One of the best reasons to be a speaker is to increase brand awareness for your business and to generate leads and clients. Especially as social media gets noisier and the algorithms make it harder for our content to be seen, being a speaker standing in front of an audience (whether in person or virtually), with the built-in credibility and authority and attention that comes from that, is an incredible opportunity to connect with potential clients and take them to the next step on their buying journey with you. However, what I see happen a lot is that speakers provide too much content, especially too much training, in their lead generation presentations, which makes it less likely that they will get the leads they want. This episode is an on-air coaching call with one of our Thought Leader Academy clients, Monica Young, as she pivots from training content to thought leadership in her presentations. You’ll hear us talk through: Pinpointing her offer and ideal client Using our Signature Talk Canvas® framework to lay out her content in the 3 acts The types of questions to ask her audience Integrating her personal story as the bridge from Act 1 to Act 2 Focusing more on changing the audience’s understanding of productivity rather than giving them more things to do Using the feedback form for lead generation Monica’s experience in the Thought Leader Academy About My Guest: Monica Young, Productivity Consultant and CEO of MY Productive Biz, is passionate about helping small business owners and high-performing professionals Do L.E.S.S and Accomplish More - even when they feel like there is too much to do and not enough time. Sharing her extensive experience in business ownership and operations - and her freaky fascination with all things productivity - Monica has helped hundreds of professionals get organized and streamline their day-to-day operations so they can accomplish their work, enjoy their lives, and increase their impact. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/290 Take our free quiz to discover your Speaker Archetype: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Apply for our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Monica Young (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicajyoung/ Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 288: A Framework for Creating a Signature Talk for Income and Impact with Carol Cox Episode 275: Public Speaking Has Changed: The 3 Skills You Need Now to Get Selected, Stand Out, and Make Money as a Speaker Episode 169: Leveraging Free Speaking Engagements Into Bigger Opportunities with Angela Hosking JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.