How to Quit Your Job and Go to Work (For Yourself)

Now more than ever, it’s time to quit your job and go to work. 

According to the McKinsey Global Institute, some 14.7 million workers under 34-years-old face job displacement by 2030.

This is just one more statistic in a growing trend that says: “Automation is continuing to threaten your job as you have known it.”

Now, that’s the bad news. 

The GOOD news is: there are more entrepreneurs than ever. According to Forbes, freelancers already comprise 35% of the U.S. workforce— or 55 million workers in the U.S. — and they are expected to reach 43 percent of the workforce by 2020. 

That means the possibilities to reinvent yourself are endless. It’s never been easier to quit your job and go to work for yourself. 

For me, that looked like quitting my corporate dream job and starting my own multi-media speaking business. Flash forward, and I’ve been on stages in 46 countries working with over 1,700 clients. I've created three courses on LinkedIn Learning that are being viewed by thousands of people all over the world as I type this. I was named by Success magazine as one of 25 Successful People Who’ll Help Change Your Life in 2018, alongside Oprah, Brené Brown, and Brendon Burchard.

When I was still working at my 9-5, I would never have dreamed that in 2015 I'd be inducted into the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame, or that I'd become a Certified Speaker Professional by NSA.

I’ve written 10 books, produced countless videos, facilitated workshops, and traveled to places I would have never dreamed of.

I could NEVER have predicted that a story I'd tell about my daughter would be viewed over 85 million times and counting.

Here’s what I want you to know if you want to turn speaking or consulting into a full time, well-paid career:

You CAN do it. Take it from a guy from Buffalo who struggled in high school, took ten years to graduate college, and started out working the night shift at a hotel. If I can create a successful corporate career and then build my own company, so can you. I am not a unicorn. 

In fact, if you follow me, you know that I believe speaking is the new marketing and your greatest distribution channel. No matter what you’re trying to sell, solve, or support, speaking is the greatest vehicle to get you where you want to go. Period.

But being a good communicator, or having the gift of gab, is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to turning a side-hustle into a full-time speaking business. 

If I only had thirty seconds to give you advice about becoming a successful full-time speaker, here’s what I would tell you:

1. Stop speaking, and start connecting. In this next decade, there is humanness coming to speaking and having a digital presence. The client does not actually care about your speech. They want to know: can you come alongside them, hear their problem, and give them a just-in-time solution that works for them? It’s not about you trying to sell books, get another speech, or even get a long-term consulting opportunity with them. The speech gets you in the door, but they want to know: can you think on your feet in the moment with them? Keep that at the center of your process, and the rest will follow. (I'm just telling you what I know!)
2. Be a human being. I know that sounds so simplistic, but if you are a jerk off-stage, if you are a prima donna with a huge ego (edging greatness out), the word will spread quickly. Your brand will die an early death. Are you kind? Are you there on time? Are you low maintenance to work with? I don’t care how many stages you’ve been on, the second you stop being a nice person, you lose the ability for the client to know, like and trust you. The client’s opinion of you as a person will speak louder than any content you sell them.
3. Operationalize your business. Speaking is a business, and talent is just one piece of it. If you want to move from hobbyist to a full-time speaker, you’ll need to do more than create a slide deck and stand on stage. You need to figure out: 

• How do I get connected with Speaker Bureaus? 
• How do I get in front of the right clients? 
• How much money/how many clients do I need before I can cut the cord with my current organization? 
• What’s a P&L statement? A lead? A conversion? A funnel? A drip campaign?
• What does my online brand look and feel like? 
• How many social media platforms will I be on, and which ones should I choose? 
• How much of the time should I be spending speaking, and how much time should I be spending producing other types of content?

The last one of those is definitely the hardest. 

I realize that nowadays it’s so hard to get started because it feels like you have to master everything at once (and how many online courses can you take at one time?!) and find a way to stand out. 

There are a lot of places to learn about all the individual things you need to know to create a successful speaking business.

So here’s what I’ve done. 

I’ve created a comprehensive two-day LIVE immersive experience called Speaker B-School. I want to stand in front of you and show you exactly what you need to do in each of these areas to turn speaking into your full-time job. 

This workshop will cover the exact framework I used to transition into a full-time speaker and build a 7-figure speaking business. 

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• My best methods and strategies on how to structure your speaking business operations, from prospecting and sales, to contracts, billing, and collections, so you can spend more time speaking and earning.
• Access to my Speaker Model that will teach you what to say, how to say it, and how to get repeat business from today's biggest companies, the exact model I use to land repeat speaking engagements with brands like Google, Microsoft, Walmart, Toyota, and many others.
• My exact templates, proposals, checklists, and other business tools developed through 16 years of experience in the speaking industry, the keys to running a highly profitable speaking business.
• Two value-packed keynotes from me about how to grow your speaking business, find your audience, and turn speaking into a full-time career. You'll get direct insight into how I transitioned into speaking and grew it to a 7-figure business—and how you can do the same.
• Direct access to me during live Q&A sessions and discussions to address any questions you might have and get custom feedback.
• Tactical and practical solutions straight from my team, the same strategies, tools, and software I use to close massive contracts, scale my speaking business and sell digital products on autopilot.
• Exclusive networking opportunities with 49 other successful speakers, my team, and me! I’m going to be fully present throughout this entire event to make sure you get exactly what you need.

I know first hand it’s what you need because it’s what I wish I had 16 years ago when I was starting out. 

I’ve been told by more than one mentee that I helped them more in 30 minutes than all their online courses put together.

Imagine what we can do together in two days!

Click here to get your seat before they’re sold out. There are only 50 seats because I can’t personally mentor a crowd of 300 people, and I want to make sure you are able to build the business of your dreams.

In this economy, you can’t rely on your organization to move you into the future. It’s time to quit your job and go to work (for yourself.)

#LinkedInLearning #futureworkforcetrends #mckinseyglobalinstitute #publicspeaking #professionalspeaking #presenting #speaking

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Simon T. Bailey is a Breakthrough Strategist whose life's purpose is to teach 1 billion+ people how to be fearless and create their futures.

He equips companies with the tools necessary to effect cultural transformation resulting in higher employee engagement and platinum customer service experiences. He challenges individuals to dig deep to find and release their inner brilliance and become Chief Breakthrough Officers - personally and professionally.

Simon holds a Master's degree from Faith Christian University and was inducted as an honorary member of the University of Central Florida Golden Key Honor Society.

When he is not working, Simon spends quality time with his two active young adults, roots for the Buffalo Bills, and serves as a board member for the U.S. Dream Academy, Orlando Health Foundation, and Florida Virtual School Foundation.