The Dark Side of Cinderella: A Warning to Speakers About Starting at the Top
Christa Haberstock
Founder & President of See Agency | Best-Selling Author of Become a Bookable Speaker | I help elite speakers build lasting success in a modern market | I can spot a bookable speaker at 20 paces, blindfolded, 3 drinks in.
Overnight successes do exist for speakers, but they aren’t the dream you may think.
Many speakers have come to me seeking shortcuts to success. While rare, the proverbial “Cinderella story” success does seem to occasionally happen.
My help fueling the meteoric rise of a couple Cinderellas was temporarily thrilling.
One new speaker I launched to bureaus received a full fee offer within 24 hours of pressing SEND on the email. This hadn’t happened before, and it hasn’t happened since. It felt great.
But long term it proved to be the worst possible thing for their business.
For the next several years of working with this speaker I noticed a subtle sense of entitlement and lack of respect for what it really takes to become a success in this industry.
This particular speaker was cavalier when receiving offers from bureaus and buyers. They canceled more dates due to illness and “overriding professional obligations” than any speaker ever on my roster.
When Covid came there were fingers pointed and what felt like resentment that bookings no longer existed in their original form or volume.
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I believe that at the core was a warped reality.
It all came too easily in the beginning. Their career was built on a shaky foundation.
A poor foundation can prove to be the undoing of successful speakers and kill career longevity.
The speakers that flourish over decades are those who do the “hill sprints”:
Emerging speakers: if it feels like it’s taking too long to get the calendar/fee/stage/audience you want, these days are necessary to build a healthy career.
Christa Haberstock is Founder and President of See Agency. Since 2009, she has dedicated herself to Management and Representation of Professional Speakers and Corporate Entertainment. Really, really good ones, too. See Agency also offers Speaker Therapy and Brand Consultation, because the first step is always admitting you need help. (c) 2022
public speaking, program development, branding and business management
2ySo so true!
🎤Flip the Script on Workplace Drama | Keynote Speaker | Communication Catalyst | Transforming Chaos into Collaboration
2yLove this Christa Haberstock So true. "There's always room for improvement, it's the largest room in the house." When we shrink that room or close the door to it, the house can quickly collapse. I agree with the great • John Register, CSP™ PLY There are no shortcuts! There's a lot of work involved as I considered getting my CSP next year, I'm getting to see how far I've come and how far I can still grow.
High-Stakes Resilience Speaker | I Guide C-Suite Execs to ACCELERATE past UNCERTAINTY and ELEVATE THEIR ADVANTAGE to WIN | Paralympian | Veteran | Amputee | Hubby | Dad | FAFA | Hall of Fame Speaker CPAE 🏃🏾➡️🦿🏆
2yChrista Haberstock wow. Your article on "Speaking Truth" for the professional speaker as relating to the "Cinderella" story was affirming. My business growth as a professional speaker has had three growth areas. 1. Wait, what you can get paid to speak? This was my sheer amazement company leadership found value in my story enough to buy it. But I was not good. In fact I rarely would tell the story I was being hired to present. People heard my story and had pity. 2. Almost quitting. I was saying very little. When I went to my first National Speakers Association meeting in 2012 I saw excellence and realized I had so much to learn. I set a target to earn the Certified Speaking Professioanl Designstion. A five year commitment to building a better business and being a better speaker. Only 17% of the worlds speakers have earned the CSP. 3. Discovery: I found my voice and more I importantly how my story impacts an audience. No longer are people feeling sorry for me, they share thier life’s most precious moments with me and commit to living more courageous. My story is an, "overcome the monster," archetype. It took time. The journey continues. Your post is a great reminder of the amazing journey we are on to inspire worlds.
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2yAwesome perspective Christa! Entitlement kills the ability to build any successful career. Just about every longterm musician in Nashville spent many years or decades "paying their dues." When they finally sign the big record deal, music fans, who have never heard of them think it happened over night. Trees with the deepest roots thrive!
Keynote Motivational Speaker | "One Decision Away" #NoExcuses | Author | Retired Captain NY State Police | Million Dollar Direct Sales Earner | Podcaster | 1:1 Executive Coaching
2yWell said Christa!!!