How I just lost a $7,500 speaking engagement 🔥

Yesterday morning, I missed out on a $7,500 speaking engagement.

Here’s how it happened and what I’m doing to ensure it never happens again ...

I was sifting through the countless spam emails that had been automatically filtered into my junk folder—emails that I rarely check.

Despite having a weekly reminder to review this folder, I sometimes neglect it.

Among those spam emails was a genuine speaking inquiry for a state conference. The email had arrived three weeks ago, and it detailed that the organizers had seen me speak at a previous event. They were offering a $7,500 keynote speaking slot.

(note: if you've read Module 4 in PAID to $PEAK, then you know an inquiry like this meets my top 3 criteria for charging a FULL speaking fee!

)When I realized my mistake, I quickly reached out to them, owning up to the oversight. I expressed my regret for missing their initial message and inquired if they were still in need of a speaker. My calendar was open for the event date.

After sending my email and hoping for a favorable response, I received the following reply less than 30 minutes later:

“Kevin, great to hear from you.

We’d love to consider you for our event in 2026, but since we did not hear back this year, we moved forward with

another speaker in 2025.

We had to act quickly. We wish you the best and hope to stay in touch.

Regards, ______”

It stung, but I understood. Heck, it still stings as I’m writing this for you.

In the fast-paced world of speaking engagements, opportunities can disappear as quickly as they arise. Decisions are often made on tight deadlines, and responsiveness can make or break your chances.

Ironically, many times in the past, I’ve been hired precisely because I was quick, and first, to respond.

It’s clear that timeliness is crucial in the speaking business.So, what are my takeaways from this costly lesson?

Learn from Expensive Mistakes: This experience was a costly reminder. I need to ensure it never happens again.
Revise Calendar Reminders: Update my calendar to check the spam folder every two days instead of once a week. It’ll take less than a minute to skim through the rubble to find a potential ring.
Commit to Accountability: Follow through on routine checks and responsibilities with greater diligence.
Test Contact Forms: Regularly test my "Hire Kevin" contact page to confirm that inquiries are properly forwarded to my email. (Two years ago, a website plugin issue prevented messages from reaching me, leading to missed opportunities. I'll address the importance of a reliable contact page in a future blog.)

I hope my experience serves as a valuable lesson for you in your speaking career.

For more insights and lessons on growing a successful speaking business, check out my book, PAID to $PEAK. It’s filled with real-life examples and practical advice for securing paid speaking engagements -- available here on Amazon.

Earn greatness today! Onward and upward!

Want to speak professionally, part-time or full-time?

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I've been honored to present for over 1,000,000 people through 1,150+ audiences in all 50 states and several countries. Whether I'm on a stage or in a training room with professionals or students, I absolutely LOVE motivating and inspiring people for higher performance. And in addition to my own speaking business, I have a passion for helping and coaching speakers learn how to catapult their speaking whether part-time or full-time. My book, PAID to SPEAK, outlines a proven model for speakers and is now an online course as well! Click here for online course info!

If you are serious about becoming a professional speaker, explore my coaching and mentorship options. I don't want you to flounder like I did and be frustrated.