Why Doing "Almost the Right Thing" Gets You Nowhere in Speaking, Publishing, and Podcasting
David Newman, CSP
Elevate your CEO brand with speaking, publishing, and podcasting. Boost revenue, prestige, and market cap ??3X Bestselling Author???Top 1% Podcast Host. ?? Certified Speaking Professional?
Ever heard someone say:
?? “I’ve tried speaking to groups, but it’s never led to winning work.”
?? “I’ve been a guest on dozens of podcasts, but I didn't get a single client from it.”
?? “I published a book, but it didn’t do much for my business .”
It’s frustrating. And yet, these are common complaints from experts, thought leaders, and business owners who almost did the right thing—but missed the small but critical nuances that make all the difference.
The Hard Truth: Effort ≠ Results
Speaking, publishing, and podcasting should generate leads and sales.
If they don’t, the problem isn’t the strategy—it’s the execution.
Here’s where things go wrong:
1. Speaking: Are You Giving a TED Talk or a Keynote That Converts??
Many speakers confuse performance with profitability. They deliver insightful, inspiring, high-energy talks… and then wonder why no one reaches out afterward.
The Fix:
? Structure your talk with built-in lead generation moments.
? Plant strategic hooks that make people want more from you.
? Offer a clear next step—an opt-in, a resource, or a conversation.
If your speech doesn’t have a business model behind it, you’re just entertaining people for free.
NOTE: These are NOT big shifts - it's a 5-10-15% difference in what you're doing, saying, and asking during your talk that will lead to a 100% improvement in your results.
Not sure where to start? Book a chat with me and let's discuss >>
2. Publishing: A Book Without a Sales Plan Is Just an Expensive Business Card
Writing a book isn’t enough.
Publishing a book isn’t enough.
Even having an Amazon bestseller isn’t enough. (I know - I've written three, and helped clients hit and stay on Amazon bestseller lists for many consecutive months.)
The biggest mistake? Thinking the book itself will drive business.
The Fix:
? Write a book that leads people into your sales process.
? Use the book as a tool to start conversations, not just to “share ideas.”
? Design your content to move readers toward working with you.
Books that sell don’t just tell stories—they create demand.
Thinking about your next book? Schedule a chat with me and let's discuss >>
3. Podcasting: Are You an In-Demand Brand or Just Another Voice in the Noise?
Ever heard someone say, “I’ve been on 50+ podcasts and never gotten a lead.”
I have, and it's sad because doing "almost the right thing" has cost them such a waste of time, effort, and energy.
Translation: You’ve been a guest, but you haven’t been strategic.
The Fix:
? Approach only shows where that exact audience actually needs what you do.
? Stop being “interesting” and start being radically useful.
? Give a compelling call to action that makes listeners crave to connect with you.
Podcast guesting isn’t about exposure—it’s about relevance and engagement.
If you’re not making the right offers, and mapping out the right podcast listener lead flow, you're just another guest passing through.
Want to build a 100% inbound sales strategy with podcast guesting? Cool - let's book a coffee chat >>
Final Thought: Precision Beats Effort Every Time
If you’ve been speaking, publishing, or podcasting with little to show for it, you’re probably doing almost the right thing—but missing the key nuances that turn visibility into revenue.
The good news? Small, strategic shifts can change everything.
The question isn’t “Should I keep doing this?”
The question is “Am I doing this in a way that actually moves people to take action?”
If you’re ready to fix this, let’s talk. ??
About David Newman
???3X bestselling author of Do It! Marketing, Do It! Speaking, and Do It! Selling
???Host of the global Top 1% podcast The Selling Show
???We work with business mavericks to solve their obscurity problem with speaking, publishing, and podcasting
???Watch our 37-min. on-demand executive briefing "Elevate?Your?CEO?Brand"
20 Year Therapist || Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business || Cultural Strategy Officer || Laughter, Feelings & Function || 5 Year Resilience Consultant || Organizational Leaders...Resilience is Around the Corner
5 天前David Newman, CSP I especially appreciate your insights on speaking engagements. I've delivered presentations that got great feedback but resulted in zero leads, and it's clear I was focusing on performance rather than structuring for conversion. That distinction between "giving a TED talk" versus "delivering a keynote that converts" is such a simple but powerful reframe.
Best-Selling Author | Speaker | Founder of the MicroStep Method? | Parent Coach | Because Raising Four Daughters Taught Me More About Leadership Than Any Boardroom Ever Could.
5 天前So helpful to hear that I’m not crazy for feeling this way! I’ve done the speaking, the book, the podcasts, the 8 month amazing keynote speaking course—checked all the right boxes. But I love the teaching, the sharing, feeling like I’m doing the 'right' thing by not selling and marketing. Clearly, there’s a mindset piece there. I’m going to go listen to your podcast… did you just ‘sell’ that to me? ??
Improve, Streamline & Document Your Business Processes | Process Nerd | Systems Specialist | Efficiency Expert
5 天前Love these! These are the kinds of shifts that turn visibility into real results!
Revenue Producing Leaders ?? your impact & income | You’re in the room where it happens ?? | Be Invaluable | GSD | You know there's more | ?? Bender | Marathon Runner/Triathlete ????♀? ??♀???♀?
6 天前David Newman, CSP ouch on the “book without a sales plan” being an expensive business card. Well said! Couldn’t we say the same thing about a podcast?
Tailored Financial Planning for Women on the Journey to Security and Abundance. | Empower Your Financial Future: Women's Path to Success! | Envision, Achieve, Flourish!
6 天前Great article David Newman, CSP! I was going to ask you - how do you know if you to make a strategic shift but the answer is obvious: no business opportunities.