We recently connected with Dan Shaikh and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Growing up as a shy immigrant, my dreams were fueled by the desire for a better life with security. At the age of 19, I landed a job at a bank and finally gained access to money and financial stability. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that something significant was missing from this dream life. It was during this time that I stumbled upon stories of regret from individuals on their deathbeds, and those narratives struck a deep chord within me.

These stories of regret became a powerful roadmap to life, teaching me a valuable lesson about the importance of living in the present and embracing life now, rather than deferring joy and fulfillment until retirement. Motivated by this realization, I set out on a mission to complete my bucket list before the age of 25, determined to experience everything I felt I had missed out on. I went skydiving, bungee jumping, and traveled the world, checking off one item after another. However, despite accomplishing these goals, I found myself feeling unfulfilled and strangely unhappy.

It was during the last leg of my Around the World trip that I had a transformative encounter. I came across a five-year-old child begging for money, and in that moment, it hit me hard. I had immigrated at the same age, and my father had taken significant risks to provide a better life for our family. Seeing this child’s struggle made me feel ashamed of my own selfishness and lack of a greater purpose.

Determined to give meaning to my father’s immigrant journey and my own life, I returned home with a newfound attitude. I started saying yes to things outside my comfort zone, attending new events, and connecting with diverse communities. It was through a self-development seminar that I learned to embrace vulnerability and began my journey of healing from the body dysmorphia I had carried since my teenage years. I underwent the necessary surgery and witnessed my confidence gradually rise.

Just four months after my surgery, I co-created Speaker Slam—a platform that allows individuals to share their stories of overcoming adversity through public speaking. This transformation took me from a person who didn’t have a voice to someone who provided a platform for others to be heard. Through this journey, I discovered the power of vulnerability and the profound impact it has on personal growth and connection.

I soon realized the urgent need to create spaces for people to step outside their comfort zones, embrace vulnerability, and unleash their true potential. Speaker Slam became a catalyst for empowering individuals to share their stories authentically and fearlessly. Our community fosters an environment of empathy and support, where individuals can explore the depths of their emotions, break free from limitations, and become agents of positive change.

My mission now is to rise above societal expectations, break down the barriers that hinder vulnerability, and redefine what it means to be strong. Speaker Slam aims to help individuals break free from the chains of self-doubt and societal norms, providing a platform for authentic expression and personal growth. By embracing vulnerability, seeking new experiences, and saying yes to living outside our comfort zones, we can rewrite the narrative of fear and create a society that values and celebrates vulnerability as a source of strength and connection.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Dan Shaikh the co-founder of Speaker Slam North America’s Largest Inspirational Speaking Competition. I found my purpose living outside my comfort zone… This is how it started…

My journey began when an old university friend unexpectedly reached out to invite me to an event called the Passion Search Competition. I vividly remember feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. At that point in my life, I was committed to pushing my boundaries by engaging in five new experiences every week. I wanted to break free from my sheltered and shy existence, embracing experiences purely for the story and the personal growth they offered. The Passion Search Competition seemed intriguing, even though I had little knowledge about it beyond the notion of exploring one’s passions.

Being the child of immigrants, my upbringing revolved around survival and safety as the fundamental cornerstones of our lives. Education was non-negotiable, and a stable job at a bank was considered the epitome of security. Therefore, the concept of passion seemed alien to me.

However, despite my reservations, I instinctively said YES to the invitation!

Little did I know that attending that event would be a turning point. I not only had a tremendous amount of fun, but I also had the privilege of meeting the co-founder of the event. She recognized something in me and extended an invitation to volunteer. Being an avid participant in Meetups during that phase of my life, I loved attending events and saw volunteering as an opportunity to learn and grow. So, once again, I confidently said YES!

As I immersed myself in the world of event organization, recruiting passionate individuals, and building connections, I found myself attending an Entrepreneurial event where I encountered a speaker teaching Entrepreneurship 101. Intrigued by her knowledge and expertise, I invited her to participate in the Passion Search Competition. To my surprise, she reciprocated by inviting me to her Toastmasters group.

