{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"&quot;Nobody Cares About Your Story&quot; - What Actually Gets You Booked as a Speaker | Simone Heng","description":"Most people trying to build thought leadership are doing it backwards. They share their story online, wait for people to connect with it, and wonder why the bookings aren't coming.&amp;nbsp; Simone Heng has a blunter take: nobody cares about your story. Not unless you're Michael Jordan. Simone is a human connection specialist, award-winning author of Let's Talk About Loneliness, and one of the few Asian women speaking at the level she does - at Harvard, Google, the UN, and stages across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. She spent six figures educating herself before anyone paid to hear her speak. For four years, her former radio employer controlled her Instagram and stopped her from being herself. The week that ended, she built a six-figure business in a pandemic. In this conversation, we talk about what actually gets you booked, why your story is the least interesting thing about your thought leadership, and what the &quot;sophomore slump&quot; looks like when your first book receives six international awards. &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; TIMESTAMPS &amp;nbsp; (00:00) Introduction (01:57) \u201cI\u2019ve never seen an Asian woman speak like that\u201d&amp;nbsp; (03:13) Developing a subject matter expertise&amp;nbsp; (07:17) Choosing your topic of expertise&amp;nbsp; (09:20) Being told to hide parts of you&amp;nbsp; (10:41) The behind the scenes work (12:36) Your story isn\u2019t enough&amp;nbsp; (16:09) Do you need a PhD to be a thought leader?&amp;nbsp; (22:24) Reviewing Simone\u2019s past content&amp;nbsp; (26:52) Become a speaker or author&amp;nbsp; (30:49) What\u2019s next for Simone&amp;nbsp; (35:43) Actionable Takeaways&amp;nbsp;   CONNECT WITH SIMONE HENG &amp;nbsp; Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/simoneheng&amp;nbsp; LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/simone-heng-speaker&amp;nbsp; Website: https:\/\/simoneheng.com&amp;nbsp; Thought Leaders Now: https:\/\/www.thoughtleadersnow.com&amp;nbsp;   CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU &amp;nbsp; Website:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/cheryllau.com&amp;nbsp; YouTube:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@cheryltheory&amp;nbsp; Instagram:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cheryltheory LinkedIn:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/cheryllau   WORK WITH CHERYL LAU &amp;nbsp; I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn\u2019t just another show in the feed - it\u2019s an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: \u2728 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production \u2728 Corporate Podcast Producing &amp;amp; Consulting \u2728 Hosting for Corporate Shows &amp;nbsp; Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/cheryllau.com\/discovery   CONTACT &amp;nbsp; Please email&amp;nbsp;hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries. ","author_name":"EDIT HISTORY","author_url":"http:\/\/cheryllau.libsyn.com\/rss","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/36575355\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/199367210"}