and attract attendees. A strong email list increases your value because you can promote events directly to an engaged audience.

Benefits include:

• More speaking opportunities
• Greater credibility
• Increased book, course, and program sales
• Long-term business growth

3. Own the Stage

One of the most powerful ways to get paid is to become the event host yourself.

Examples:

• Festivals
• Summits
• Podcasts
• Virtual shows
• Conferences

Owning the stage allows you to build authority, grow your audience, and generate revenue through sponsorships and speaker participation.

Bonus Strategy: Speak for Free and Get Paid on the Back End

Sometimes the most profitable speaking engagements are unpaid. By speaking for free and offering coaching, courses, retreats, books, memberships, or consulting services, you can generate significantly more revenue than a one-time speaking fee.

Key Takeaways

• Speaking fees are only one source of income.
• Building authority, growing an email list, and owning a stage create long-term opportunities.
• Event hosts value speakers who can attract audiences.
• Hosting your own events can be more profitable than waiting for invitations.
• Speaking for free can be highly profitable when paired with paid offers.

Action Steps

1. Grow your email list.
2. Seek consistent speaking opportunities.
3. Consider hosting your own event or show.
4. Develop offers that monetize your speaking engagements.
5. Focus on building long-term business assets, not just speaking fees.

The most successful speakers use speaking as a tool to build authority, grow their audience, and create multiple streams of revenue.

Loved this episode? Then you’re going to love what Elizabeth shares inside UNHUSTLE — a powerful guide for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop overworking and start building wealth with more alignment, freedom, and sustainability.

UNHUSTLE: The New Revenue Rules for Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More Money …and More Freedom

Discover a smarter, more sustainable way to grow your business — without sacrificing your peace, energy, or freedom. Inside, you’ll learn modern revenue strategies designed for women entrepreneurs who are ready for greater success, deeper fulfillment, and true freedom in the next chapter of their business and life.

✨ Download the free guide here: UNHUSTLE by Elizabeth Ocean https://elizabethocean.biz/unhustle

What separates speakers who get invited back from those who are quickly forgotten?

Professional speakers need more than a great presentation. Having the right systems in place helps speakers maximize opportunities, look professional to event hosts, attract clients, and generate long-term business growth.

Why These Essentials Matter

• Help speakers show up prepared and professional.
• Make life easier for event hosts, increasing chances of repeat invitations.
• Create systems that continue working while you develop your speaking career.
• Build a sustainable business beyond individual speaking engagements.

The 7 Online Speaker Essentials

1. Email List

Your email list is your most important business asset. It allows you to stay connected with your audience, generate clients, and maintain control over your communication regardless of social media changes. Many event organizers also consider email list size when selecting speakers.

2. Opt-In Page

An opt-in page (also called a landing page, funnel, or squeeze page) is where people can subscribe to your email list. Its purpose is to convert visitors into subscribers.

3. Free Gift (Lead Magnet)

A free gift is offered in exchange for someone's email address. The best lead magnets solve a specific problem quickly and are easy to consume, such as a checklist, PDF, guide, or worksheet.

These first three essentials work together:

• Email List
• Opt-In Page
• Free Gift

Together, they create a system for growing your audience and generating future opportunities.

4. VIP Bonus

A VIP bonus is a higher-value resource offered through certain events. Unlike a simple lead magnet, it typically includes a course, workshop recordings, challenge, or other premium content valued at $300–$1,000 or more.

5. Online Booking Calendar

An online booking calendar makes it easy for potential clients to schedule sessions with you. Tools such as HighLevel, Calendly, or Acuity help automate this process and create a smoother client experience.

6. Business System

Speaking becomes profitable when supported by a clear business system. This includes your offers, programs, sales process, and client journey. The goal is not simply to speak on stages but to convert speaking opportunities into paying clients and revenue.

7. Social Media Presence

Social media supports your business but should not be the foundation of it. While event hosts may review your online presence, social media is best viewed as a marketing tool rather than your primary source of business growth.

Loved this episode? Then you’re going to love what Elizabeth shares inside UNHUSTLE — a powerful guide for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop overworking and start building wealth with more alignment, freedom, and sustainability.

UNHUSTLE: The New Revenue Rules for Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More Money …and More Freedom

Discover a smarter, more sustainable way to grow your business — without sacrificing your peace, energy, or freedom. Inside, you’ll learn modern revenue strategies designed for women entrepreneurs who are ready for greater success, deeper fulfillment, and true freedom in the next chapter of their business and life.

✨ Download the free guide here: UNHUSTLE by Elizabeth Ocean https://elizabethocean.biz/unhustle

Your email list is one of the most valuable assets in your business.

A strong list can:

• Open doors to speaking opportunities
• Increase your chances of landing publishing deals
• Create a direct connection with your audience
• Generate long-term, sustainable income
• Build a pool of future clients and customers

The bigger your list, the more opportunities become available.