Public speaking was a terror-inducing concept for me, yet deep down, I understood its significance in advancing my personal and professional life. Determined to conquer my fear, I summoned the courage to say YES! To my astonishment, I discovered a profound love for the Toastmasters group and soon became a member. Encouraged by the group’s president, I even joined the board, embracing the fear and discomfort of stretching beyond my comfort zone.

It was during this transformative period that fate intervened once again. Two members of my Toastmasters group invited me to participate in a program called Landmark within the same week. Their promise of unlimited possibilities intrigued me, despite discovering skeptical reviews online that labeled it a “cult.” Trusting my intuition and the individuals who extended the invitation, I found myself at a crossroads where the potential rewards far outweighed the perceived risks. With a deep breath, I made the conscious decision to say YES!

Fast-forward to today, and I have undergone profound personal growth through my involvement in Landmark’s programs. I have embarked on a journey of self-discovery, delving deep into my inner workings and overcoming the barriers that held me back.

Within Landmark’s Self-Expression and Leadership Program, I found myself tasked with creating a project that would benefit the communities I was involved in. As a member of Toastmasters and a participant in stand-up comedy, I sought partners for this venture. Out of everyone I approached, it was Rina—the newest member of the club—who wholeheartedly said YES, despite the time constraints imposed by the program. Together, we orchestrated a successful debate workshop for our Toastmasters group, staying true to the program’s principles of integrity and growth.

From that collaboration, an extraordinary friendship blossomed, and the desire to create something impactful together became insatiable. When our late friend, Maria Racelis, invited us to her Share, Love, Celebrate event, we were profoundly inspired.

In a moment of clarity, my mind flashed back to a revelation akin to a scene from “That’s So Raven.” In a burst of excitement, I blurted out, “Why don’t we do a competition?”

Rina’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she exclaimed, “SPEAKER SLAM!”

From that point forward, everything seemed to fall seamlessly into place. We found a venue through a connection I made by saying YES to attending a Hip Hop Karaoke event at Revival Bar. As fate would have it, I already had a website called BookItlist from my previous adventures, which could be repurposed for our new venture.

In a whirlwind of less than two months, Speaker Slam was born.

I take immense pride in the transformative power of saying YES to new experiences. Each moment of stepping beyond my comfort zone has rewritten the narrative of my life. And now, as the full-time runner of Speaker Slam, I share my journey and enthusiasm on social media, inviting anyone who will listen to join the conversation.

Passion and purpose did not manifest in my life overnight. They emerged through the very act of doing, by immersing myself in the unknown and figuring things out as they unfolded.

If there’s one vital lesson I want to impart, it is this: Try new things! I firmly advocate for embracing novel experiences because every moment offers a learning opportunity. Through new encounters, we develop our perspectives, forge lasting memories, and foster meaningful connections. Each step outside our comfort zones creates a valuable reserve of knowledge that, under the right circumstances, can prove invaluable.

So, I urge you to reflect on what you can say YES to today that could potentially have the most significant impact on your life. Embrace the unknown, seize new experiences, and unlock the transformative power within you. Together, let us shape a world where stories are cherished, voices are amplified, and personal growth knows no bounds.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story from my journey that exemplifies my resilience is when I faced a significant challenge during the pandemic. In 2018, I made the bold decision to quit my job and pursue Speaker Slam full-time, despite the cultural expectations and norms that deemed it unconventional for someone like me, a brown guy, to pursue their dreams outside of a stable career like banking.

With the unwavering support of my family, who took risks and made sacrifices to provide me with an education and opportunities, I took the leap into Speaker Slam. In 2019, we experienced incredible momentum in Toronto, with monthly events drawing in 200 attendees, helping speakers launch their careers, and inspiring the community.

However, we faced persistent concerns about how to grow further. Capacity limitations at our venues and the challenges of balancing emerging speakers’ demand with limited stage availability posed significant obstacles. But then, the pandemic hit, and we lost everything. Our entire business model was built around live events, and suddenly, refund requests flooded in, threatening our survival. As an entrepreneur in my second year, I embarked on a journey of learning and growth.

During this challenging period, I learned a powerful lesson: when one door closes, a window of opportunity opens. We recognized that an online speaking competition could be a viable solution, even though we had doubts about whether people would truly engage in a virtual format. With no other choice but to adapt, we created the first iteration of the online speaking competition, and to our delight, 91 people from around the world, including the UK, Nigeria, and the USA, signed up to share their inspirational stories.

