Rehearse Like a $10,000 Speaker: The 7-Step Process for Confident, Professional Talks

The episode explains how to rehearse like a “$10,000 speaker,” emphasizing that rehearsal effort should be consistent whether a talk is paid or free because every stage builds reputation, from small unpaid events and podcasts to larger engagements.

Jenn discusses speaking fees as an ideal number and notes advice to avoid starting pricing conversations too early. On rehearsal frequency, she cites guidance ranging from at least 10 run-throughs to TED/TEDx’s often-quoted 100 practices, then shares her own approach:

Rehearse until you can clearly begin, end, and deliver the full middle.

Drawing from Heroic Public Speaking (Michael and Amy Port), she outlines a seven-step rehearsal process (including table read, content mapping, staging/blocking, improv and rewrite, plus several rounds of rehearsal), plus a modular talk structure that helps speakers stay on time and adapt when time is cut.

Resources mentioned:

Mic Drop Moments program (enrollment open through May 30) https://calendly.com/jennchat

Video on 7 step rehearsal process from Amy Port https://youtu.be/vuUXrqfMSxE?si=m3d1v8H5q0s-XZ4p

Join Jenn at her next event: https://linktr.ee/jennspingo

00:00 Rehearse Like a Pro

00:17 Reputation Over Fees

01:06 Small Stages Matter

02:05 Pricing Talk Timing

02:50 How Much Rehearsal

04:28 Mic Drop Program Invite

05:30 TED Talk Rehearsal Myth

07:08 No Magic Number

07:30 Heroic Seven Steps

10:12 Internalize and Modularize

12:13 Comfortable Shoes Mindset

12:54 Seven Steps Breakdown

14:43 Memorize Key Parts

15:27 Craft a 10K Experience

15:38 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me jenn@jennspingo.com.

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

Mic Drop Mindset introduces a new episode format featuring live, on-camera coaching, welcoming Dr. Theresa B. Skaar (Dr. T), a social psychologist and mindfulness-based workplace facilitator who helps high-stress, helping professionals reduce burnout and improve communication.

Dr. T delivers a brief talk on mindful listening, defining mindfulness as paying attention on purpose in the present moment, nonjudgmentally, and leads a simple breath practice plus an everyday-activity exercise (like handwashing) to build active attention before bringing it into conversations.

Jenn then coaches Dr. T on strengths and improvements, praising her growing comfort, relatability, clear references, humor, and vivid language, while suggesting she deepen standout moments, show rather than tell with physical demonstration, add pauses, and use space more intentionally to avoid rocking.

Resources mentioned:

Email me at jegoswam@bweightless.com for a copy of the Speaker Feedback form.

Want to experience your own Mic Drop Moments? Join us in our weekly rehearsal group from April through August. https://calendly.com/jennchat/mdm?back=1&month=2026-03

About Theresa:

Dr. Theresa B. Skaar, also known as Dr. T, is a social psychologist, mindfulness-based speaker, and workplace facilitator who helps organizations reduce burnout and improve communication at work.

With a PhD in social psychology and certification in Mind-Body Medicine, she brings research-backed tools into high-stress, real-world environments. Drawing from 35+ years across healthcare, corporate, and academia, she teaches practical strategies for mindful communication, self-awareness, and navigating grief, change, and emotionally charged conversations.

Known for her humor, warmth, and no-nonsense approach, Dr. T helps leaders and teams move from reactive to intentional. Audiences leave with tools they can use immediately to listen better, speak more clearly, and build healthier workplace cultures.

Based in Minnesota, she works with healthcare teams, associations, and mission-driven organizations across the country.

Website: https://ccwithdrt.com/

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me jenn@jennspingo.com.

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

In this interactive episode of Mic Drop Mindset, host Jenn Espinosa-Goswami welcomes a special guest into the studio for a live mini coaching session. Joined by virtual mindset decluttering coach Michelle Hoff, listeners get an inside look at how to refine a speaking message for both impact and business growth.

Michelle shares her unique A.L.I.G.N. Method™ and introduces her “team decluttering” approach—a collaborative model designed to transform client outcomes while helping professional organizers expand their services and revenue.

As Michelle delivers a 5 minute segment of her talk, Jenn provides real-time, strengths-based coaching, highlighting what’s working and where greater clarity, audience connection, and calls to action can elevate the message.

If you’re a speaker, coach, or service-based professional looking to sharpen your presentations and clearly communicate your value, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately—plus a behind-the-scenes look at coaching in action.

Want to get a copy of the Speaker Feedback form? Email Jenn at jegoswam@bweightless.com with Subject "Feedback form".

Enrollment is open for Mic Drop Moments! This is a rehearsal group for speakers with weekly practice on Tuesday mornings from 10-11:30 Central. In this small group, you’ll present a 10 minute segment of your speech with feedback from both the group and Jenn, an ICF-certified speaker coach and international speaker at corporate, association and entrepreneurial events. Enroll for 6 months or 3 months.

View pricing here: https://calendly.com/jennchat/mdm?back=1&month=2026-03

About Michelle Hoff:

Michelle L Hoff is a Virtual Mindset Decluttering Coach. With 30 years of experience helping clients create a loved home - an owner of a cleaning business, landscape and interior designer, painter and Amazon Best Selling author. Her book “Compassionate Decluttering" and her proven framework, The A.L.I.G.N. Method™ empowers mid-life women to take control of clutter, get support, make lasting changes so she can have time and space to live with more ease and joy.

Website: https://compassionatedecluttering.com/

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me jenn@jennspingo.com.

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com