The 4 Ways to Grow Your List

1. Organic Growth (You Do the Work)

Organic growth happens through your own efforts and relationships.

Examples:

• Social media content
• Facebook groups
• Networking (online and in person)
• YouTube videos and shorts
• Speaking engagements
• Hosting masterclasses
• Running challenges or training events
• Sharing your free gift through your Linktree and profiles

Key takeaway: Consistency creates growth.

2. Paid Speaking Opportunities

Paid speaking opportunities can accelerate list growth because event hosts have already gathered an audience for you.

Benefits:

• Access to warm audiences
• Increased visibility
• Faster list growth
• Credibility-building opportunities

Important: Always vet speaking opportunities to ensure they are legitimate and aligned with your goals.

3. Paid Advertising

Running ads through platforms like:

• Facebook (Meta)
• Google
• YouTube

Advantages:

• Scalable growth
• Predictable lead generation

Challenges:

• Requires budget
• Takes time to optimize
• Results are not always immediate

A common recommendation is to promote a free gift rather than an event, allowing ads to work continuously over time.

4. Collaborative Marketing (Most Powerful)

Collaborative marketing combines audiences and resources.

Examples:

• Affiliate partnerships
• Promo buddy exchanges
• Strategic alliances
• Joint events
• Summits and festivals
• Giveaways
• Collaborative speaking opportunities

Benefits:

• Faster audience growth
• Shared visibility
• Lower marketing costs
• Access to new communities

The power comes from growing together rather than alone.

List Size & Business Growth

Some business studies suggest a relationship between:

• Email list size
• Monthly revenue

While not a guarantee, growing your list often increases:

• Reach
• Opportunities
• Sales potential

Focus on building quality relationships, not just collecting subscribers.

Loved this episode? Then you’re going to love what Elizabeth shares inside UNHUSTLE — a powerful guide for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop overworking and start building wealth with more alignment, freedom, and sustainability.

UNHUSTLE: The New Revenue Rules for Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More Money …and More Freedom

✨ Download the free guide here: UNHUSTLE by Elizabeth Ocean https://elizabethocean.biz/unhustle

What shifts can help you become a sought-after speaker who attracts speaking opportunities, clients, and income without chasing or forcing?

This training focused on three powerful shifts that move you from waiting for opportunities to creating them. Success as a speaker isn't just about tactics—it's about how you position yourself, your message, and your business.

What's Not Working

Many speakers struggle because they:

• Wait until they're "ready"
• Overgive and undercharge
• Lack clarity in their message
• Have no audience or list-building strategy
• Wait for someone else to choose them

Your message is needed now. The key is stepping into leadership instead of waiting for permission.

Shift #1: From Stories to Frameworks

Stories create connection, but frameworks create authority.

A framework is your unique process, system, or methodology. Examples include:

• Three Pillars of Thriving Post-Menopause
• Four-Step Grief Healing System
• Five Phases of Becoming a Wise Woman

People may relate to your story, but they invest in the process that helps them achieve results.

Key Takeaway: Own and teach a framework that is uniquely yours.

Shift #2: From Hoping to Get Picked to Owning the Stage

Rather than waiting for invitations, create your own opportunities.

Examples:

• Host a festival
• Launch a summit
• Start a podcast
• Run your own show or event

Owning a stage positions you as a leader, increases visibility, and attracts collaborations and speaking opportunities.

Key Takeaway: Leaders create stages instead of waiting to be invited onto one.

Shift #3: From Speaking Free to Give Value to Speaking Free to Invite

Speaking for free can be incredibly valuable when done with intention.

The goal is to:

1. Grow your email list
2. Build relationships
3. Nurture trust
4. Gain clients over time

Instead of speaking only to educate, speak to invite people into your world through:

• Free gifts
• Email lists
• Workshops
• Coaching programs
• Courses and offers

Key Takeaway: Speaking is often a relationship-building strategy before it becomes a sales strategy.

The Importance of Patience

Building a speaking business takes time. Success comes from consistently building:

• Credibility
• Authority
• Audience
• Systems
• Confidence

Some people become clients quickly, while others may follow your work for years before saying yes.

Loved this episode? Then you’re going to love what Elizabeth shares inside UNHUSTLE — a powerful guide for women entrepreneurs who are ready to stop overworking and start building wealth with more alignment, freedom, and sustainability.

UNHUSTLE: The New Revenue Rules for Women Entrepreneurs Who Want More Money …and More Freedom

Discover a smarter, more sustainable way to grow your business — without sacrificing your peace, energy, or freedom. Inside, you’ll learn modern revenue strategies designed for women entrepreneurs who are ready for greater success, deeper fulfillment, and true freedom in the next chapter of their business and life.

✨ Download the free guide here: UNHUSTLE by Elizabeth Ocean https://elizabethocean.biz/unhustle