Today, I want to take a moment to honor someone who shaped not only a business, but my life. Larry Ketelaars, founder of Inspiring Speakers Bureau, passed away on April 17th, 2026. He was my stepfather, my mentor, my business partner, and one of the most influential people I will ever know. Larry built Inspiring Speakers Bureau from the ground up in the late 1990s. Through sheer persistence, optimism, and (most crucially) his belief in people, he guided this business through some of the toughest periods in modern history. Inspiring Speakers survived and adapted through 9/11, SARS, the 2008 financial crisis, and COVID—times when many in the speaking industry didn’t make it. Larry never lost faith. He never lost purpose. He just kept moving forward. In 2017, Larry entrusted me with the business and passed the torch. But he never stepped away in spirit. Up until his final days, he remained a powerful and invaluable mentor, guiding me, challenging me, and continuing to shape the direction of Inspiring Speakers. Everything I know about this business (and much of what I know about life) came from him. He taught me the ins and outs of the professional speaking world, but more importantly, he taught me about people. About human connection. About branding and marketing with integrity. About building real client relationships. About conducting yourself ethically, even when it’s difficult. Larry was an incredible leader. He led with positivity. With optimism. With a mindset that no matter what was happening externally, there was always a way forward. That attitude became the backbone of this business. Throughout his career, Larry had the privilege of working with some of the greatest voices in the world—Les Brown, Robin Sharma, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Kiyosaki, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and many more. But what stood out most wasn’t just who he worked with—it was how he showed up. With humility. With consistency. With genuine care. Larry was legally blind. He had only about 5% of his vision. And yet, I’ve always said—he was the most observant man I’ve ever known. Because he paid attention. He listened. He noticed what others missed. He recognized people for who they truly were. Larry saw more than most people, in both a literal and metaphorical way.

Drop your answers and let’s see what kind of speaker energy you bring to the stage:- 1. You step on stage and the crowd instantly locks in, your vibe is: A) Main character energy activated B) Trying to act chill while internally buffering C) “Yeah… I cooked with this one.” 2. Mid-speech someone in the front row is nodding HARD, your first thought? A) “Real recognizes real.” B) “They’re catching every gem.” C) “Okay slay, validation unlocked.” 3. Your signature speaker move is: A) Walking the stage like it’s a runway B) Hitting the dramatic pause perfectly C) Random hand gestures that somehow work 4. After your talk, people line up to meet you, your internal reaction: A) “Oop… celebrity behavior.” B) “Act normal. Be cool. Be normal.” C) “This is my Avengers post-credit scene.” 5. Your dream audience reaction is: A) Standing ovation immediately B) Someone says, “That changed my life” C) The whole room spams fire emojis if they could Comment below ? Tagging some of new joiners!! @Borys Zhalilo @Gabriela Ayala @Achille Ettorre @Ann Benton @Scott Harvey

What are you doing 10 minutes before the mic goes live? The lights are dimming, the MC is reading your bio, and your heart is doing triple-time. Top-tier speakers don’t just pace around nervously; they have a ritual to prime themselves for a powerhouse performance. Your Pre-Stage Checklist: 1. Power Posing: Stand like a superhero for 2 minutes to lower cortisol. 2. The "First 60" Visualization: Just visualize the first minute. Nail the opening, and the rest flows. 3. Hydrate & Hum: Warm up your vocal cords with room-temp water and quiet humming. 4. Find a Friend: Pick one friendly face in the front row and treat the talk like a chat with them. Note: Nerves are just energy without a direction. Don't try to "calm down"—try to get excited instead.

Hi folks, It’s time to step fully into your role as CEO of your speaking business. Here’s how to plan like one: The Speaker CEO Blueprint - Q1: Refine your brand + message - Q2: Grow audience + partnerships - Q3: Automate + scale your systems - Q4: Diversify offers + review revenue goals 🎤 Speaker Tip of the Week: You’re not just building a career—you’re building an enterprise. Here’s to your next level, Inspiring Speakers Bureau Fueling Your Voice. Growing Your Reach.

Every week, it’s great to see familiar names leading the charge — but what excites us even more is seeing new faces step up and make their mark. Shoutout to everyone who made it onto this week’s leaderboard 👏 And a special mention to a few members who earned their spot through consistent activity and contribution: @Brian Gorman @Jerry Fletcher @Daria Skibington-Roffel Making the leaderboard isn’t just about numbers — it’s about showing up, and adding real value to the community. That’s what keeps this space thriving. Let’s keep the momentum going — who’s climbing up next week? 🚀 Drop a comment and show them some love!