Transcript:
Welcome to Pitch Perfect, the podcast that helps you master the art of communication and captivate your audience. I’m Jaimie Abbott, award winning speaker, public speaking coach and PR expert. This show is your go to resource for building confidence, crafting your message and leveraging the media to grow your brand. You can download my free speaker checklist at jaimieabbott.com/speakerguide. Get ready to pitch, persuade and thrive. This is Pitch Perfect.
Welcome back to the show. It has been a little while since I recorded an episode. After my launch I was a bit burnt out, in a very proud way. My first Paid to Speak live event in Newcastle was incredible. More than 20 people I had never met before came along, plus another group of clients I love working with. It ended up being one of the greatest professional days of my life. I had someone come up to me in tears afterwards and say, “You have changed my life today. You made me realise how much I have been undervaluing myself.” That is exactly why I do this work. It was emotional and exhausting, and I took a bit of a break from podcasting.
I also have a new VA after working with the same one for four years. It was hard to say goodbye, but it was time for her to move on. Now I’m training someone new who is editing this episode, and it requires patience as she learns my processes. Once someone is shown how to do something, they pick it up, but the transition phase always takes a little time.
Today’s episode is a big one and probably an emotional one, because I am reflecting on a year that truly transformed me. 2025 felt like the Beyoncé Renaissance tour of my business. There was glitter, growth, gig schedules that looked like flight plans, champagne moments, “is this really my life” moments and a whole lot of lessons. I delivered more than 60 speaking gigs — MC roles, keynotes, workshops, everything. Some were paid at premium rates and some I did for exposure because the opportunity made sense. And yes, those free gigs brought money later. The long game absolutely pays off.
I also launched a mastermind that begins in January with 15 places. At the time of recording this, there are four spots left. It has been an incredible response. I also travelled, partied, met incredible people, had a full glow up, batched content like someone possessed and went to more events than I will publicly admit. I learned so much this year, so I wanted to share the biggest lessons with you.
The first lesson is that volume creates visibility. People often ask how I got so many speaking gigs. The short answer is that I made noise, consistently. I treated visibility like a daily vitamin. LinkedIn posts, Instagram reels, events, networking — I showed up everywhere. And interestingly, I did not pitch a single speaking gig in 2025. They all came to me because of years of showing up. The more I spoke, the more I was asked to speak. Visibility builds authority, authority builds demand and demand builds higher fees. Some of my free gigs led to more paid work than some of my paid gigs because they put me in the right rooms with decision makers and clients. You don’t always get paid at the gig. Sometimes the gig creates the opportunity.
Lesson two is to back yourself before you feel ready. In 2025 I charged more than ever before and turned down more gigs that did not align. That is growth. I still sometimes hear a little voice saying, “Can you really charge that?” but every time I raised my price, I stepped into a bigger version of myself. People pay for confidence. They book the speaker who believes in themselves. I showed up even when I felt tired, stretched or like an imposter, because the version of me who built this business never waited to feel ready. She said yes, took the mic and figured it out with the lights on.
Lesson three is that masterminds are magic. My coach, Tina Tower, encouraged me to launch one and she backed me before I backed myself. Launching it elevated my coaching, systems, branding and leadership. Your next level requires a new room — a room where people think bigger, where conversations stretch you and where people say, “Yes, that sounds right for you.” Running a mastermind taught me that community accelerates growth and curated community accelerates it even faster. It lit a fire in me. I am not just here to create content. I am here to create leaders.
Lesson four is that the glow up was not just physical. Yes, I had a physical transformation — health, confidence, wardrobe, mindset work and even some cosmetic changes — but the internal glow up mattered even more. It was learning to own my success, receive compliments without deflecting and celebrate myself without guilt. Your business can only grow to the level you believe you deserve. When I changed how I saw my value and worth, everything else expanded. Bookings increased, fees went up and opportunities multiplied. The glow up is not vanity. It is strategy.
Lesson five is that events are where the money is. I attended business events, networking events, charity events, awards nights and industry nights. If someone handed out a lanyard, I was probably there. Events accelerated my business faster than any funnel. I met people who later booked me, partnered with me, referred me and brought me into unexpected rooms. You cannot build a speaking business from your couch. Your network is built in person and your audience is built online.
Lesson six is that batching saved my sanity. I batched newsletters, podcast episodes, social content and even ideas. Batching created consistency and mental space. The clearer I became, the better my offers became and the more clients I attracted. Creative energy is limited, and batching protects it.
Lesson seven is that fun does not cancel productivity. In 2025 I partied, travelled, danced, stayed out late and had a lot of joy in my life — and it made my business stronger. We are not meant to operate in constant peak performance mode. Humans need joy, play and connection. Fun fuels ambition. Rest fuels creativity. Play fuels resilience.
Lesson eight is that the right people will change your life. I met incredible humans this year who made me feel supported, inspired and challenged. Your circle is your strategy. If your goals feel too big, your environment might be too small.
Lesson nine is that everything feels hard before it feels obvious. There were moments this year when I questioned everything — whether what I was doing was working, whether it was worth it or whether I could keep going. Then a breakthrough would arrive: a new client, a major gig, a mastermind application, a wave of clarity. The hard part is the tunnel and the breakthrough is the exit. Most people quit halfway. I kept going.
Lesson ten is that your story will always be your strongest sales asset. People do not buy information. They buy people. Every story I shared — the glow up, the early speaking days, the free to 10k journey, the mistakes, the wins, the messy middle — created deeper connection. My community grew, my brand strengthened and my offers sold more easily. Your story is the shortcut someone else is searching for.
Looking back, the theme of the year is expansion. Expansion in my visibility, my confidence, my identity and my belief in what is possible. My word of the year was visibility, and it opened the door to expansion. 2025 showed me what happens when you stop playing small, stop waiting and start treating your business like the big, bold experience it is meant to be.
Here is what I want you to take with you: you do not need permission, perfect timing or a guarantee. You just need a decision. Back yourself, get in rooms, tell your story, pitch your expertise, show up louder, glow up unapologetically and build the life you want now, not someday.
Thank you for listening. If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with another business owner and subscribe. And if you want support growing your visibility and getting paid to speak, you know where to find me.
