How an I.D.E.A., Not a Topic, Makes You Easier to Refer, Pitch, and Book

When someone asks what you speak about, do you give them one clear answer - or a list that includes a bunch of keywords like leadership, communication, resilience, confidence, and change?I understand the temptation to include everything. When you’ve had a long career, narrowing your message can feel like leaving out valuable parts of your experience. But if the person you’re talking with can’t explain what you speak about after the conversation is over, she can’t refer you. And that means you’re less likely to get booked.In this episode, you’ll learn:The difference between a broad subject, a presentation topic, and a distinctive ideaWhy your speaking topic is also a positioning decisionThe one-sentence referral test every speaker should tryHow broad positioning costs you opportunities you may never know you lostThree questions that can uncover the point of view inside your experienceHow to test your message with my I.D.E.A. FrameworkWhat event organizers need to understand before they can picture you in the roomA practical sentence prompt for clarifying your audience, claim, and outcomeAbout 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/483/ Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxRelated Podcast Episodes:Episodes 478-481: Expert Trap SeriesEpisode 468: What TEDx Organizers Look for When Selecting Speakers Join us for our three-day speaking retreat, happening in February 2027, in Downtown Orlando, Florida. You'll create and refine high-impact Signature Stage Segments - the kind that set you apart as a speaker; practice onstage multiple times with our expert coaching and feedback; and professionally film your dynamic segments in front of a warm, supportive audience so you have edited video and a speaker reel to show event organizers what you can do.Our retreat is limited to 12 women, so get all the details and request your place at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/.Early bird pricing is on for a limited time.