Have you ever thought about taking the knowledge or passion you have and turning it into an income? Thousands of people do it every day and there are many organizations looking for individuals just like you, those willing to present to their groups to educate, inform and entertain their members. Anyone can take what they know and turn it into dough! This podcast will offer easy-to-implement tips to help you do just that. You will hear from many experts ready and willing to offer up the secrets that helped them launch their speaking career, both large and small.
One memorable presentation—and one unusual milk crate—changed the direction of Bill Corbett’s professional life.
In this episode, Bill recalls the motivational speaker who captured an entire corporate audience and awakened his desire to speak professionally. He shares the simple advice that started his journey, how seeking out experienced mentors accelerated his growth, and what nationally recognized radio host and keynote speaker Phil Valentine taught him about connecting with an audience.
Whether you are an aspiring speaker or already presenting professionally, this episode is a powerful reminder that great techniques can strengthen a presentation—but genuine passion is what makes people listen, remember, and act.
For more help with professional speaking, get the book FROM THE SOAPBOX TO THE STAGE, available on Amazon. Copyright 2025 Bill Corbett and The Get Paid To Speak Podcast. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome to Bill Corbett's Get Paid to Speak podcast, where aspiring and experienced speakers discover practical ideas for turning their knowledge, stories, and passion into presentations that make a difference. Every professional speaker begins somewhere. For Bill Corbett, the journey started in a corporate auditorium where one memorable presenter captured an entire audience's attention and awakened something in Bill that would ultimately change the direction of his career. In this episode, Bill shares the story of that pivotal presentation, the simple advice that helped him move forward, and the importance of finding mentors who are already doing what you dream of doing. He also explains why passion, not perfection, is what allows a speaker to connect with an audience and leave a lasting impression. If you have ever felt called to share your experience from the stage, but were unsure how to begin, Bill's story may help you recognize your own next step. Here is author and professional speaker Bill Corbett with the experience that started it all. The large company I was working for called all of its employees into the auditorium to hear a motivational speaker. His mission was to get us excited about changes that would be handed down from a new leadership team. Like many people, I've been forced to sit through presentations that watching paint dry. There was no reason to expect this one to be any different. One of the department heads was introducing the speaker, and then at just the right moment, a short, baldheaded man in a suit strode confidently and quickly across the stage carrying a plastic milk crate. Through the applause, my attention was immediately captured because he was carrying such an odd thing. Then as he arrived at the lectern, he dropped the crate on the floor behind it and stepped onto it, giving himself enough height to see over the lectern. The entire audience immediately broke into laughter. The speaker had quickly completed his first objective to capture our attention. His message of embracing change was inspiring, expertly presented, and probably exactly what the company wanted us to hear, but I was paying closer attention to the mechanics of the talk. I took note of what the speaker said and did that invoked laughter from my fellow professionals. I paid attention to the different components of his speech like the tone and pitch of his voice, his body language, how well it matched up with every individual point he was making, and how his ability to make eye contact well enough that seemed to make me feel like he was talking to me personally. This speaker was different from all the others I had heard, and I began to realize that it was his collection of personalized techniques like using the milk crate that had the power to separate great speakers from the rest. The 90 minutes went by so quickly, I filled several pages in my notebook and my mind was exploding with ideas and a craving for more information about speaking. After the final applause, my coworkers all headed back to their respective cubicles. I, however, made my way against the flow of people to the stage. I wanted to have just a few minutes with the speaker to let him know how much I enjoyed it and how much I had learned. I waited patiently while he took the time to shake hands and converse with all the appropriate people, very aware that something in my mind had shifted during the course of this man's presentation. You see, up until that moment, I had little clarity regarding my career and personal goals. I knew I wanted to accomplish things like everybody else. I knew I wanted to do something meaningful. Everybody wants that too, but I also knew that I wasn't there yet. When he had finished with management, he made his way over to me. I thanked him for the inspiring talk and then confessed that I wanted to do what he does. I asked him if he would mind sharing one tip that could help move me in the direction of becoming a professional speaker. His advice, find mentors. He told me to seek out those who were already doing what I was dreaming of doing and to network with them. He said to write to them, attend their talks, and if appropriate, buy them a coffee or a lunch in exchange for