Ep 65: Breaking Out of Your Industry – How to Expand Your Speaking Career with Dr. Kevin Fleming

In this episode, we unpack the real roadmap to going from unpaid breakout sessions to getting paid well inside your industry, and then taking the leap to high-value speaking opportunities outside of it.

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Most speakers get stuck inside their industry. They start with free gigs, move to paid opportunities within their niche, and then struggle to break out and command high fees beyond their known circles.

Dr. Kevin J. Fleming lived this path—spending years as an expert speaker in education before stepping onto global stages and realising his message had far broader impact. In this episode, we unpack the real roadmap to going from unpaid breakout sessions to getting paid well inside your industry, and then taking the leap to high-value speaking opportunities outside of it.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:

• The step that’s often skipped: Going from free to paid well inside your field first (18:07)
• The power of intentionality—how small strategic shifts transformed Kevin’s career (22:22)
• The confidence shift that made Kevin finally own his speaker identity (30:18)
• Why a simple tweak in language can expand your impact and open new doors (31:42)
• The game-changing tool Kevin introduced at NSA that’s now transforming speakers worldwide (34:08)
• Why most expert speakers stay stuck in their own industry—and how to break out (46:26)

If you’ve mastered speaking inside your industry but feel unsure about how to break out into bigger, higher-paying opportunities—this episode is for you.

Tune in now and learn how to step beyond your niche, grow your reach, and get paid what you’re truly worth.

QUOTES

“Stick to what you know, but seek people outside of your industry who will see you through a different lens. Be relentless in asking for feedback—raw, candid, and even uncomfortable feedback—because that’s how you refine your message and expand your impact.” – Dr. Kevin J. Fleming

“Your value isn’t what you charge—it’s what the market is willing to pay. Sometimes, the moment you realize your worth is when someone doubles your fee on the spot. That’s when you know you’ve been undercharging.” – Dr. Kevin J. Fleming

“I realized just how much power there is in a slight bit of intentionality and strategic marketing—rather than just being available and present.” – Dr. Kevin J. Fleming

RESOURCES

WHERE TO FIND DR. KEVIN FLEMMING

• Website: https://www.kevinjfleming.com/
• Website: https://www.catapultlpd.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjflemingphd/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TelosES 

If you are on a mission to amplify your message to make a more meaningful impact, and you’d love to join a vibrant community of people all harnessing the power of speaking, we’d love you to join us in our private Facebook group. Here you will gain access to exclusive live trainings, free resources and the opportunity to ask Jacqueline anything. It’s all designed to take the speaking game to the next level. We can’t wait to welcome you – Join here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/paidspeakerbreakthrough

WHERE TO FIND JACQUELINE BROOKER

To connect and learn more about creating a Speaker Driven Business connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn. You can also follow Jacqueline on Instagram or join the private Facebook group

Join the Speak More Collective.