Episode 86
From Word-of-Mouth to $1M Scalable Speaking Business - Expert Coaching Session with John Bates
On this episode of The 7-Figure Leap Podcast , host Dustin Riechmann coaches John Bates , founder of Executive Speaking Success, on how to turn years of speaking expertise into a predictable, scalable business.
Show notes
On this episode of The 7-Figure Leap Podcast, host Dustin Riechmann coaches John Bates, founder of Executive Speaking Success, on how to turn years of speaking expertise into a predictable, scalable business.
John opens up about his journey—from raising hundreds of millions in Silicon Valley startups and building a reputation as a TEDx communication coach, to a pivotal moment when he was invited to train NASA astronauts. After a serious health setback that forced him to pause his work, John is now rebuilding with a bold goal: grow Executive Speaking Success into a 7 figure business that creates impact without sacrificing his personal life.
During this live coaching call, Dustin helps John redesign his business model, create a clear offer structure, and map out the shift from unpredictable referrals to consistent lead generation. They also dive into the power of podcast guesting, partnerships, and mastermind programs as scalable ways to attract the right clients and build authority.
If you’re an entrepreneur or business leader ready to scale beyond word-of-mouth and step into your own 7-figure leap, this candid session delivers both strategy and inspiration you can apply right away.
Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Welcome to the 7-Figure Leap Podcast
- 00:01:42 – Proving the value of “soft skills” in a “hard skills” world
- 00:02:49 – Pivotal moment: the 2009 TED conference that changed everything
- 00:03:29 – The spark: witnessing a brilliant person struggle on a TEDx stage
- 00:04:47 – Developing the method: grounding communication coaching in the Science of Communication
- 00:06:44 – Business overview: explaining the two brands (johnbates.com and Executive Speaking Success)
- 00:08:24 – Major setback: health crisis in 2023 and its impact on the business
- 00:11:08 – Future focus: podcast guesting and partnerships as growth strategies
- 00:13:21 – Current offerings: one-on-one coaching packages and pricing
- 00:17:52 – Corporate bootcamp: the “Speak Like a Leader” workshop for companies
- 00:20:39 – Ideal client profile: business leaders, entrepreneurs, and stage pursuers
- 00:25:29 – Niching down: why the focus is on high-level business leaders
- 00:29:19 – The 2026 vision: an ideal business with a small team and strong community
- 00:36:31 – Scalable model: blending one-on-one, group coaching, and masterminds
- 00:44:49 – Marketing strategy: using podcast guesting to find ideal clients
- 00:50:09 – Partnership success story: how mastermind speaking generated leads
- 00:52:48 – Key takeaway: feeling hopeful with a simplified marketing plan
- 00:53:49 – Where to connect online with John online
Links and Resources:
- Executive Speaking Success (Coaching & Training)
- John’s Personal Brand & Keynotes
- John on LinkedIn
- John on Instagram
Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to 7-Figure Leap? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!
Full transcript
[00:00:00] If Tiger Woods's coaches could have beat him at golf, they would have, right? But because of them, he, and because he was coachable and, and pulling it towards him, he beat everybody for what seemed like forever. So. I go in and I've been able to make a difference every time, you know, even despite my little conversation before.
[00:00:21] So, and that's who I love to work with. I love to work with people who are just hungry, who are good, whatever stage they're at, who are just interested in being better. And it's usually C-level VP level at companies like Boston Scientific, and Johnson and Johnson, and Google and Intuit. Then there's also a group of just entrepreneurs, and they could be very small companies.
[00:00:48] They could be, you know, SMEs In the classic definition. They, and they realize, hey, wow, if I could talk to my team better, if I could talk to my clients better, if I, if I could make more of an emotional connection, if I could be more inspiring, it would really help.
About 7 Figure Leap
Hosted by Dustin Riechmann, 7-Figure Leap helps expert entrepreneurs leverage rich relationships and smart strategies — especially podcast guesting and partnerships — to take their business to the next level. Weekly stories and playbooks from founders on the path to 7-figure success.