Introduction: What Most Speakers Get Dead Wrong

If you're grinding through free talks, chasing followers on social media, or waiting to be “discovered,” thinking that’s the path to becoming a highly paid speaker — you’re not alone.

That’s what most aspiring speakers believe.
And it’s dead wrong.

You’ve probably been told that if you just keep showing up, stay visible, and get good on stage, the $10K gigs will come.

But the truth?

The top-paid speakers — the ones earning $10K to $25K per keynote — aren’t the best performers.
They’re the best positioned.

They didn’t get there by being charismatic, famous, or lucky.
They got there by doing the opposite of what most speakers are taught.

Because here’s the part no one tells you:

The most highly paid speakers don’t earn the big bucks because of their talk.
They earn it because of what comes after:

● The business
● The brand
● And most importantly, the infrastructure that the talk drives people

Chapter 1: No Following, No Mic Skills, No Problem

Why Being “Good” On Stage Is Overrated

You’ve probably seen them…

Speakers who absolutely own the stage.

Their delivery is flawless.
Their timing is perfect.
Their confidence is magnetic.

And yet somehow…

They’re still doing free gigs.

Meanwhile, someone else—less polished, less theatrical, maybe not even a strong speaker—is:

• Landing five-figure keynote deals
  
• Getting booked out for months
  
• Turning one talk into a flood of leads

So what gives?

Let me introduce you to Suzanne Adams.

She wasn’t a professional speaker.
She wasn’t internet-famous.
In fact, before her first TEDx talk, she had never spoken on stage at all.

She was a former broker with a powerful personal story and a deep desire to help people step into their highest potential.

She just didn’t know how to frame it or how to get anyone to care.

But once she got clear on her message and

Chapter 2: The $500 Speaker Trap

Why Doing MORE Free Gigs Won’t Get You Seen by The Right People

This might be a bit of a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the truth:

If doing more free gigs actually worked, you'd be booked out right now.

Your inbox would be flooded with invites.
You’d be turning down offers instead of chasing them.

But you're not.
And it's not your fault.

You've been taught that every “yes” is a step toward “success.”
That stage time is currency.
That if you just keep saying yes—especially when there's no budget—eventually the paid opportunities will show up.

But they won’t.

Christine’s Story: From Free to Five-Figures

Let’s talk about Christine Ramsay.

For years, Christine said yes to every opportunity she could find.
And it resulted in her doing a TON of unpaid speaking gigs.

Christine dreamed of being a paid speaker.
But every time she stepped on another free stage…

She unknowingly rei

Chapter 3: Foundational Perceived Value Is Everything

How to LOOK Like a $10K Speaker So You Can Become One (Even If You’ve Never Made a Penny on Stage)

Perception isn’t everything—
It’s the ONLY thing.

In the speaking world, what gets you booked (and paid) isn’t how many talks you’ve given.
It’s how people see you before you ever walk on stage.

If you want to earn like a $10K speaker, you need to look like one first.
Not later.
Not once you’re “ready.”
Now.

That’s what perceived value is.
And it’s the foundation everything else sits on.

The Illusion That Gets You Paid

Think about the last time you looked up a speaker online.

Did you read their bio word for word?

Or did you:

• Scroll through their videos
  
• Check their visuals
  
• Skim their Instagram or LinkedIn
  
• Make a quick gut call?

That’s what every decision-maker does.

They don’t have time to decode your brilliance.
They want proof—fast—that you

Chapter 4: What Is the BEST Stage for You to Be On?

Why TEDx/Keynote Speech Is the Stage That Opens Every Other Door

Not all stages are created equal.

You could speak at 20 local events and still not move the needle on your speaking career.

Or you could give one strategic talk and unlock opportunities that would have otherwise taken years.

That’s the power of picking the right stage.

When it comes to authority, reach, and long-term value—
No stage opens more doors than a TEDx or signature keynote.

The Stage That Scales

TEDx has become a credibility machine.

• A digital stamp of legitimacy
  
• A shortcut to the perception of thought leadership
  
• A built-in association with “ideas worth spreading”

It meets all the criteria decision-makers look for:

✅ Instant name recognition
✅ High production value
✅ Long-term digital footprint
✅ Shareability and built-in prestige

TEDx doesn’t just put you in a room—

Chapter 5: Revealed — How Top Speakers Really Make Their Money

(And It’s Not Speaking)

Here’s the big secret almost no one talks about:

Speaking isn’t the business.
It’s the billboard.

Even the top-paid speakers—the ones commanding $10K, $25K, or more—
Aren’t relying on keynote checks as their primary income stream.

They’re using those talks to drive demand for everything that comes after.

And that’s where the real money is made.

Mike’s Story: From Zero to Six Figures

Let’s take Mike Iskandar, for example.

He didn’t have a massive platform.
He wasn’t a seasoned speaker.

As he puts it, he started at “zero”:

• No stage experience
  
• No viral reach
  
• Just a message he believed in and a willingness to get it out

Wrap-Up: This Is the New Playbook

For years, you’ve been sold the idea that success in speaking comes from hustle.

• More free gigs
  
• More cold pitching
  
• More content
  
• More waiting

You’ve been told that if you just keep showing up, someone will finally take notice.
That one day, all your “exposure” will magically turn into paid opportunities.

But now you know better.

The top-paid speakers DO NOT hustle harder.
They position smarter.

❌ They aren’t more talented.
✅ They’re more aligned.

❌ They don’t rely on charisma.
✅ They rely on clarity.

❌ They don’t wait to get picked.
✅ They build platforms that make them undeniable.

Let’s Recap the New Rules of the Game

1. You don’t need to be a star on stage.
   You need a message that aligns with what event organizers care about.

2. More free gigs ≠ more momentum.
   They can actually dilute your value and trap you at the $500 level.

3. **Perception creates profit.