As we continued organizing online competitions, we witnessed the evolution of our community. Despite the absence of a physical stage, people kept coming back because we gave them permission to share their stories and connect with one another. The pandemic forced us to shift our thinking, break free from the constant event cycle, and reimagine our platform. We underwent a comprehensive rebranding, including new copy, a redesigned website, updated marketing materials, and improved systems and processes.

Although the journey was long and challenging, we persevered, and now, as we gradually return to live events, we have entered a new era filled with excitement. We have learned to view obstacles as opportunities for reframing our perspective and transforming the way we think. Our experiences have taught us to seek the windows that open when doors close, reminding us to come back stronger.

This story reflects my resilience in the face of adversity. It showcases our ability to adapt, innovate, and reinvent ourselves to overcome challenges. I take immense pride in our ability to navigate through uncertain times and emerge stronger, with a renewed passion for inspiring others. It is this resilience, coupled with our unwavering dedication to providing a platform for individuals to share their stories and find inspiration, that sets Speaker Slam apart.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Speaker Slam started as a side hustle and quickly grew into my full-time business and career, shaping my life in unexpected ways. It all began with a single event that was initially intended to be a one-time occurrence. We attracted around 100 people, and my business partner recognized the potential for more. She suggested we hold another event the following month, emphasizing that we already had the necessary systems and processes in place, making it easier to scale up. This resonated with me, and we began running Speaker Slam monthly, drawing hundreds of attendees each time.

Two years into our side hustle journey, we made a bold decision. We rented a 500-seat venue and organized the Grand Slam, where the best speakers of the year competed for the title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year. This required a significant investment of $10,000 from our own pockets, but we were driven by a daunting yet exhilarating goal.

Around the same time, I found myself losing passion and feeling miserable in my tech job. My focus shifted to Speaker Slam, and I became determined to fill the venue and make it a resounding success.

During this period, I recognized the immense potential of our speeches and witnessed other speeches going viral on platforms like Goalcast. I took a leap of faith and pitched our speeches to Goalcast, not knowing what would come of it.

It was during this transformative time that my business partners presented me with a compelling vision. They posed a question, “What’s the worst-case scenario? You go back to your old job? But you’re already living your worst-case scenario.” This ignited a fire within me. I was young, financially prepared, and saw it as the perfect opportunity to go all-in.

In 2018, I made the life-altering decision to leave my tech job and fully commit to Speaker Slam alongside Rina. Renting a venue for 500 people was a significant risk we took, driven by our dream to become the ultimate stage for speakers, the American Idol of inspirational speaking.

Our ambitious vision encompassed a large stage, a massive audience, and a panel of judges who would help our speakers become the best versions of themselves. Despite initially selling only one ticket with two months to go, we embraced the challenge and remained steadfast in making our dream a reality.

Our leap of faith paid off. Miracles began to happen. Goalcast accepted my pitch, and our speakers started to gain viral traction. Momentum propelled our surge forward.

Not only did we successfully attract 500 attendees to the Grand Slam, but the founders of Goalcast also joined us as judges, further solidifying our vision.

However, with this victory came a new challenge: sustaining ourselves without the security of our 9-5 jobs. Fortunately, an opportunity presented itself when a friend offered us a compelling deal to become founding members of Staples’ new co-working model.

This collaboration paved the way for the creation of Emerging Speakers, our first training program for inspirational speakers. Leveraging the support and studio space provided by Staples’ co-working model became a crucial stepping stone for our growth.

The community responded with enthusiasm, and we filled the studio space with eager speakers. As the program thrived, we eventually outgrew the venue and moved to a larger space at the YWCA. However, when the pandemic struck, we had to adapt to the new reality of virtual events.

The Zoom era became a turning point for us. We expanded our reach and impact by connecting with speakers from all over the world. Our speakers evolved, thriving, gaining momentum, and securing paid speaking engagements.

Speaker Slam has truly transformed from a side hustle into a thriving platform, and I am immensely proud of the significant milestones we have achieved along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.speakerslam.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedanshaikh/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakerSlam/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedanshaikh/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/speakerslam

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Philip Zave