Are you sabotaging your speaking career by believing these common industry myths?

In this solo episode of the Path to the Main Stage Podcast, Li Hayes flips the script on everything you thought you knew about becoming a successful professional speaker. From the truth about writing a book to the real impact of bestseller status, from website complexity to immediate email replies—prepare to have your assumptions challenged and your strategies sharpened.

Li Hayes draws on a decade of speaker management experience to bust the biggest myths holding speakers back. She reveals why writing a book alone won’t catapult your speaking career, why “Amazon bestseller” isn’t as impressive as it sounds, and why a simple website often beats one jam-packed with SEO tricks. You’ll also hear the honest truth about outreach—why fast responses win gigs, why you should (and how you can safely) post your email and phone on your website, and why more video is always better, not something that undercuts your value.

Key episode highlights include:

• Why you don’t need a book to succeed… but you definitely need “a thing”
• The real value (or lack thereof) of “bestseller” labels
• Exactly what your speaker website must include—and what it can (and should) leave out
• Why prompt responses get you booked (and don’t make you look desperate)
• The surprising truth about phone calls from decision makers
• Why video content only increases your desirability as a speaker
• Are traditional one-sheets and LinkedIn still relevant? (Short answer: yes.)
• Why relentless practice is your ticket to getting rehired
• Pricing strategies that work in TODAY's market
• How to niche down and get traction—plus, what happens if you try to be “for everyone”
• Sizzle reels, agents, speaker reels, and more—all demystified

Ready to upgrade your speaker toolkit, ditch outdated advice, and get honest industry insight? This episode is your practical, myth-busting guide straight from someone who books and manages real speakers every single day.

Timestamped Episode Overview:

• 00:00:00 –Li Hayes

  introduces the Mythbusters episode

• 00:01:27 – Myth: You need a book to be a successful speaker

• 00:05:36 – Myth: Bestseller status matters most

• 00:07:04 – Myth: You need a complex website for SEO

• 00:11:19 – Myth: Responding quickly to inquiries looks desperate

• 00:14:28 – Myth: Posting your email/phone means too much spam

• 00:17:28 – Myth: Posting more videos makes you less needed

• 00:19:06 – Myth: One sheets and LinkedIn are outdated

• 00:22:34 – Myth: Practice makes you unnatural on stage

• 00:24:54 – Myth: You have to change topics for trends

• 00:27:54 – Pricing myths: Do you need to raise your fee every year?

• 00:30:16 – Myth: You should itemize your speaking fees

• 00:32:27 – Myth: Rebranding and headshots will land you more gigs

• 00:34:13 – Myth: Only a fancy sizzle reel gets you booked

• 00:35:35 – Myth: An agent will jumpstart your speaking career

• 00:36:24 – Myth: No one else offers what you offer!

• 00:37:49 – Myth: You should earn what “less talented” celebs earn

• 00:39:17 – Myth: You can (and should) speak to any audience

• 00:40:43 – Episode wrap-up and call for more myths to bust

Listen now and discover what’s really holding you back on your Path to the Main Stage!