When I first transitioned from acting to speaking, I assumed my background in storytelling would be a natural advantage. And while it definitely helped, I quickly realized that sharing a compelling story isn’t enough. If you want to get booked, your talk needs structure, clarity, and a purpose that resonates with your audience.
That’s exactly what I discussed with Leah Woodford on the Beyond Impact podcast. Leah is the founder of Speaker Life Magazine and works with speakers at every level to develop talks that get them on more stages. Her advice is direct, actionable, and rooted in experience.
A Good Story Isn’t Enough
As a former actor, I know how to deliver a story with emotion and energy. But a great performance doesn’t always translate to a great talk—especially if the story doesn’t lead anywhere.
Leah put it this way: “Your story, while it’s important, it has to lead them to teaching points and something of value. I know speakers who have great stories, but there’s no message.”
That distinction is huge. Your story isn’t the product. The transformation is. When you build your talk around that transformation, your story becomes a tool—not the centerpiece.
Start With the Message
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is to start with the end in mind. What do you want the audience to walk away with? What impact do you want to leave behind?
Leah teaches speakers to reverse engineer their talks. “Everything has to be about your audience,” she said. “Whether it’s a magazine or a TV show or anything, it really has to be with the audience in mind all the time.”
So before you start crafting your opening or rehearsing your closer, answer these questions:
- What’s the message behind this talk?
- How will this help the audience?
- What teaching points naturally emerge from my story?
Once you’ve got those answers, you can begin to layer in your personal narrative in a way that reinforces, not distracts from, the main point.
Turn Your Story Into a Framework
You don’t need to write a new talk every time you step on stage. In fact, most of the top speakers I’ve met have one core talk they adjust slightly based on the event or audience.
Leah shared how her own signature talk, The Power of Leverage, actually started as a response to what her clients kept asking for. “When your clients or your audience ask you for things, you already know you have an audience for that talk.”
That kind of feedback loop is gold. Your talk should be alive. Test it. Tweak it. Let the market shape it.
From there, you can develop a repeatable framework with:
- A strong opening that speaks to your audience’s current challenge
- A relatable story that connects emotionally
- Clear teaching points that provide value
- A compelling call to action or takeaway
Make Sure You’re Ready to Share It
Leah gave one more piece of advice that I think every speaker needs to hear: “Make sure it’s a scar, not a wound.”
In other words, don’t try to build your talk around something you haven’t fully processed. Audiences can feel the difference. Vulnerability is powerful—but only when it comes with perspective.
Your story is meant to serve. If it’s still raw, it’s probably not ready.
Want to Get Booked? Focus on the Transformation
At the heart of a signature talk that gets booked is this mindset: it’s not about you.
It’s about how you make your audience feel, what they take away, and how your experience helps them navigate their own. When your story supports a bigger message—and that message solves a real problem—you become more than just a good speaker. You become a valuable one.
Listen to the Full Conversation with Leah Woodford
We covered a lot more in the episode, including branding, audience connection, and how to create leverage as a speaker.
You can check out the full episode here:
If you’re trying to find your voice, shape your message, or land more speaking opportunities, this conversation is packed with real-world insight that will help you take the next step.
