A Note From Dr. Shana
We are approaching the halfway point of the year.
And this is the moment where most speakers do one of two things:
--Panic or give up because they haven’t hit their goals
OR
--Reset, regroup, and build a stronger second half
Let me tell you something important:
You do not need a whole new year.
You need a new strategy.
Because the market has shifted.
Organizations are more intentional.
Budgets are tighter.
Decision-makers want speakers who solve problems—not just inspire people for 45 minutes.
And honestly?
That’s what I’ve been teaching all along.
The speakers who are winning right now are not necessarily the most famous.
They are the most:
- Consistent
- Clear
- Strategic
- Positioned
- Followed up
The speakers getting booked in Q3 and Q4 are building pipelines NOW. And in this issue are 6 speaker opportunities you can pitch yourself to today.
So this newsletter is your reminder:
--There is still time to turn this year around.
--But hoping is not a strategy.
--You need systems and structure.
Mid-Year Reset Questions (Be Honest)
Before we move forward, answer these:
1. How many talks do you currently have booked?
2. How many pitches have you sent this month?
3. Do you have a consistent follow-up process?
4. Is your message tied to today’s market needs?
5. Are you positioned as a speaker… or a solution?
Because the difference matters now more than ever.
What’s Working in the Market Right Now
The strongest speaking topics right now (esp. in corporate spaces) are connected to:
✔️ Leadership under pressure
✔️ Burnout and wellness
✔️ Emotional intelligence
✔️ Workplace culture
✔️ Resilience through change
✔️ Communication and engagement
✔️ Performance without burnout
✔️ Human leadership in fast-changing environments
If your message solves a real problem, there is room for you.
The Mid-Year Reset Framework
R – Review
What worked in Q1 and Q2?
What didn’t?
Look at:
- Bookings
- Pitch volume
- Revenue
- Visibility
- Conversion
E – Evaluate
Where are the bottlenecks?
Do you need:
- Better positioning?
- Better systems?
- Better follow-up?
- Better messaging?
- Better consistency?
S – Simplify
Too many speakers are overcomplicating this.
You need:
✔️ 1–2 strong signature talks
✔️ A targeted audience
✔️ A pitch process
✔️ A follow-up rhythm
✔️ Consistent visibility
That’s it.
E – Execute
The next 90 days matter.
Remember:
Speaking has a runway.
The work you do now impacts Q3 and Q4 bookings.
T – Track
If you are not tracking:
- pitches
- leads
- follow-ups
- calls
- conversions
…you are guessing.
And businesses cannot grow on guesses.
FREE TO A FEE BOOTCAMP IS HERE
From Free to a Fee Bootcamp
June 9–11
3 Days to Help You Position Yourself as a Paid Speaker
If you are still:
- speaking for “exposure”
- unsure how to pitch
- struggling to get booked
- inconsistent with your pipeline
- talented but unpaid
…this bootcamp is for you.
We’re covering:
✔️ How to position yourself for paid opportunities
✔️ What organizations actually pay speakers for
✔️ How to create a repeatable speaking system
✔️ The exact mistakes keeping speakers broke
✔️ How to build your pipeline for Q3 + Q4
This is not motivation.
This is strategy.
Register HERE
This Week’s Speaking Leads
1. The U & I Conference 2027
Date: TBD 2027
Location: Lubbock, TX
Looking for: Are you passionate about inspiring others, sharing your expertise, and making a difference in the lives of women
Audience: Women
Apply by: No Deadline given so ASAP
2. National Caregivers Conference
Date: Nov 1-2, 2026
Location: Princeton, NJ
Audience:
The National Caregivers Conference brings together family caregivers, professional caregivers, healthcare leaders, and advocates to explore emerging trends, best practices, and real-world solutions that strengthen caregiving nationwide.
Looking for:
We are seeking thoughtful, solution‑driven breakout sessions that educate, inspire, and equip caregivers and those who support them. Building on the success of our 2024 breakout sessions, including:
- Self‑Care for the Caregiver
- Conversations on Military and Civilian Caregiving
- Self‑Help Support Groups for Caregivers
- and many more
Apply by: May 31
3. Professional Development Conference 2026 (Project Management Institute of Fort Worth)
Date: August 22, 2026
Location: North Richland Hills, TX
Audience: Project Managers
Looking for: Healthcare leadership, workplace wellness, employee engagement, burnout prevention.
Apply by: ASAP
4. Healthcare Business Management Association
Date: Multiple Dates
Location: Multiple Locations
Audience: HBMA membership includes some of the nation's largest billing companies (1,000+ employees submitting millions of claims), the typical HBMA member is a small to medium sized business employing, on average 5 - 100 individuals.
Looking for: Various topics to support industry leaders success
Apply by: ASAP
5. Greater Lakes Athletic Trainer Assoc Conference
Date: March 10-13, 2027
Location: Wheeling, IL
Audience:
Athletic Trainers
Looking for:
Presentation topics should address athletic training domain(s) of practice beyond entry-level knowledge or address a topic that would make a valuable contribution to the understanding of the practice or pedagogy of athletic training.
Proposal topics must fall within one of the five BOC domains of practice for athletic training.
- Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
- Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
- Critical Incident Management
- Therapeutic Intervention
- Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility
Apply by: July 1, 2026
6. R.I.S.E. Women Leadership Conference
Date: November 17, 2026
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Audience:
Purpose-driven women leaders
Looking for:
Nominate yourself or another speakers to support purpose driven women leaders
Apply by: ASAP
👉🏾 Remember: don’t just submit a topic.
Submit a SOLUTION.
Bankable Tip 💡
Stop asking:
“How do I get booked?”
Start asking:
“How do I become the obvious solution to a current problem?”
That shift changes your positioning immediately.
Your Assignment This Week
Before June starts:
✔️ Set your Q3 revenue goal
✔️ Identify 25 organizations that need your message
✔️ Send 10 pitches this week
✔️ Follow up with 5 old leads
✔️ Register for the Bootcamp
Final Word
You are not behind.
But you do need a reset.
The next six months can still become the most profitable, visible, and strategic season of your speaking business…
If you stop waiting and start building intentionally.
See you at the From Free to a Fee Bootcamp | June 9–11.
— Dr. Shana
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