one or two tips that had helped them while they were building their successful speaking business. By the time I left that room, the seed of an idea had taken root and from that moment forward, I believed there was a way for me to have a fulfilling professional life as a speaker. I wasn't exactly sure what to do next or how to do it. All I knew for sure was that I had just met my first mentor and now I was on my way to doing what he was doing using knowledge, wit, wisdom, enthusiasm and humor to inspire and motivate nearly 150 adults all at one time. For the next several years, I set out to find local speakers to connect with. I attended their talks and learned what I could about their businesses. I found myself suddenly more aware of speakers and their presentations at work in the community and on television. Sunday morning worship services at my church had now changed for me. I found myself glued to the pastor's sermon, watching his every move and listening closely to how it was constructed. I bought coffee or lunch for any speaker who would give me the time of day, those with lots of experience and even those just starting out. One of the most memorable cups of coffee I ever bought was for national radio talk show host Phil Valentine. In addition to being a sought after keynote speaker, he has written several books, has appeared on television and movies and is on the list of the 100 most influential radio talk show hosts of all time. At the time of this writing, he was also ranked number 39 on the heavy hundred list according to Talkers Magazine. I had the honor of meeting Phil while I was hosting my own weekend radio show at the Clear Channel WLAC Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. We met for breakfast at the world famous Pancake Pantry restaurant on 21st Avenue, Nashville, and I had the privilege of asking him many questions about being a speaker as well as a radio show host. Phil generously shared many tips and ideas with me, but the one thing he really emphasized was that whether you are a radio show host or a speaker, it's the passion you bring into your work that will have the greatest impact on your audience. In Ian Hollander's book, Passion: How to Do Wat You Love for a Living and Wake Up the World Wi Your Work, he describes what passion is. He writes,"The truth is passion is such a personal thing, an intimate exercise in expressing your authentic self. I believe whatever it is that burns brightly in you that you love to get up every day and do is simply waiting to wake up." Maybe you've had an experience that awakened your desire and ignited your passion to stand up and share something meaningful. Now you're reading this book so you can learn how to share what burns brightly inside of you with others. One of the first tips I have to share with you as you start your journey is the knowledge that it is absolutely possible to grow your business without quitting
your day job. In the book Quitter:
Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job, author John Acuff advises launching your dream job or business while you're still employed. He points out several reasons for taking this approach. It avoids freaking out your spouse and putting your marriage in peril. It sidesteps the financial risk of starting a new business and possibly destroying your dream and your life in the process, and it eliminates the loss of leverage created by conflicts between your new venture and the security of your everyday life. A speaking business really is one of those career shifts that can easily be started while maintaining full-time employment. This book is written to provide a step-by-step guide passion and building them into a successful speaking career. It doesn't matter whether you are an absolute beginner, a gifted amateur, or a seasoned professional. This book is full of information, strategies, and techniques you can use to get started or to enhance and expand the toolbox of techniques you already have. These are the steps I used to start my speaking career and I've loved my job ever since. Now I'm going to go off script for a minute on this book just to give you some updated information. The short, baldheaded man who used the milk crate to create humor when he started his presentation was actually a man by the name of Alan Parise. At the time that I wrote this book, I could not remember his name, although I did remember his presentation. And then about a year or two after I published this book, Alan and I actually crossed paths and Alan is a professional speaker from the West Coast and he runs a speaker's coach camp and you can find out more about Alan at pariss.com, that's www.parisse.com and he spells Paris, P-A-R-I-S-S-E. Every speaker you admire began as someone with a message, a desire to share it, and plenty left to learn. If you feel called to speak, begin by finding people who are already doing it well, attend their presentations, study their techniques, ask thoughtful questions and remain open to their guidance. One conversation, one introduction, or even one cup of coffee could help change the direction of your life. Most importantly, identify the subject that truly matters to you. Techniques can strengthen a presentation, but it is your authentic passion that gives your words the power to reach an audience. Thank you for listening to Bill Corbett's Speakers Podcast. If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who has a message the world needs to hear. To learn more about Bill's speaking resources, check the links in the description box of this episode. Until next time, keep learning, keep speaking, and keep moving toward the stage that is waiting for you. Copyright 2026 by Bill Corbett. All rights reserved.
