• No products in the cart.
  • No products in the cart.
Back To Top
Image Alt

Instant Fame, Just Add Money and Zero Self-Respect

Instant Fame, Just Add Money and Zero Self-Respect

I heard about a speaker in the sales business—a name you’d recognize if you’re in that business—who was selling book testimonials. That’s right, if you want his endorsement on a book it costs thousands of dollars.

I’ve encountered speakers bureaus which demand payments to review people’s video and/or to even include them in their catalog!

It’s easy to get into virtually any Who’s Who—if you pay for it by purchasing the books.

You can speak at “industry conferences” by paying a fee to be in the cattle call of 20 other speakers who have done likewise.

You can appear in a TV “interview” (infomercial) with a “celebrity” (washed up D-list personality) for about $15,000-$20,000. You can be a “host” of an AM radio show or cable  TV show, if you pay for them and bring in advertising for the station.

The problem is, everyone knows this. So the testimonial, inclusion in the book, appearance before the group, representation by the bureau, TV interview, “your own show”…are worthless. In fact, they undermine credibility. The make you a world-class phony.

You can buy your way onto the New York Times or Wall Street Journal best-seller lists for one week, for about $120,000. I know, because I have to turn the offer down from several sources every time one of my books comes out.

Some people purchase Twitter followers! I can’t imagine why that’s important.

When you have to buy pseudo-fame you’re only a pseudo-intellect, a fake expert, and a really pathetic human being.

Written by

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author of over 60 books. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients from over 500 leading organizations around the world.

Comments: 2

  • René Vidal

    May 23, 2018

    I was introduced to a local colleague who is throwing a “book party” in early June. The charge for attendees is $25.00. And then there was this: CPA, MBA, MST, EdS, LMFT, as copied from the email signature. True experts don’t need the validation; you taught me that, thank you Alan.

    I’d love to hear what yo think about these 10-day online “summits.”

Post a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.